DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN MK.

It was a sad day, full of mourning, especially for Frost. Her head was hung low, her garments as black and depressive as we all felt. One by one, we had buried the clan leaders, paying our respects to each. Only at the final grave, the grave of her father, did she break down and cry once more. Raiden was at her side, holding her close, mourning with her. He seemed to feel her pain, her loss, just as she did.

"Ah, a graveyard," said an unwelcome, snide voice. "The perfect resting place for you, Raiden."

Everyone spun around, ready for battle, save myself and Frost. She froze, horrified. I then recalled what she'd told me. Quan Chi had also raped her during her captivity. I ran to Frost, trying to drag her away... but her feet were planted in her fear. Just when the warriors were going to attack, a portal opened and Goro, Shiva, Shang Tsung, Mileena, and a tarkatan horde all stormed through. The Lin Kuei present fought on our side. The stress of battle seemed to have woken Frost and she ran with me, away from the fighting. Suddenly, Quan Chi began to chant something. Raiden was surrounded in a green light, Quan Chi's power. Horrified, Frost froze, then began to walk back towards him, her walk turning into a run. She caught Raiden as he fell, the spell completed.

"What did you do to him?" she demanded of the sorceror. In response, he turned to Shang Tsung.

"Kill him," he said. "He's a powerless mortal now."

Horror filled Frost's eyes as she realized what had happened. Time seemed to slow down as I watched the attack gather in Shang Tsung's hand. Frost quickly pushed Raiden out of the way, but the blast hit the mountain behind them. Thunder crashed through the valley as the mountain began to crack... and buried the two lovers beneathe it.

"RAIDEN! FROST!" screamed a voice. It took me a few moments to realize it was my own voice as my feet carried me swiftly over to the pile of boulders. There, I began frantically removing the smaller boulders. My mind was only focused on one thing: I had to unbury them. I had to save them.

"Fall back!" Quan Chi's voice said. "We've done what we came to do!"

Only then did it hit the Earthrhelmers what had happened. Soon, my hands weren't the only ones digging out the mountain.

Hang on, Frost, Raiden! We're coming!

I clenched my jaw.

Please don't be dead.

I slowly came to, pain throbbing in every inch of my body. I then realized I was laying on someone... and that someone was taking in very shaky breaths.

"Raiden... are you all right?" I asked softly, coughing in the dust, my face buried in his robe.

"Save your air," he told me. "There won't be much left."

I frowned at him.

"Frost, I need you to do something for me," he said softly. I got suspicious due to the tone he used. It send a cold shiver down my spine. Something bad was about to happen. He pressed something cold and metallic into my hand and brought my hand up to his ribs. Almost immediately, I dropped the knife.

"No!" I objected. "No! I will not end your life!"

"Frost, there won't be enough air for us both," he argued, trying to get me to understand what he was trying to do. "I can hear the others unburying us just as well as you can, but they won't get here in time to save us both! Ending my life will buy you more time!"

"No!" I repeated. "Just stop, Raiden! Just stop! I'd rather die here, right now with you then live the rest of my life mourning for you! Raiden, I love you!"

He froze.

"The entire time I was stuck in Outworld, trapped there, the only thing I could think of or about... was you!" I began to reveal to him. "I didn't fear dying. I didn't fear what they were going to do. I feared dying before I could see you again, that I never would!"

I paused, tears leaking out of my cheeks.

"I had to face the possibility of eternity without you once," I said softly, yet urgently. "Don't ask me to do it again!"

It was silent for a few moments... then his lips were on mine. This kiss was so different from all the others before. It was powerful, desirous, loving, tender, and mind-blowing all in one. Lightning flashed behind my closed eyelids, my entire mind clouding over. He pulled away long enough for me to breathe, then kissed me again. His hand came up to cup my face, his fingers in my hair. My own hands clutched at his robe on his chest, unable to move them much due to the rocks litterally crushing my body to Raiden's. Slowly, Raiden pulled his lips away, close enough I could still feel his breath upon my own.

"You don't know how much that means to me," he said softly, then kissed me again. While we both knew this really wasn't the best time for this, neither of us could stop ourselves, our kisses being the only way we could show our love in this moment.

"When we get out of here, I want to try this marriage thing again, for real this time," I whispered to him. Even in the dark, I felt him nod.

"We'll renew our vows..." he agreed.

"In front of all our friends," I added, then kissed him again. After that kiss, I laid my head on his chest, content to just be in his arms. The rocks above us shifted and a single ray of sunlight illuminated Raiden's face. I smiled and kissed him softly.

"It would appear the Elder Gods want us both to survive as well," I teased lightly. He chuckled and kissed me again, both of us grateful for our continued air supply.

I didn't know how much time had passed before one of the Lin Kuei finally unburied Raiden and Frost. Both were heavily injured from the weight of the rocks, lucky to be alive. Both were also still concious, but we had to carry them both back to the temple. Both lost conciousness along the way, unable to bear the pain any longer. There, Sub-Zero set to work, healing them both as best he could, which wasn't very well. Neither were concious so neither of them could willingly submit to his power. All he could do was try to reset the bones and hope they healed soon.

"Do you think the spell's permanent?" asked Liu, watching the two lovers pass out, side-by-side, from the pain.

"I don't know, Liu," I answered him softly. "I don't know."

Worried, the two of us remained in that doorway until late that night. We all took shifts watching over them, praying they'd be okay.