Chapter 4: Training

Hey guys and welcome to another chapter of "Reversed Brides." I do not own Mortal Kombat, any recognized themes; just my Oc's that clearly have problems. Thank you, R&R, and enjoy.

Drops of blood dotted the floor in the Temple of Shinnok and an array of weapons lay against the walls and on top of an altar. Besides the occasional sound of flying demons or the chanting of the Brotherhood of Shadow the only other noise was the disappointment of Shinnok.

"No, Magdalyn you will not quit until I think you have showed satisfactory progress!" The dark lord glowered at his companion as the ingrate sat cross legged and arms crossed looking stubbornly at a bloodied wall.

In his anger Shinnok had sacrificed a demon due to Magdalyn's decrepit fighting ability. Of course, instead of striking her the fallen god thought it better to destroy a worthless creature, to either bring fear in her heart or boost her morale. This act however, was done in vain and a few of his followers that were supposed to help with Magdalyn's training excused themselves from the awkward moment.

Daegon, murderer of the son of Argus, Noob, and Kitana all left in a hurry when Shinnok resorted to yelling with spittle occasionally flying across the room. Unfortunately, it landed in Daegon's good eye and he had to excuse himself only to not return.

Today started out well enough, but as minutes turned to several miserable hours Shinnok was about ready to throw down his staff.

"Why does it matter if I can't fight?!" Magdalyn's eyes showed of fresh tears that began to run down her already tear streaked face. "I don't want to do this; you already have plenty of idiots to serve you..."

"AND that is exactly why you need to know how to defend yourself!" Shinnok shouted with as much control as he could muster.

"I can't always be there to defend you, and my servants are not your crutches to depend on time and time again!" Shinnok pounded the altar with a tight fist and leaned over to look Magdalyn in the soul and menacingly addressed her incompetence.

"I will not attach myself to a useless woman."

For the first time since she got there Magdalyn felt herself shrink; no one had ever spoke to her like that before. Even when Rashid and her would fight that was completely different from what just happened. Shinnok breached her soul and shot every excuse or entitlement she had stored within her.

"Now, you will fight or you will die; do you understand?" Shinnok straightened himself from his leaning position and restrained himself from wincing. Elder god or not sometimes he really did feel his age; more so today than usual. "Do you understand?"

Slowly but visibly, Magdalyn nodded and muttered a response, "yes..."

"Yes what?" Shinnok frowned and crossed his arms.

"Yes, I understand Shinnok..." Magdalyn felt her hands shaking but looking at him she knew Shinnok wasn't taking her crap. The fallen god dropped his arms and sighed before letting his status slip for a moment and took a seat on the stairs that Magdalyn sat on.

"Magdalyn, I'm not trying to be mean to you, and I'm not going to kill you." Shinnok started slowly trying to piece together his words. "I really need you to know how to take care of yourself; if anything happens to me, you're on your own."

Magdalyn began to open her mouth but Shinnok continued, "And no Quan Chi f*ucking hates you so yes you will be on your own."

Blinking away tears the young woman nodded before getting up from the stairs and helping her significant other on his feet. Picking up his bone scythe, Shinnok looked at Magdalyn, "Are we okay now?"

Noticing her silence Shinnok lifted Magdalyn's chin to look up at him and sighed with relief when she nodded.

"Good."

Before starting to train again, Shinnok thought it better if Magdalyn gets patched up first. She'd taken several hits from him and no doubt it bruised more than her ego. Magdalyn gave her arm to Kitana to wrap up when she asked for something he didn't quite hear.

Kitana sighed and bowed before Shinnok. "My lord?"

Running a finger over the spine of his staff the fallen god looked at the revenant expecting the worst.

"She wants Hello Kitty band-aids."

Special Forces grounds

Raiden shook his head at what he was witnessing and sighed. Even with his efforts it had officially come to his realization.

Rashid was not flexible.

"Look... look... I'm doing... it."

Johnny Cage shook his head and tried to keep from laughing, "If you mean the next installation of, "IRobot" then yeah you are."

Rashid was attempting to stretch before officially training, in sitting position with her legs sprawled out and arms stretched in front of her as far as she could go. The thunder god walked over to where his pupil was and put his foot against Rashid's back; making her lean forward with a grunt.

"This is just stretching and you're already breaking a sweat." Raiden mumbled before taking his foot off her back.

Raiden and Rashid had been staying at the Special forces camp assisting in the rebuild of Earth realms cities and feeding citizens. When Raiden was busy elsewhere Rashid was being sent on errands around the camp and within the city limits. Sonya kept her busy with training and had even scolded her a couple times.

"I know Raiden but if it's any consolation I have lost weight." Rashid got up and dusted herself off before turning to look at the thunder god nervously.

She was relieved that he wasn't the impatient kind; so long as being cooperative.

"I should hope you've stuck with your meal regimen." Raiden got in a stance and beckoned that she does the same.

"Now it's all about stabilizing yourself, and balance. You're obviously lack grace to wield anything smoothly so we'll stick with those wrist daggers for now."

To figure out what her weapon type should be several days were spent training Rashid on how to use her weapons. Not wanting to waste time every lesson, she received was stuck with her until she passed. That including the ability to swim; Sonya in a way got great joy in throwing the student in a large body of water in hopes of Rashid saving herself.

She did but not without the consequence of swallowing a small fish, and thanks to her record of being uncoordinated and awkward Rashid now had the nickname of, "Stiffs." It wasn't exactly what the thunder god had in mind for having his significant other get acquainted with his allies, but it was a relief that she was warming up all the same.

After a couple of hours with satisfactory progress, Raiden ended their training session with a leg swipe; knocking Rashid on her rear end and landing on her back.

"Of all moves to pull you do it here on this gravel..." the thunder god folded his arms across his chest, "That was to see if you were paying attention."

Looking up at her instructor from the ground Rashid cocked an eyebrow, "And the verdict?"

"You were thinking of anything more than the lesson at hand." Raiden reached an arm out and let Rashid take hold of it, "That's enough for today; freshen up and come meet me at the entrance."

She bowed respectively before running off to her private tent; just as Rashid was about to go inside, she was stopped by a fellow soldier.

"Hey Stiffs look alive." He threw her a set of keys which she caught but couldn't help but recognize the trinket on the key ring.

"Private Pumpkin?" Rashid's blood ran cold. "What the hell are you doing with Blade's keys?!"

Raising his hands in defense the soldier smirked annoyingly. "Listen kid, me and the guys just need some drinks. Liquor store is right around the corner.

"Are you insane? I can't get in or out of this place without anyone seeing me..."

The soldier scoffed and rolled his eyes, "I figured you would go since you got connections in here, being Raiden's broad and all."

Rashid felt her heart drop, she had said she'd meet Raiden soon at the gate anyway, but what if he found out. Disappointment from Raiden was more than a look, it was soul crushing.

"If I meet you at the gate with that sh*t will you keep your mouth shut?" Rashid threw the keys back at him as the soldier nodded. "And put those keys back do you want to die?"

Why was she doing this? Maybe Rashid didn't want to look lame or stuck up. Whatever the case was it was stupid but it was such a simple request...

The soldier showed Rashid an opening to get outside the gate, and handed her the cash; why he didn't do that before was beyond her but she didn't care.

"Around the corner and just down the... red street?" Rashid looked around and finally spotted the store with a spinning bottle on top. Purchasing the alcohol came of little inconvenience probably due to the city's desolated state, but the real challenge wasn't buying the alcohol it was who came after.

"Well, well look who it is."

Rashid turned in the direction of the voice, and stopped cold when she was met with a red eyed, pale faced bald man with more tattoos than a parlor pig.

"Um... can I help you... dude?" Rashid held the tequila close to her and got herself ready to run.

"Well, maybe I can help you. What is my masters consort doing so far away from home?"

"Excuse me?" Rashid instantly felt herself relax. "You gotta be kidding me; I don't know you."

With that answer the pale guy's forehead wrinkled in confusion but took a better look at the amused mortal in front of him. "No, you're not her... But you look alike."

This was getting annoying, "Listen Alcatraz, I gotta go nice chatting with you." Rashid side-stepped the man before he grabbed her arm.

"Let go."

He stared into her eyes a little too much, "Do you know, Magdalyn?"

Her heart skipped a beat and Rashid almost dropped the alcohol. "Magdalyn? Where is she? How do you know her?"

The tattooed man let go of her arm and cocked an eyebrow. "I am Quan Chi; right hand follower of Lord Shinnok. Magdalyn is his... companion perhaps."

Quan Chi frowned in thought of the wretch that his lord had latched himself to but redirected his attention to the mortal in front of him.

"And how do you know, Magdalyn?"

Rashid felt her stomach flip but answered, "She's, my sister."

Quan Chi hummed in response to her, "So you're related to that swine?" He laughed deeply and a little too friendly for Rashid's taste. "Then let me welcome you to our family!"

Summoning a Hell bat he ordered it to attack Rashid, but she dodged and ran as she heard the creature crash into a glass window.

What the hell was she thinking coming out here?

What the hell is going on?

Who's Shinnok?!

Special Forces camp

Raiden was worried and if not a bit annoyed that Rashid still hadn't showed up yet at the front entrance as he had asked.

"Where is that crazy woman..."

He was about to leave his spot and check Rashid's tent when she came running through the gates with the liquor she had promised.

"Raiden!" She ran towards him just as the guards tried to grab her and Sonya came into the situation.

"Hold it! What do you think you're doing?" She immediately took the parcel from Rashid's hands just as the soldier from earlier was strolling up to the gate.

"Are you insane? You're not allowed outside these gates!" Just as Sonya was about to reprimand the novice, Raiden interfered.

"That's enough, Ms. Blade!" He looked down angrily at his partner as she held onto him. "I'll handle this; you command your soldiers."

Breathing out in anger Sonya looked back at Rashid, "Let me catch you out there again!"

Returning her attention at the gate, Raiden looked back at Rashid. Without another word he teleported them to a calmer area out of hearing distance.

"Sit." Raiden ordered as Rashid removed herself from his arm.

It was quiet with exception of the occasional cricket chirp and city noise; without warning the thunder god turned on her.

"What in all that's holy were you doing out there!?" Electricity ran through Raiden's body and nearly stretched out to Rashid's trembling form.

"You could have been killed! Need I remind you of where you are?!" He wasn't trying to shout but in the heat of things this could have turned bad.

"Raiden..." The thunder god stopped her from continuing.

"What would have happened if you didn't come back..."

Rashid interrupted him shakenly, "I spoke... with someone named Quan Chi." Raiden stopped and instantly his anger was replaced with caution.

"What do you mean 'you spoke with him?" Rashid rubbed her arms with clammy hands and looked up to meet Raiden's eyes.

"He thought I was someone else, and I said I wasn't my sister... He said that she was Shinnok's consort?" Raiden felt his heart drop; Shinnok was Magdalyn's boyfriend or whatever they had going on there. Turning back around the thunder god knew that Shinnok probably had the same idea he had or worse; maybe he'd been ahead of the game the whole time?

He couldn't speak; what was there to say?

"Raiden?" Returning to reality he looked back at his companion. "Are you okay?"

Nodding before answering Earth realms protector walked over to where Rashid sat. "Yes, I just have some old battles to fight I suppose..."

"I'm sorry for earlier." Rashid felt her face get hot with embarrassment and looked to the side; afraid to meet Raiden's eyes. 'Idiot, you just made things 10 times harder on him.'

Sighing but no longer as angry he put his hand over hers.

"I know; I'm still mad at you." Raiden frowned before drawing her closer to him; he noticed Rashid was still upset about her previous transgressions but he knew it wouldn't last.

"Rashid?"

She looked up at him, unsure of what to expect and couldn't recognize the look on his face.

"Marry me."

Time stopped at that moment, "I don't know what happened earlier, but it matters little to me." Raiden grabbed both of Rashid's hands before continuing, "All I know is that your sister, Magdalyn is in service to Earth realms greatest enemy. If you're conversation with Quan Chi means anything it's that we can't waste time."

Rashid blinked before her shoulders dropped with disappointment, "So you want to get hitched before Shinnok does? I'm not a poker game, Raiden."

Shaking his head, the thunder god continued, "I'm not just asking you as a god in crisis; I'm asking as a man."

Rashid felt herself warm up to the deity in front of her; so complicated yet he came out of the simplicity of his heart. She ran a hand along the side of Raiden's face before hugging him tightly.

"Let's get married."

Thanks again for reading. Hope this wasn't too sappy, but I hoped I captured some character dynamic. Thanks for your time and I'll get another chapter going soon. R&R