Mortal Kombat: Vengeance

Chapter 2: In Kold Blood

Meanwhile, in Earthrealm...

Sub-Zero, the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan, was meditating in the midst of the arctic wilderness.

Earthrealm was safe, and the Lin Kuei warriors did their best to protect the realm, for that the grandmaster was impressed by the results.
But now it was time to think about the clan's future.
He knew he wasn't going to live forever, and the Lin Kuei needed a new leader who would guide them.

But who could be worthy of becoming the clan's new Grandmaster?

Kuai Liang thought about his apprentice, Frost.
This young warrior proved to be a skilled Kombatant in the past, but her arrogance and impulsiveness would give problems to the clan.
Kuai didn't mind, he decided to give his student one more chance to gain her master's respect and become the new Grandmistress.
Before that could happen however, the Grandmaster had to test her.

Sub-Zero then returned to the Lin Kuei temple and summoned his apprentice.

Frost arrived few minutes later.

Sub-Zero: "Frost, my apprentice... I have an assignment for you. A test, for being exact.

Frost: "Very well, Grandmaster. What do I have to do?"

Sub-Zero: "I sent my men on a expedition in Arctika last month. When they returned to report, they informed me of the presence of another Lin Kuei temple, except that this one was abandoned. I believe that temple belonged to our ancestors. I want you to go to that temple and stay there for some days. Consider it a survival test. Since no one knows of the existence of another palace but us, I would like you to keep this artifact and place it on the altar, if there is one."

The cryomancer then gave her the artifact he mentioned, which was a stone who emitted green light. Frost examined it a bit, and curiosity got the best of her.

Frost: "May I ask you who gave you this?"

Sub-Zero: "No one did. I have found that when I became Grandmaster."

Frost: "And why do you want me to bring it on that temple?"

Sub-Zero: "I think that artifact might belong there... Just place it into the altar, and stay on the palace for some time. Make yourself at home, but let me warn you... My men saw a Tengu village nearby. In case you do not know who they are, they are traitors to this realm, being close allies with the former Emperor of Outworld, Onaga. Show them no mercy, as they will show you none.
That's how you're going to prove yourself to us. Do so, and I might have some plans for you."

Frost then smirked under mask. The last words she heard will be the ones that will stay in her mind for all those days. She then geared up and left the temple, now wandering through the frozen wastelands alone.

Many hours have passed since she left the Lin Kuei temple, but at last, she found the palace her Grandmaster mentioned. Except that she didn't met any hostiles during her travel.
The front door was wide opened, and as soon as she entered the palace, it close itself behind her.
To avoid any thieves or Tengu from entering the palace, she then froze the door so no one could enter.

Many rooms were present inside, but the first room she visited was what appeared to be a sanctuary of some sort. An altar stood at the center of it.

The female Lin Kuei placed the stone on the altar like she got ordered to, then she explored the palace.
Frost was going to enjoy her stay here, especially since the palace was big, but that large arena on the palace's courtyard was the "main attraction".
She was now able to train freely and unleash her powers without interruptions.

"How is this a test? This is too easy... Grandmaster Sifu is really out of his mind, I should be the Grandmistress, not him."

Frost said to herself.

Unfortunately for her, things were destined to get a little bit more... Complicated.

After dedicating many hours to her training, Frost went back inside and created a bed of ice. She then laid there and fell asleep.

Frost dreamed about her return to the palace. The Grandmaster kneeled before her, so did the other members.

"Long live the ice queen!"

They all shouted.

She sat on the throne that belonged to her former master with a satisfied look on her face.

But her dream didn't last for long.
Someone broke the door that she froze when she first entered the palace.
Frost then got back up as fast as she could, and approached her intruders.

The intruders were in large number, all of them wearing orange and black ninja suits, and were led by a man with a scythe.

Impulsiveness got the best of her, the young ninja conjured an ice ball and threw it to one of the warriors, thus exposing herself.

"Attack!"

The leader exclaimed.

Frost showed off her impressive kombat skills to her enemies, defeating them effortlessly.

The leader was not impressed however...

Frost: " Who are you? Answer me!"

Wu Lae: "I am Wu Lae, leader of the Tengu clan. You have something that does not belong to your clan. Hand it over and I might spare you."

Frost: "Never!"

She created two ice daggers and ran towards the Tengu leader but such move was too predicable as Wu Lae easily dodged her attack and kicked her back, causing the latter to fall on the ground.

Wu Lae: "Last chance to surrender, young girl. Give me the stone."

She replied by running towards him again, except that this time the Tengu shot an orange like projectile from his scythe which slammed her onto the wall by force of that attack.

Wu Lae: "So young, so stupid. Time to die."

He then walked towards her unconscious body, now ready to decapitate her with just a swing of scythe but fortunately for the young warrior, Wu Lae got interrupted by one of his servants.

Tengu Member: "Master, we found the stone!"

Wu Lae turned around.

Wu Lae: "Good. Let's leave this place then."

The Tengu leader then left the palace with the stone in hand.
As soon as he did so, a green portal appeared right before him.
A pale man with an hood, followed by a large minion armed with a sword stepped out from said portal.

Wu Lae: "We have found the fragment, cleric."

Cleric: "Excellent... The Dragon King will be most pleased. Now only few pieces remain."

Wu Lae: "What happens next?"

Cleric: "...Chaos Happens."