After a while, the match was over.
"I can't look..." Cherry shuddered. "Just tell me who won."
"Atticus." Goku said.
Cherry looked away to see that Atticus had in fact won and she gasped happily. "You're alive!" she then went to a deadpan expression to make it look like she didn't care. "I mean, who cares?"
Atticus should have expected that from her.
"Not bad..." Scorpion told Atticus. "It almost makes me smile."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Atticus said.
"You should." Cherry advised.
"I wonder who your next opponent will be?" Goku said to her.
"Hopefully someone a little easy," Cherry replied. "I'm still a little light-headed from Kitana."
"Who knows?" Atticus shrugged.
There was soon more eating and for a while, everyone relaxed until the next morning.
"So, Goku, how's the boys?" Atticus asked. "They're like the brothers I've always wanted."
"They're doing great." Goku smiled.
"I miss them," Atticus smiled back. "They were great, even if they thought I was weird for liking to eat broccoli."
"I thought Goten was the only one that thought that was weird." Goku said.
"They both thought it was weird," Atticus replied with a shrug. "I wasn't very popular growing up."
"I bet you wish you could go back in time and beat up those bullies you grew up with." Goku replied.
"Oh, boy, do I." Atticus said.
"Well, we'd be glad to have ya back," Goku smiled. "The boys missed you too, especially Trunks."
"I guess I could come back." Atticus said.
"Great!" Goku beamed.
"Um... You think Cherry could come check it out too?" Atticus asked. "It might be good for her to experience your world since I got to see Mortal Kombat up close."
"Well... I suppose that would be okay," Goku shrugged. "I don't know what to think of her honestly."
"She's a perky goth." Atticus shrugged.
"Does that mean she laughs at funerals?" Goku scratched his head.
"It's complicated..." Atticus replied. "But thanks for letting her come experience your world."
"Sure thing, kiddo," Goku smiled. "You're like another son to me."
Hearing him say that caused Atticus smile. Goku smiled back.
Later that night...
Everyone was soon in bed to rest up for more fighting in the morning.
A certain deathly sorcerer seemed to be checking out the camping ground where they all were and Cherry seemed to shiver in her sleep almost as if she could sense his presence. Then all of a sudden her medallion appeared and glowed, shielding her.
"Hmm..." The dark voice commented. "Interesting... She seems to have an Equestrian medallion..." He soon left her room.
Cherry shivered slightly and turned over in her sleep.
"Hmm... Strange..." The man muttered to himself before looking to where Atticus slept.
Drell soon let out a battle cry as he ran toward the man with a battle ax to get rid of him for spying on his students. Although he soon stopped as the man sent a chill down his spine. "Well, well, who are you...?" He then asked.
"The most powerful man in the universe." Drell replied in a high voice since he was scared.
"Oh, really?" The man smirked. "Boo."
Drell yelped and shivered slightly. "Oh, come on now, Shang, let's talk about this..." he then smiled nervously. "Cherry and Atticus aren't even part of this area, you shouldn't go after them like you do with the other Mortal Kombattelists."
"You know that I have to fight everyone in this area." Shang said.
"Yes, I know, of course, and that excludes Cherry and Atticus." Drell replied.
"Oh, I might have to include them..." Shang said as he looked right into the warlock's eyes which made him freeze with fear. "I'll even give them a special motivation."
"And what would that be?" Drell trembled.
Shang smirked slightly before taking out his hand. "Your soul is mine."
"No, no, no, let's not do that..." Drell begged with a nervous smile. "Just leave them alone, they're only children!"
"They're teenagers." Shang said.
"They're still young!" Drell begged.
Shang soon glared at Drell who looked quite scared to death and soon his eyes lolled back into his skull and his body fell flat on the ground as his soul was taken from him.
"Give his soul back." Atticus's voice glared.
Shang turned around with a glare back which made him see Atticus wide awake. "Who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm Atticus Fudo, and I'll challenge you to Mortal Kombat in exchange for the warlock's soul." Atticus glared back.
Shang just laughed. "You're merely a child~"
"Like you said earlier, I'm a teenager." Atticus said.
"Same difference," Shang chuckled. "So, say we do fight, what's in it for me?"
"Atticus?" Cherry woke up slightly and looked around as she felt something was wrong before she came to see what was going on and gasped once she saw who her best friend was talking to. "Shang Tsung!"
"If you win, you can have my soul or better yet, my body," Atticus said. "Along with the Sword of Harmony."
Cherry's eyes widened in fear.
"Hmm... Interesting wager... I can't help, but notice that you and your female friend have Equestrian medallions, so I suppose this sword is also from Equestria." Shang smirked in interest.
"Yep, it sure is." Atticus said before bringing out the legendary sword.
Shang soon took the sword to take a look at it.
"Atticus, can I talk to you...?" Cherry shakily asked her best friend. "I mean... You just basically made a bargain with The Devil."
"Trust me," Atticus said. "I can take this guy."
"You could die!" Cherry replied. "Not even I could beat Shang Tsung in the final boss battles of Mortal Kombat on my video games!"
"He's that tough?" Atticus asked.
"Uh-huh..." Cherry replied. "We might as well take this time to now think about the good times we had with Drell... I personally haven't had any, but you could always speak for his funeral or memorial service."
"Cherry, I'm not going to let him die." Atticus said.
"I can't lose you though..." Cherry told him. "You're a pain in the butt, but you're my pain in the butt!"
"I'll live, besides Raiden will just bring me back if I die." Atticus said.
"Not this time," Shang smirked. "The deal is final, so if you die against me, you will be dead forever..."
"NO!" Cherry cried out.
"Wow." Atticus said.
"If you want to back out, I don't blame you, but you can say goodbye to your so-called teacher." Shang mocked.
"No, I'm not backing out." Atticus glared.
"So, have we got a deal?" Shang smirked.
Atticus glared before he took a breath. "We've got a deal... We'll battle tomorrow at night right after dinner, if I win, you bring Drell back and leave us all alone."
"And I win your soul and body is mine, along with this." Shang smirked as showed the Sword of Harmony.
"Yes..." Atticus replied bravely. "You have my word."
"Done!" Shang grabbed Atticus's hand and shook it.
Cherry soon bowed her head as this would take a lot more than simple training.
"Looks like someone's training is going to be intensified..." Scorpion noted.
The next day soon came. Atticus yawned as he wearily opened his eyes and yelped at first to see Scorpion facing him.
"Atticus, wake up," Scorpion told him. "You're up against Shang Tsung tonight, and you're going to need all the training you can get, even if it means working yourself to death, though in this case, metaphorical speaking."
"How do you know about my match?" Atticus asked.
"I was meditating before my own slumber and I overheard you two last night." Scorpion replied, mysteriously as always.
"Oh..." Atticus said.
"Do you realize what a stupid move you just made for yourself?" Scorpion replied.
"I wasn't going to just let Drell die." Atticus said.
"That's quite noble of you." Scorpion replied.
"I don't care if I win or lose, but I wouldn't want to lose," Atticus said. "Whatever you got for me, I'm ready, no matter how long or hard it takes."
"Alright then." Scorpion said.
Atticus nodded in determination as he wondered what poor Drell was going through right now.
"So hot..." Drell panted as he was in the fiery underworld right now since Shang took his soul. "Why the heck did I have to be sent here?!"
There was soon dark laughter heard.
"Heh... How ironic is it that I just got a chill down my spine?" Drell smiled nervously before he soon turns around to see who had a dark laughter. "Oh, my God..."
"You wish..." The Devil sneered to the warlock. "Finally, your soul is mine to use and abuse. Atticus doesn't stand a chance against Shang Tsung."
"I'm sure he'll win." Drell said.
"Now then," The Devil smirked. "For your eternal punishment."
"I won't be here long," Drell glared. "Atticus will get me out of this fiery pit."
"Hmm... Yes, that deal, you know that if he wins, you'll be set free, but if he loses, you'll still be set free, but he takes your place and his body is up for keeps." The Devil smirked.
Drell glared as he shook his fists, trying not to be intimidated by the Ruler of Hell.
"We'll just have to see." The Devil smirked.
"Man, it's hotter than the deserts that Sabrina's mother explores..." Drell panted and waved his face.
"Oh, you don't like it?" The Devil mocked. "TOO BAD!"
"Atticus, please win." Drell begged quietly.