Fire and Darkness
Everyone on the island was standing around the courtyard. Many people still had food in their hands as they awaited the next match. Tesla and Rain were talking with each other. Raskal didn't come to the Courtyard. Kitana, Jade, and Tanya were standing around Shang Tsung as always. The Lin Kuei was standing together like soldiers. Even Reptile, the current champion of Outworld, was watching the Match from a distance. Sonya and Johnny were standing next to Chan, but Jax stayed at the bedrooms.
"What's so great about this fight?" Chan asked.
"When a rivalry occurs and it's strengthened tenfold, the fight is usually a lot more entertaining," Frost explained. "These two have been at it ever since the fall of the Shirai Ryu. He caused Quan Chi to kill off Scorpion's family and clan."
"Then why is Scorpion working with Quan Chi?" Chan asked.
"He's undead and under Quan Chi's spell. He still believes Subzero killed his family," Frost added.
"Why didn't you tell him the truth?" Chan asked.
"I have my reasons," Shelia responded vaguely.
"Care to elaborate?" Chan asked.
"For one, he wouldn't even believe me. Secondly, I'm Lin Kuei; Scorpion's mission is not my problem. Also, I have a vendetta against Quan Chi. I have to play it safe." Frost explained. "I have more reasons, but we're not on that friendship level yet."
"Then…where are we?" Chan asked.
"You're just a Snowman," Frost responded.
"Well, not much of an upgrade from Shaolin," Chan commented.
"How about a bet? The Loser has to buy dinner; full course."
"It really wouldn't be fair. I already know Scorpion will win. He's going to slash off one of Subzero's arms, breathe fire to him, and use a spine rip. He will then kick Subzero's headless corpse through a portal to the NetherRealm," Chan answered in detail. Frost punched him to the ground.
"I told you before, you're just a snowman. Don't speak of the Lin Kuei like that ever again. Got that?" Frost asked. Chan wasn't surprise as he nodded his head.
"Don't say I didn't warn you when my dinner comes from your tab," Chan responded. Everyone then places their focus on Scorpion and Subzero as they stand in the middle of the stadium.
"So, we meet again, hell spawn. What a surprising and exciting reunion," Subzero stated.
"Subzero…" Scorpion stated. "I'm not like I was before. I have the power of fire!"
"My power has never changed, Scorpion. You'll only die again," Subzero stated.
"Round One…" Everyone is focused on the fight. Their hearts race rapidly as they are ready to witness the greatest fight of their lives. "FIGHT!"
Subzero creates an ice ball in his left hand. Scorpion vanishes in flames and ashes. Subzero is unfazed as Scorpion teleports behind him. He attempts to punch Subzero, but Subzero slams his fist on top of the ice, causing a frozen shockwave to knock Scorpion back. Scorpion uses a wake-up attack by throwing his spear at Subzero. It pierces him, but it turns out that Scorpion struck an ice clone. Subzero uses the clone to freeze Scorpion's spear, but Scorpion prevents him from doing so by using his fire to melt the ice clone. Next, he throws a fireball at Subzero, knocking him back. Everyone is currently impressed.
"This was pretty overhyped," Johnny whispered to Sonya. Frost throws a snowball at Johnny and gives him an evil glare. Back at the fight, both Scorpion and Subzero rise from the ground.
"Nice to see you've had an upgrade thanks to Quan Chi," Subzero stated.
"It's not an upgrade; it's a foreshadowing of the outcome," Scorpion responds.
"A foreshadowing of how dead you and your clan are?"
"No, how dead you and the sorceress will be," Scorpion responds. He dashes towards Subzero, who goes into a defensive stance. Scorpion and Subzero trade a barrage of punches and sweeps as they both attempt to take each other down. Scorpion powers one of his fists with fire while Subzero covers one of his fists in ice. Both use a straightforward punch and both of their fists collide. The impact of the attack causes a small shockwave while the combination of both elements causes the area to be covered in thick mist. The battle became a fog of war.
"What was that about overrated?" Sonya asked.
"We can't even see the fight now," Johnny Complained.
"We couldn't see your fight with Tesla either, if you'd actually call that a fight," Frost responded.
"Enough with that joke already! It's starting to get old," Johnny stated in irritation.
"I'm glad you're starting to realize how we feel when you make stupid jokes all the time," Sonya said. Chan ignored them both as he continued to survey the match.
Fireballs and Ice Blasts were being fired from all directions in the mist. Some of the attacks began striking some of the spectators. Some of them were severely harmed while others used their wits and powers to dodge or disintegrate the attacks. After seeing how wild the fight was becoming, Shang Tsung signaled Tesla to handle the problem. She nods and begins to activate a magic circle that's on the ground.
"Tis Olfo!" Tesla uses her magic power to paralyze both kombatants and make them fall to the ground. "Crael!" She then uses her magic to clear the fog in the area. Both Subzero and Scorpion were angry at the Sorceress.
"You use your magic to help the Lin Kuei slay me again?!" Scorpion yells at Tesla. She keeps up with her serious facial expression and doesn't answer.
"The two of you will not attack spectators during this match," Shang Tsung states.
"Yet, you sure love allowing spectators to fight us, grandpa," Sonya states.
"Ha, told you!" Johnny Commented. Shang Tsung ignored them both.
"As I was saying, you two need to control yourselves. This is a one-on-one match and shall continue to be as such. The next person to break a rule will suffer the consequences," Shang Tsung states. Tesla deactivates the spell and the two kombatants rise back from the ground. "Now, Final Round…FIGHT!"
Subzero creates an ice sword as Scorpion pulls out both of his blades. The two engage in a stereotypical sword fight which causes no harm to either of them. However, Subzero begins losing his grip as Scorpion began to continuously slam both of his blades against Subzero's ice sword.
"Die, Lin Kuei!" Scorpion slashes Subzero's arm off from his elbow. He then uses his fire to burn Subzero's severed arm into ashes. Bi Han yells in pain due to the loss of his arm. Scorpion grabs onto his flaming spear and tosses it towards Subzero. Subzero begins to lose hope and decides to use his hidden powers.
"Never!" Subzero creates a small portal in which the spear disappears inside. Everyone was surprised and shocked by Subzero's sorcery. Subzero summons his shadow to perform an uppercut on Scorpion. He then creates a portal below Scorpion's corpse and dives after him. A portal arrives above the stadium. Subzero and Scorpion arrive from the portal as Subzero slams Scorpion onto the pavement.
"You idiot! What are you doing?!" Frost shouts. Sektor, Cyrax, and Hydro are in awe. Everyone understood what was going on.
"I will ensure that you don't return this time, Scorpion," Subzero stated. He summons his shadow to grab Scorpion's neck as he grabbed Scorpion's legs. Before they could pull on him, Subzero is struck by a flaming dragon. Rather than knock him back, the dragon places him in paralysis. Johnny, and Sonya were confused. They looked at Shang Tsung, who had an angry look on his face.
"This match is over. Scorpion is the winner by default. You, Subzero, have defied the rule of the tournament," Shang Tsung stated.
"Why did he interrupt the fight?" Sonya shouted.
"That's not Subzero," Chan stated. Sonya and Johnny were confused by Chan's statement.
"I thought that was just something you…" Johnny began.
"At this point, I think they planned this. Princess Kitana knows my true identity, but for some reason she didn't stop my match. She knew before we even boarded the cruise ship," Chan explained.
"So, if they find out about you…" Sonya began.
"What does Kitana want with you?" Johnny asked.
"I don't know, but something tells me it's nothing good," Chan responded.
"You are not the real Subzero," Scorpion stated.
"Of course not you demon. I'm his older brother, Bi Han; otherwise known as Noob Saibot," He replied. Everyone began to understand what happened.
"Your brother killed my family and clan. He is the one I truly seek. You waste my time, Lin Kuei!" Scorpion stated as he sheathed his swords.
"You're wrong Scorpion, how can you be so blind as to not see what's been going on all of these years. Do you not remember the first time you felt the cold blade slither down your spine? What about the first time I dug my cold fingertips into your neck as I ripped your head and spine from your body? Is it that complicated to realize that it's been me the entire time?" Bi Han explained.
Scorpion began to have a flashback of the time he first fought Subzero. It was at a shaolin temple 1000s of years ago, when he and Ashrah were searching for the map to Shinnok's Amulet at the Shaolin temple. Both he and Ashrah fell to the hands of the Lin Kuei. Sektor cut off both of his hands and Noob Saibot ripped his head from his shoulders. However, Scorpion was somehow able to come back from the dead as he once was. However, the second time he was killed, he didn't return. He required the magic of Quan Chi to bring him back to life, which is how he came today.
"Murderer…it was you who destroyed my clan. It was you who killed my family," Scorpion stated. Bi Han didn't believe anything that Scorpion was saying. He knows that neither he nor his brother had anything to do with the death of Scorpion's family and clan. However, he knew that his sacrifice would mean that Scorpion will no longer pursue his brother, Kuai Liang. He was ready for whatever came next.
"Bi Han, no!" Frost shouted as she reached her hand towards him. Sektor and Hydro turned their backs towards Bi Han and began to walk away from the courtyard in shame. They knew that whether he survived or not, he would no longer be part of the Lin Kuei. Cyrax was shocked by the outcome of the match. He began to realize exactly how harmful the cyber initiative could've been if it was initiated prior to the tournament.
Scorpion pulled his face mask off. His hollow eyes buried deep into Bi Han's. Frost began to slowly and unwillingly walk towards Bi Han. Chan saw what she was doing and went to go stop her. Scorpion breathed fire towards Bi Han causing him immense pain. As the flames began to melt his skin, Scorpion dug his fingers into Bi Han's neck. The next thing Bi Han knew, he was looking over Scorpion. He was then forced to look behind himself. He saw the devastated look on Frost's face as the boot of the undead ninja kicked his headless body into the portal. He then began to follow directly behind his own body, only to see the burning wasteland known as the NetherRealm.
"Scorpion Wins…Fatality!" Shang Tsung announced. All of Outworld began to cheer him on. Johnny Cage became sick after looking at the brutality of Scorpion's finisher. Sonya was utterly disgusted and turned away from the fight.
"Frost…" Chan was saddened by the event as he saw that his prediction was exact. He made everything up from the top of his head. It wasn't anything he really saw in a vision. Frost could only look in horror as her partner was slain in front of her eyes. Her eyes were dull, and her mind completely shut down. She was like a hollow shell, still reaching her hand towards a corpse that was no longer there.
End of Chapter 8
(Upcoming—Reunion)