Sub-Zero

Things between Frost and I have not been the same since that night. My student is exceptional in hiding her true feelings, but I can still sense the bitterness she has deep within. Turning her away was the hardest, but best thing I could have ever done. I would have shamed not only myself, but the entire Lin Kuei as well if I had given in to my physical desire.

I told Frost everything about Skarlet. I had hoped to keep my past behind me, but my student insisted on knowing everything about the woman I once loved. Even with my reassurance, Frost is absolutely convinced that I am not over her. She tells me I am lying and that she can see the pain in my eyes. Maybe Frost is right? Maybe I am lying to myself…

Everything I have been through in my life - all the pain, all the training, and all the battles I have fought could not ever prepare me mentally, or physically for the experience of love. Skarlet was my everything. I had given up my ways for her and felt happiness. I considered my life complete. As long as I had her, I had it all…

Then Skarlet betrayed me.

I felt like my whole world was taken away. I was weak. I had lost sight of who I was because of her, and all that had happened between us. I decided to leave Lord Raiden and the others to find myself, and be the warrior I once was. After returning to the Lin Kuei and defeating Sektor, I assumed the role of Grandmaster. The life of Kuai Liang was back on track. Sub-Zero had returned.

And then Frost happened.

Never did I hope for things to turn around again so quickly. I certainly did not expect to end up being the sifu of such a young, and impressive student. However, her skills and abilities are overshadowed by her arrogance, and hostility. I had wished to teach her humility and respect for her power, but I fear that the situation between us has changed, and that task is becoming more of a challenge…


CHAPTER VIII


Sub-Zero and Frost trained in the large hall of the Lin Kuei palace. The energy between the Grandmaster and his student was different than what it used to be. Their sparring session felt awkward to Sub-Zero, as he could feel that Frost was more aggressive, and striking him harder compared to their previous practices. She hardly spoke, and seemed determined to inflict pain on her master.

Kuai Liang felt the need to increase his defensive effort as his student's punches and kicks were beginning to pound harder, and harder against his flesh...It was only a matter of time before she caused serious damage. Sub-Zero saw the look in Frost's unforgiving eyes as she charged forward with a punch, punch, kick combo.

Smack. Smack.

The young warrior's fists collided with her master's forearms as her attacks were blocked. Frustration was starting to set in for Frost, as she wanted nothing more than to get back at Sub-Zero - for rejecting her advances - by smashing his head in. She was close to achieving her goal, as her knuckles were getting closer and closer to kissing Sub-Zero's face.

The Lin Kuei Grandmaster was concerned now, as Frost was driven more by her emotions than her focus, and was beginning to fight blindly. Sub-Zero decided to end the sparring session early before things turned ugly. He bobbed his head back and caught her fist, keeping it locked in his grasp. The young warrior tried clawing him with her other arm, but Kuai Liang snatched her wrist and held it tight, halting her attack.

"Frost, is everything alright? You are not yourself today." Sub-Zero asked.

The young warrior kneed him in the chest and ripped her arms free while he stumbled back.

"I'm fine." she responded coldly.

"Your judgement is clouded by your emotions. Perhaps we shall continue your training when you have cleared your mind…"

"My mind is perfectly clear master. I know what I am doing, and what is going to happen…" Frost said, as her eyes quickly shot down to the shiny medallion Sub-Zero wore on his chest.

Still clueless about his student's intentions, Kuai Liang eased up from his fighting stance and began to walk slowly towards his apprentice.

"I apologize for what had transpired last evening, but we cannot let our personal desires prevail over our commitments to the clan. Even friendship is forbidden in the Lin Kuei..."

"You have no idea of what I desire master…" Frost whispered, as she struck the approaching Sub-Zero hard in the chest, sending him backwards before bringing her palms together to charge up an ice beam.

"Lets see how powerful I have become, shall we?" Frost asked, as she channelled much of her energy into the attack.

Sub-Zero's eyes went wide as he could not believe what she was about to do.

"Frost...enough!" he said, as held up a hand.

The young warrior ignored her master's order as she continued to form and power-up the ice blast.

"Frost, that is an order! Shut it down!" Sub-Zero warned.

The sadistic look in her eyes and evil smirk told the Grandmaster that his pupil was not listening, and that she had absolutely lost her mind.

"FROST, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING! CALM YOURSELF!"

The young female began to chuckle as she was preparing to launch the Cryokinetic attack. Sub-Zero glared at his student before taking a defensive stance.

"So be it…" Sub-Zero said, as he began to charge-up his own ice beam to counter hers.

Frost screamed in fury as she unleashed the powerful blast.


Back in Outworld, Lord Raiden began to stir in the rubble of a crater, sitting up and rolling on to all-fours after being laid out by a vicious attack from Onaga. The God of Thunder felt like his body was shattered and any movement that he made was painful and unbearable. Raiden heard the Dragon King slowly approach, as Onaga shook the ground with every step he took.

"YOUR TIME HAS COME TO AN END, THUNDER GOD. NOW EMBRACE YOUR DESTINY!" The Dragon King exclaimed.

The God of Thunder was defeated. He stood no chance of beating the large creature, and the terrifying realization of knowing what the Forces of Darkness had recruited, had set in. Raiden knew he would need to return with help to fight off Onaga. If the Dragon King stood side-by-side with Lord Shinnok and Quan Chi in the battle of Armageddon, then the war was already lost. The Thunder God needed to retreat.

Onaga was finally going to do what so many others before him could not and kill Lord Raiden. The large creature was only steps away from fulfilling his mission - before the God of Thunder held an arm up to the sky, and teleported away in a flash of blue lightning.

"NO! COWARD!" Onaga growled, as Lord Raiden had robbed him of his victory.

The Dragon King could not believe that he was denied of such an epic fatality on a being that many warlords and sorcerers would kill for. Lord Shinnok and Quan Chi would have been very pleased if Onaga had finished their chief adversary.

"RAIDEN! YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF ME!" The Dragon King promised, as he howled towards the sky.

Far off in the distance, Sareena's eyes went wide with fear as she heard Onaga's mighty roar. While the sexy demoness was very capable of handling herself, she doubted that she stood much of a chance against some of Outworld's creatures of the night. Sareena silently cursed herself again for following Skarlet, and that her anger towards the young tracker eventually led the demoness to being stranded and alone. I will make you pay for this Skarlet. Just you wait…


Noob Saibot was growing impatient. Skarlet was taking much longer to track Kuai Liang down than he expected, and hiding out in an alley near the Earthrealm warriors' stronghold wasn't exactly the safest place for the trio to be. The wraith spoke.

"What is taking so long? I think I have made a mistake. Maybe Shao Kahn's prized tracker has a malfunction…"

Skarlet - who was using her acute senses to pick up on Sub-Zero's scent - opened her eyes and glared at him.

"Perhaps you should try…Oh I forgot, you can't. You're already dead. That nose rotting behind your mask is probably useless."

"Right now, between the three of us, you are the useless one. You couldn't even finish off my brother when you had the chance!" Noob Saibot spat.

Skarlet shot back. "And how successful were you in trying to kill Kuai Liang? Like the time at the cemetery, where he impaled and killed you, before tossing your carcass into Quan Chi's Soulnado?"

Bi-Han grit his teeth and clenched his fist at the reminder of his second death. The first one being murdered by Scorpion, and the last at the hands of his brother. Noob Saibot wanted nothing more than revenge and was desperate to track Sub-Zero down at any cost. If he was to have any hope of finding his younger brother, Skarlet would be his best bet. The wraith needed her, but first he was going to teach the young assassin some manners.

"You ungrateful little wench, you would not be here if were not f-"

Noob Saibot started to say, as he stormed towards Skarlet raising his hand to slap the disrespectful servant girl, before Smoke stepped in and cut him off.

"Let us not forget our common goal and why we are here." the Enenra said, while placing his hand in between the two warriors as they stared each other down.

Skarlet was tensed and ready to react, but then a loud crackle emanated from inside the Cathedral, suddenly catching the trio's attention. The sound was very similar to when Lord Raiden would teleport and reappear in flashes of lightning. Skarlet rushed off towards the church, as she was going to sneak in and spy on the group. A very dangerous move indeed, but necessary as it might lead to clues of Sub-Zero's whereabouts.

"What are you doing!?" Noob Saibot called out after her.

Skarlet shot a look back.

"My Job. You may do as you please, but if you want to find Kuai Liang then follow me."

The team of Noob-Smoke exchanged a look before following the young tracker. They had no idea of what she was up to, but had to trust in the sleek assassin's skills.

"This crazy girl will get us all killed…" the wraith said, as he ran beside Smoke.

"Skarlet is the best at what she does. We must have faith in her plan and abilities." the Enenra replied.

The three warriors, crouched and huddled in the shadows near the entrance to the Cathedral. Skarlet slowly poked her head around the doorway to peek in on the Earthrealm group. She saw that Lord Raiden was in the middle of the pack, and it appeared as if he had just returned from somewhere. The Earthrealm warriors gathered around, while Sonya and Johnny Cage were helping him up.

A look of shock and despair was splashed all across the fighters' faces, as the God of Thunder looked badly beaten. Many of them began asking Raiden questions, such as what had happened, and who was responsible for this. Skarlet slipped into the Cathedral as quietly as a cat, to get a closer look and hear the commotion better.

Smoke watched as the gutsy assassin had snuck in and left him and Noob Saibot outside. He turned to look at Bi-Han.

"We must follow her. Be as stealthy as possible. We cannot afford to alert the others of our presence."

Noob Saibot nodded once, but mentally cursed Skarlet for putting them in this predicament. The wraith reminded himself of why the three of them were there in the first place, and that it was to locate Sub-Zero by any means necessary. Even if it meant spying on the enemy.

Lord Raiden may know of Kuai Liang's exact location, or could possibly be expecting the Cryomancer to join them shortly. He slipped inside the church behind Smoke to follow them into the shadows.

The trio had to be extremely careful, and could not afford to have a fight break out. Although Lord Raiden was severely weakened, the team of Noob-Smoke plus Skarlet was greatly outnumbered.

The three of them watched from the shadows and listened in on the conversation. Fujin approached Lord Raiden as Sonya and Johnny propped the Thunder God up.

"Raiden, tell us what happened. Who did this to you?"

The God of Thunder struggled to hold his head up and was breathing heavy.

"Onaga…he has…returned to Outworld…and is very…powerful…" Raiden replied.

The Earthrealm warriors exchanged confused and concerned looks, as some of them did not know much about the Dragon King.

Hiding in the shadows, Skarlet turned to Noob Saibot, while Lord Raiden began to explain things to the Earthrealm warriors.

"Who is Onaga?" she whispered.

The wraith slowly shook his head while keeping his eyes trained on the group, half-listening to them and half-listening to Skarlet. "I do not know..."

Lord Raiden continued to speak.

"Onaga is very powerful. We can ill-afford to have him stand at the side of Lord Shinnok and Quan Chi. I'm afraid we would not stand a chance against the three of them together."


Back at the Lin Kuei temple, Frost had just launched her powerful ice blast in her master's direction. Sub-Zero watched as the large blue beam shot towards him and reacted by unleashing his own beam to counter hers.

BOOM!

The two attacks collided with each other, the force of the impact shaking the entire Lin Kuei temple, and alerting the other clan members. Many of them stopped what they were doing - whether it be training, eating, or meditating - and rushed to the scene.

The two continuous streams of energy and ice struggled against one another, the large ball of concentrated power at the centre was beginning to freeze the surrounding environment. Frost was pushing everything she had into the attack, and could feel that she was starting to gain the upper hand.

Sub-Zero was surprised at his student's power, and felt the need to exert more of his own energy.

"FROST! STOP THIS AT ONCE!" he yelled from behind his attack.

The young warrior did not hear what her master had said as she was screaming in rage, while pressing her attack. Frost dug deep within herself and found more energy and channelled it into her ice blast. The blue beam that emanated from her palms grew twice as large, and had much more concentration.

Sub-Zero could feel that Frost was pushing her limits, and had to take it upon himself to end this madness. Just then, many of the clan members had shown up, gathered around, and saw what was happening. Looks of shock and confusion were among the Lin Kuei, as they had no idea of what to do.

"EVERYONE LEAVE! NOW!" the Grandmaster commanded.

Groups of the clan scattered in all directions, not wanting to get frozen or caught up in the tense struggle. Whether or not this was part of Frost's training, the Lin Kuei did not care to stick around and find out.

Sub-Zero took it to the next level, and pushed more power into his attack, the Dragon Medallion on his chest glowing a bright blue while he exerted energy. I am sorry Frost, but I must end this now. Kuai Liang thought as he made the move to finish the situation. A huge wave of force rippled from his palms along the length of his ice beam and shot towards the centre concentration.

The Grandmaster's power smashed through Frost's attack, and caused a great explosion of Cryokinetic energy. Frost was launched back and slammed into a support pillar many meters away. Sub-Zero back flipped out of the way as the ice blast shot in all directions, and began to freeze the entire Lin Kuei temple. The blue energy crawled all along the floors and walls of the large structure, encasing it in ice.


"So what is your plan, Lord Raiden?" Kenshi asked.

"I will need some of you to return to Outworld with me. Together, we must eliminate Onaga, and prevent him from standing with the Forces of Darkness."

"Wouldn't our presence alert Shinnok, and trigger an early war in Outworld?" Fujin asked.

Lord Raiden turned to him.

"Then we must execute our plan as quickly and as stealthy as possible, and leave before the enemy has a chance to retaliate."

"But you are severely weakened, we will not stand much a chance with you in this state..." the God of Wind replied.

"I will be alright. I am already starting to feel my body recov-" Lord Raiden stopped in mid sentence, as he received a vision. His eyes went blank and his body froze, as he stared off into space.

The Earthrealm warriors all went silent and placed their full attention on the Thunder God.

Raiden then blinked, and the fighters were all relieved when a small smile formed on his face.

Sonya Blade spoke. "Lord Raiden, what is it?" she asked, nervous, tense, and excited all at the same time.

"It is Sub-Zero…I have just picked up on his energy signal. His power is great and immense. I now know where he is! I must teleport to him at once! We will need him to journey with us into Outworld."


The power surge between Sub-Zero and Frost was strong enough to be felt by Lord Raiden thousands of miles away. The Cryomancer has been located by the Forces of Light, but they are unaware that a team hiding in the shadows, is looking for the Lin Kuei Grandmaster as well…


Sorry it took a while to update. Don't know when I will update next. I will try to get chapter 9 up asap.

Thanks for reading.