Disclaimer: I do NOT own Mortal Kombat or anything related to it.


"Confidence is a fine trait. Over-confidence isn't."
— Laurell K. Hamilton (Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #9))

Chapter 8:Frost


Overconfidence.

Even before she joined the Lin Kuei, Frost struggled with this emotion for years. It was because of this emotion that she lost her winning streak in the deathmatch fight club to Cassie Cage. Not a day went by that Frost didn't wish Johnny Cage's brat had killed her before the arrival of the Black Dragon Clan. Death was preferable to the knowledge of her failure. When Raiden told her of a tournament held by Kuai Liang to find new members of the Lin Kuei, Frost eagerly accepted his suggestion. She was determined to become stronger and joining the Lin Kuei would help her do that.

Despite a rough first meeting, she proved herself worthy of his tutelage. He went as far as to break the clan's traditions by personally training her. Physically, she never failed to impress him. Mentally, however, she was a disappointment. The number of times Sub-Zero tried and failed to reach Frost humility was not worth remembering. Frost didn't understand the need to humble herself when she was clearly one of the most powerful warriors in the clan. If anything, the weaklings should be groveling at her feet. Frost could easily kill them, yet she was the one who had to show them respect which they didn't deserve?

Another thing she didn't understand was the difference between fear and respect. Did fear not lead to respect? Sub-Zero scolded her fiercly when she said this, claiming that fearing someone made you hate them, while respect earned you trust and loyalty. To Frost, that notion was almost as ridiculous as peace between the Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei. How could Sub-Zero have been foolish enough to trust Scorpion of all people? He wasn't even a human being anymore, just an undead caitiff.

There will be no peace, Scorpion!

Frost clenched her fists as she recalled that day years ago when Sub-Zero froze her for attacking the former spectre. She heard him speak of her as if she wasn't there, stating that she was powerful, but lacked the judgement to see the wisdom of peace. What was there to see? How could there be any wisdom in peace? Had the Grandmaster truly gone insane? He should be thanking her for trying to stop him from making the biggest mistake in their clan's history. Instead she was punished for what he claimed was a complete lack of respect in him and his decisions.

In all honesty, Frost was beginning to grow frustrated with her mentor's own lack of judgement. Not to mention his ideas of mercy and respect for one's enemies. His belief that peace could actually be achieved between the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu was nothing short of disgusting. It didn't matter what treaties were signed or promises made, because everyone knew you could never trust your enemies not to attack or betray you again. If peace was what Sub-Zero wanted, he should have killed Scorpion and his pathetic clan when he had the chance and made sure that they stayed dead this time, never to come back. None of the consequences the Lin Kuei faced for their previous leaders' stupidity would have happened if she was in charge...

Realizing where her thoughts were leading, Frost quickly shook them away and forced herself to relax with a sigh. Her fists unclenched. Only then did she notice how tense she'd become while lost in these dark thoughts of hers. As much as she hated to admit it, Sub-Zero was not entirely wrong about how arrogant she could be sometimes. Even Frost had to acknowledge that there was still much left for her to learn.

Thinking about all of this kept her awake for the last few hours when she should have been sleeping. She gave up on finding rest two hours ago and was currently sitting on her bunk trying to meditate without disturbing her sleeping clan mates. Try as she might, her mind could not achieve peace. The anger, arrogance, and greed kept on clouding her mind and driving her insane. It was an hour before sunrise when she decided to stop wasting her time and went outside in the hopes that some fresh air, cold as it was, would help her calm down a bit.

Making herself comfortable on the steps outside, she pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. The cold air did little to soothe her nerves, but she welcomed it nevertheless. She closed her eyes and tried to meditate again. Just as she seemed to finally relax, a bloodcurdling cry rang throughout the temple. Her eyes snapped open as she recognized whom the voice belonged to: Sub-Zero.

Immediately, Frost was on her feet and running toward the Grandmaster's quarters alongside several guards on duty and now awake warriors who had also heard Sub-Zero crying out. As they neared the door to Sub-Zero's quarters, another cry was heard followed by chilling laughter. Frost recognized whom that voice belonged to as well: Raiden.

Gesturing for her clan mates to step back, Frost froze the door and with a powerful kick she shattered it to pieces. Lin Kuei warriors rushed into the room. Frost froze at the sight before her: Sub-Zero lay on the ground, groaning in agony while Raiden stood over him, hand raised as he prepared to electrocute him a third time.

Frost took advantage of his distracted state to slide across the floor and use her leg to trip him. As he fell, she curled her hand into a fist and punched him in the face. Her clan mates joined the fight, outnumbering and temporarily outmatching the Thunder God. But then Raiden recovered and reality set in; he was a god, and they had done nothing more than piss him off.

All Frost could do was watch in horror as three of her clan mates were burnt to a crisp by Raiden. Two gasps behind her drew her attention to the door where two more fell dead to the floor, their throats violently slashed. Kano stood over the two corpses, throwing her a smirk and wink as he held up his butterfly knives so she could see the blood covering the blades. His fellow Black Dragon members had already made quick work of several other Lin Kuei warriors. Another thing soon became clear: the Black Dragon Clan was not the only back up Raiden brought with him. Scorpion and the Shirai Ryu burst from all sides, engaging their longtime rivals in combat. Frost formed a pair of ice daggers and struggled to defend herself against Jarek and two Shirai Ryu Warriors.

The screams of her clansmen as they were either cut down by the Black Dragon and Shirai Ryu or electrocuted by Raiden made her feel as if her ears would start bleeding. The more experienced warriors were able to hold out on their own, but the younger and newly recruited ones fell like flies. Some were Frost's age. Others were barely into their teenage years. And they were being slaughtered like animals...

"Stop!" Raiden's voice brought a temporary end to the conflict. Scorpion and Kano gestured for their followers to stop what they were doing. Sub-Zero was clutching his side and gritting his teeth against the pain in his whole body from Raiden's attack. Frost dropped her daggers and rushed to his aid, wrapping one arm around his waist and urging him to wrap his arm around her shoulders to support his weight and help him stand. She glared at Raiden, watching with icy eyes as he turned his attention to her and broke the silence.

"Frost." He tilted his head, smirking. She scowled beneath her mask. Her fellow Lin Kuei also made sure not to lower their guard around their foes."You have certainly come a long way from your time in the fight club. I am impressed."

Frost rolled her eyes."I'm flattered. No really. You have no idea how long I've waited for to hear a compliment from you." Her voice was wet with sarcasm. She glanced at Scorpion with contempt."I see you've brought your Shirai Ryu dog with you. Oh and the Black Dragon idiots are here too. Forgive me if I'm not surprised."

Raiden's smirk vanished."Hanzo Hashashi is atoning for his mistake in killing Quan Chi and causing Shinnok's invasion. Kano and his comrades have agreed to aid me in exchange for full pardons for their crimes. I will, after all, need help if I am to succeed in defeating Kotal Kahn. Weak as he and his forces are at the moment, they will still not be easy to defeat in the tournament. Sub-Zero, along with several others, may pose a threat to that and must be dealt with."

"Y-You have gone mad!" Sub-Zero said through gritted teeth."Only Shao Kahn would stoop so low!"

Raiden scowled."I am nothing like that tyrant."

"No," Sub-Zero agreed, shaking his head."You are far worse than he and Shinnok combined!" He groaned in pain as he spoke. Had Frost not been supporting his weight, he would not be able to stay on his feet. He shook his head again and looked at his Lin Kuei Warriors."S-Stop him. He has taken Cassandra Cage hostage and...will kill us all..." His head dropped as he fainted from the combination of pain and fatigue.

"Get the Grandmaster and the younger Lin Kuei out of here." One of the older Lin Kuei warriors ordered, stepping forward protectively in front of Sub-Zero and Frost."We will deal with these intruders."

"But-" She started to argue.

"No, wait," Raiden said, addressing Frost."Frost, you are overconfident and still have much to learn, but you are powerful and have the potential to become something great one day. Join my forces and after we win the tournament, I will give you what you desire most."

Frost's eyes widened."The Dragon Medallion," she whispered in awe, her grip on Sub-Zero loosening as she thought about Raiden's offer.

Her eyes falling shut, Frost pictured herself as Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. There were so many things she could do differently with that kind of power, that kind of knowledge and skill. But was she ready? Would she ever be ready?

I'm an orphan. I earned spot here in sweat and blood.

For all her arrogance in having taken so many lives before losing to Cassie Cage, thinking about her actions now made Frost disgusted with herself. She had been a source of entertainment for cowards too lazy or weak to put up a fight themselves and she had taken pride in that. So much blood was shed, sweat and tears lost, and for what? To be someone else's killing and money machine? No. Never again would she allow herself to turn into that.

"Find someone else to do your dirty work for you!" She spat."I won't be your pet killer like Kano and Scorpion."

Raiden shook his head and sighed, genuinely disappointed."A pity." He turned to his followers."I have no further need of them. Kill them all. I have more important matters to deal with at the moment." He raised his hand and teleported away.

As soon as he was gone, the fighting began anew. Frost threw herself and Sub-Zero to the ground as arrows, bullets, and Elder Gods knew what else were fired at them. Two younger Lin Kuei, one a boy and the other a girl no older than thirteen or fourteen, rushed to their aid. She could hear Kano and Scorpion's vexed shouts as they and their minions were prevented from reaching the Grandmaster.

Jarek and Tasia cut down multiple Lin Kuei, refusing to back down until they managed to corner their target. Curling into a ball, Jarek hurled himself right at her. Frost and Sub-Zero came crashing to the floor, the two younger Lin Kuei unable to help them as Tasia suddenly appeared in a cloud of smoke behind them and killed them before they realized she was there. Frost yelled out the dead children's names in horror and anger. She had personally known those children. Tasia would pay dearly for that.

Smirking, Tasia turned and charged at Frost with Jarek following her example. Frost shot the ground with her ice blast, freezing both Black Dragon members in the process. She knelt down and helped Sub-Zero stand, dragging him to the door. Try as she might, there was no ignoring the screams of friend and foe alike, nor the clash of blades and echoes of gunfire. And to think she once enjoyed those sounds, enjoyed making those sounds...

She shook the memories away. Now was not the time to get lost in her thoughts. Sub-Zero had awoken at this point, and was relying on his student to help him stay on his feet, though his steps quickened a bit as his strength returned to him. They were barely out the door when a kunai attached to a metal chain impaled Frost's shoulder from behind and yanked her backwards. Sub-Zero lost his balance without her aid and slammed his hand against the wall to steady himself.

"Get over here!" Scorpion yelled. Frost shut her eyes and gritted her teeth as a fist collided with her head, followed by a kick to the side that knocked her across the floor. She rolled away as his foot landed where her head was a second ago. Her elbow met his face, a smirk crossing her lips as she felt his nose break. Her satisfaction was short-lived as he punched her in the stomach and then kicked her back to the floor. He walked over to her and trampled on her chest. Frost didn't need to be a genius to know he cracked at least two ribs by doing so. A moan of pain escaped her lips.

Were it not for Sub-Zero's intervention, Scorpion would have finished her right then and there. She faintly heard the former spectre's grunt of surprise as his longtime rival's Kori blade crossed with his own sword. Frost sluggishly got up. Clutching her chest and fighting back tears, she reminded herself she'd suffered worse and formed a pair of ice daggers. She lunged at Scorpion, catching him off guard with the ferocity of her attacks. Sub-Zero rejoined the fight and together they were able to outmatch Scorpion, forcing him to flee from their battle and focus on the lesser Lin Kuei warriors.

The battle was now turning in favor of the Lin Kuei while the Shirai Ryu and Black Dragon Clan were losing. Kano's butterfly knives connected with her ice daggers. She noticed he was weak from a previous fight, probably while capturing Cassie Cage. Frost doubted the Cage brat would go down without a fight, and as much as she loathed the other girl, she was grateful for the advantage Kano's wounds granted her in beating him. She disarmed him, showing no mercy in the kicks she unleashed on his shoulders and chest until he crashed into a wall. Tremor was nowhere in sight. Why Kano would not bring him was beyond her, though she dared not complain. Stupid as he was, Tremor was a dangerous enemy on the battlefield, his powers providing an advantage the Black Dragon could have used.

"Enough!" Quick as he left, Raiden returned, his expression a mix of ire and humiliation at the failure of his minions."I shall deal with you all myself!"

Lightning roared in equal volume to the agonized cries of the Lin Kuei. Frost fell to her knees, hearing Sub-Zero's Kori blade and her own ice daggers shatter. The agony of his foes amused Raiden to no end. The Thunder God was cackling, the sadistic glee he felt at seeing these strong warriors crumble before him and his power providing great mirth.

Finally he relented, the force of the lightning's abrupt stop sending his victims into the wall. Frost slid down into sitting position onto the floor, her body in so much pain that she couldn't even whimper. Sub-Zero was desperately trying to stand up, to no avail. Raiden electrocuted him mercilessly, stopping only when the Grandmaster lay unconscious on the floor.

Frost dared not move lest she further aggravate her wounds, but she found that sitting perfectly still didn't lessen the pain either. She could not help the Grandmaster, could not help her fellow Lin Kuei, could not even help herself. How utterly pathetic.

Raiden turned his attention from Sub-Zero to her, his lips twisting into an ugly grin. Slowly he approached, eager to make her suffer for rejecting his offer.

"You should have taken my offer when you had the chance, Frost." He sneered down at her. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the end."Now you will die for-"

"Raiden!" A male voice boomed. Frost kept her eyes shut."Stop!" Someone else had come, she realized, and that someone brought others with him. She almost shouted with joy, then remembered it was best not to move due to her injuries. But by the Elder Gods, she was saved! She didn't care who had come or who was with him, so long as she was safe from Raiden.

"Fujin." Frost could practically hear the Thunder God's smile as he addressed the new arrival."I would have thought you of all people would understand my actions. Clearly, I was wrong."

"Raiden..." Fujin's voice was filled with horror and disbelief."W-What have you done?"

She heard nothing else of their conversation before she slipped into unconsciousness.


Hey! Sorry for the wait. This chapter took awhile to write. To be honest, when I first started writing this story I had every intention of having Rain and Frost work with Raiden. It wasn't until I started writing their individual chapters that I changed my mind and decided to try something else with their characters. I hope I haven't made her OOC or anything. Oh, and Fujin finally appeared! Yay! :) Until next time, please remember to review, leave constructive criticism, but no flames!

Next up: Chapter 9:Sindel