Infamous.

Whether as a Lin Kuei, or a fiend of the shadow, the name Bi-Han invoked a dark repute. His was a history of betrayal, corruption, and fathomless cruelty. Once a deadly assassin, killed in misguided vengeance, eventually reborn as Noob Saibot under Quan Chi's foulest magic. His humanity extinguished, Bi-Han lived apart from the ambitions of others, acting upon a new, despicable nature. Even those on the same side as he knew to be cautious; for nobody held Bi-Han's allegiance, other than himself.

But in spite of his power, he always met a ruinous fate. One way or another, his life was bound to the workings of Shao Kahn, Quan Chi and the Fallen Shinnok. Their fall prefaced his own, every time.

Those were the life and times of Bi-Han. Brief and tragic, with a horrendous path of carnage in between. But no more.

During his brief stint as an Elder God, Liu Kang knew certain events needed to be changed and reimagined for the welfare of all Realms, dating back to the very foundations of the Mortal Kombat tournament and Shang Tsung's emergence. The blood feud between the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu was averted altogether, and Earthrealm's warriors hunted Quan Chi down long before he could enact influence over the flow of events. This ultimately spared Bi-Han from ever becoming Noob Saibot.

But even so, the elder Sub-Zero remained a wild card in the grand scheme. He survived the tournament, but never allied himself with the Earthrealm warriors. Instead, he simply vanished without a word, effectively removing himself from the board come the war against Shao Kahn.

As time passed, Bi-Han was forgotten by most. But the sudden parting was still a wound in Kuai Liang's soul. No matter the twists and turns past and present, he could never forget his own brother.

And now, finding the truth to the incognita was the cruellest of heartbreaks. For Kuai Liang recognised the look in his eyes, and instantly knew his brother had come to the Netherrealm by his own will. And if Hell no longer resembled its past incarnations, Bi-Han would force it so.

The meeting between the two estranged brothers was enough to make Kuai Liang forget about the massacre outside the city's walls. Skarlet stood next to Sub-Zero, quiet and cautious, prepared to fight.

"Kuai Liang." Bi-Han addressed, still seated. His voice was deep and cold, but not necessarily void of emotion as per Noob's design. It sounded awkward, if only for the fact that his human voice was less known than the wraith's.

"Brother. Why are you here?" Sub-Zero demanded quickly, outrunning the sorrow taking hold within.

"That is a grander question than you imagine. And I have no quick answer to give."

"Why is that?" Kuai Liang pressed on.

"I did not expect I would see you ever again." His eyes were fixed on his younger brother's. "I suspect it would be unwise, but I will give you a chance to turn around and leave the Netherrealm, never to return."

Such a display of mercy was uncommon from Bi-Han, even as a man.

"One chance only." He insisted. "To you and…"

It was then that Bi-Han finally realised who accompanied his brother. His icy expression was shattered instantly, revealing a state beyond surprise. He did not fail to notice how close Skarlet stood to Sub-Zero, or the vaguely protective manner of their proximity. The Bloody Daughter herself looked much different from how he remembered. A shimmer of madness and hunger was now completely gone from her eyes.

"Miraculous… A work of Gods, I bet." Bi-Han smirked. His features were similar to Kuai Liang's, equally graceful to the eye. But his smile was a uniquely disturbing sight; it was harmful and without compassion. "Whatever swayed you to my brother's side, Skarlet?"

She did not deign answering him.

"Unlikely alliances have never been strange to this ongoing comedy of Elder Gods and mortals. Must be a great purpose what brought you together, in the Netherrealm, no less. I suspect your reasons may not differ from my own, when I opted out of the play years ago."

"Explain." Sub-Zero said curtly.

Bi-Han's expression turned grim for a moment.

"I suppose I owe you that, for all the times I renounced our kinship. Simply put, I have plans I need to fulfil. The first and only logical step is to descend where I was countless times reborn. What follows is to recreate that old story, this time on my own terms. With Quan Chi dead, I was free to study the Dark Arts, and take assert leadership over the Brotherhood of the Shadow. This alone is a greater advantage than the lot I was dealt before."

"I do not understand, Bi-Han." Kuai Liang spoke. "Why would you want this? Your death, your corruption… they were averted. There is no need to reprise such dark events or for the carnage you have unleashed upon this realm. Your life and your fate were already your own."

"All of it is a means to an end. A necessary evil, if you will. I need power, greater than any one soul has wielded."

"So you can be another Shao Kahn?" Skarlet interjected.

"Far from it. He sought submission. I seek liberation. And for this, I will wage war."

"Against what?" She questioned.

"The very architects of our despair. The Elder Gods and the Titans."

Bi-Han let the silence stew over the echo of his words. He read their effect on Sub-Zero and Skarlet, neither of whom had an immediate response to the idea. A long-neglected part of him took some leisure in their bewilderment.

"You are delusional, Bi-Han." Skarlet said.

"I would not expect you to comprehend. But you, Kuai Liang… surely you remember it was a mortal, an Earthrealmer like you and I, who trumped Shinnok long ago. I plan to reprise and outdo those same efforts against our enemies."

"The Elder Gods are not our enemies, and the Titans have been rendered untouchable." Kuai Liang spoke. "You are one man only. You will find no allies for this war of yours."

"A short-sighted perspective, brother… You disappoint me. Do you not remember the unspeakable horrors done unto you on lives past? Becoming a pawn of a corrupted Lin Kuei, a servant of Quan Chi?" Bi-Han's voice increased in volume as the anger reached a feverish point. "Kronika's machinations have repeated those events time after time. The same goes for my… 'rebirth.' I have long lost count of my many deaths. And you, Skarlet, have you too lost count of the many lives you have spent in servitude to a tyrant? We each were bound to the same narrative, all for the sake of a vacuous, grand scheme."

"That lies in the past, brother. All of it."

"It may yet be the future. There is no guarantee this relative peace will not crumble instantly, not while the root of our suffering remains. I will not indulge in the passivity of your allies, Kuai Liang. My plan is already underway... I have lain the seed for a small army all around us, ready to sprout as we speak. The first of many."

"Does he mean…?" Skarlet revived the image of the countless dismembered bodies outside the city walls.

"I led us into a trap." Sub-Zero said bluntly.

"Not at all." Bi-Han smirked. "I would wager it was mere chance what brought us together this day. Or perhaps, fortuitousness. I knew there had to be some credence to the mutterings of the great Sub-Zero walking in this realm. Imagine my surprise to find an empty city on the heels of those words. Most peculiar. And now, you are here, with such unexpected, fair company."

Bi-Han stood up slowly. Nothing about his body language hinted any aggression. Nonetheless, Sub-Zero and Skarlet took a step back in precaution.

"Like I said before… work of Gods. The less sound among my mystics claimed a God was just born in these lands. Madness or not, the consensus speaks of power, which I must possess. As for you, that is what brings you here now, brother. Correct?"

Neither Sub-Zero nor Skarlet answered his question.

"I can see through you, Kuai Liang, but no matter. My Brotherhood will only grow stronger and more plentiful, thanks to the arts I have mastered. It is only a matter of time until we find this… God. With that power added to our numbers, I will bleed the Elder Gods and the Titans."

"You are toying with boundaries you cannot possibly comprehend, Bi-Han!" Sub-Zero exclaimed.

"I am exceeding those boundaries." Bi-Han stepped forward. "I have paid my debt to you, brother. Earthrealm will be untouched, so long as my path remains unobstructed. You have this, your one and only chance to step aside, and steer clear off my path forever. Leave."

"I cannot do that, Bi-Han."

"I know." The elder brother sighed.

Whatever compassion towards his brother vanished from Bi-Han's eyes instantly. Kuai Liang could never grow used to the sight, even after their countless duels. And now, there was no peaceful way to cope with the irony. The former Sub-Zero aimed to break free from the narrative, but this tale would play out once more, as it always had.

In Mortal Kombat.

Bi-Han charged ahead, flash-freezing the air into a sword for each hand. Kuai Liang prepared to clash with his brother, wielding an icy halberd to cut his brother's momentum. However, the elder brother evaded the attack, opting to engage Skarlet, who joined the fray to aid Kuai Liang. He expected the assassin to use her blood magic against him, but Skarlet chose to depend on nothing but her blade. She took full advantage of this unfamiliarity by closing the distance quicker than anyone could expect. She slashed and struck with daunting precision and ferocity. And it was only Bi-Han's uncanny reflexes what saved him from her onslaught.

Meanwhile, Kuai Liang continued to attack on the other flank. Each blow was deflected on both sides, icy shards flying on each exchange. He anticipated the wear and tear on the halberd, so he broke off the weapon into an axe before it snapped on him. Hence he took on the same strategy as Skarlet, impeding Bi-Han from opening the gap. Their adversary would last only a few more seconds before the duo overwhelmed him.

But Bi-Han was not about to lose so easily. Still a living man, he retained his abilities as a cryomancer, thus he refined and honed his art in his own way. Much like his older self from the mythical years when he stole Shinnok's amulet, Bi-Han used his powers through odd, unpredictable ways. Instantly, he managed to push himself backward, far from the reach of his challengers, if only for a second. Within this brief moment, he changed the way of his breathing, exhaling a little more with each movement as he thrust forward once again. At first, it seemed as if the battle would follow the same course as before.

But every motion from both Sub-Zero and Skarlet was becoming a little slower. Soon they were unable to apply pressure quite as relentlessly. Too late they realised that thick frost clung to their extremities as they moved, slowly burrowing into their skin. Every ensuing movement from Bi-Han sprayed even more ice as he counterattacked, and the roles were soon reversed. The fray was drawing on longer than expected, and if it came down to sheer attrition, Sub-Zero and Skarlet would end at a deadly disadvantage. They had to halt Bi-Han immediately.

Thus Kuai Liang applied another incidental lesson from Skarlet. He decided to forego cryomancy altogether, and resort to the raw basics. His brother's attack was becoming increasingly bolder, murderous by intent. But each blow was an opportunity to retake the tide. Kuai Liang got even closer to Bi-Han, posturing a failing, desperate defence with his axe to bait a coup de grace. Bi-Han raised his sword up high, ready to bring it down on Kuai Liang's head.

And as the sword came down, Kuai Liang struck upward with his palm, dislocating Bi-Han's elbow. Such an injury would ordinarily end a fight, but he could not afford to underestimate his brother's grit. Sub-Zero took the advantage and grappled the shoulder out of its joint while binding his brother in a chokehold. The blood flow to Bi-Han's brain was cut off immediately, but he continued to struggle with uncanny vigour. Within seconds, the elder brother attempted to use his dominion over ice to break Kuai Liang's limbs, but Skarlet put a premature end to his efforts, with a knee strike directly to the head.

The impact produced a sickening crunch which spelled the end of the fight.

Apart, Sub-Zero and Skarlet were each fearsome warriors. Together, they proved extraordinarily effective. At this point, Bi-Han could only hobble away for a few metres. But something about the surroundings and the ground they fought on was changing. It was too vague and subtle a difference to notice in itself, but they could have never noticed it, regardless. There was one thing retaining their attention in full disbelief.

Their foe was not defeated yet. A fractured skull, an incapacitated arm, and a brain deprived of oxygen and blood were not enough to keep Bi-Han down. The figure of the grinning man, clad in black, somehow back on his feet, was a testament to the calamity they were holding back. Neither as a Lin Kuei, nor as a wraith, had Bi-Han ever been so strong, agile and resilient. He had to die - no other choice remained.

"I gave you a chance…." Bi-Han growled quietly, coughing up blood and barely keeping balance. "…now you die."

An ominous, spiteful smile lingered on his lips. Then everything fell apart.

At first there was only the sound, of metal cutting through flesh and bone. It was barely audible to any but the most versed amongst killers. Skarlet felt no pain when it happened, but now there was a black, crescent blade coming out of her sternum. Kuai Liang turned around only to see the sickle cutting upward, diagonally across her chest, finally severing the clavicle as it exited her body.

As she fell, a familiar, loathsome figure came into view. Bi-Han's shadow, materialised into a double. This was Bi-Han's counterpart as a wraith in countless other lives. Now, as a human, he mastered the dark arts that allowed him to imbue intent and corporality to his own shadow. Being able to control both ice and shadow, and to withstand such harm, he proved to be more powerful than he had ever been. Bi-Han exceeded all of his past selves. There was no feasible way Sub-Zero could win.

However, Kuai Liang had neither eyes nor mind for the demise looming over him. All he could see was Skarlet, bleeding out, and soon to stand before death's door. He could only think about her own liberation, and the future made possible for her. All of it, now destroyed.

She was to redeem herself.

She was to be his ally.

I am sorry, Skarlet.

Sub-Zero turned towards his brother, and charged ahead, driven solely by emotion, thinking nothing at all. The battle continued, this time against two. Kuai Liang fought with unbridled fury despite the perilously uphill battle. This clash could only last for a few seconds before he was overwhelmed. Even so, in this visceral state, he proved his brother's match in might and guile. Loss had a way of influencing his fighting prowess.

He would avenge Skarlet, just as he had avenged his Lin Kuei brethren in past lives, no matter if it killed him.

[ ]

Skarlet could not tell up from down, dream from reality, life from death. She possessed only a primal understanding of what was happening. Through blurred sight, she witnessed Sub-Zero's last stand against Bi-Han and his shadow unfolding. Kuai Liang was fighting valiantly, even edging close to victory, but the challenge proved too much in the end. Her vision was clearing by the moment the Shadow cut Sub-Zero's face, almost taking his eye in the process. Bi-Han struck him violently in the stomach afterwards, which left him ripe for the killing.

And through it all, the red assassin was subconsciously using most of her magic to hold herself together. When she neared a state of lucidity, her first thought was to save Sub-Zero, but she was in no position to help. At least not in any conventional manner.

Skarlet still had just enough strength for one burst of blood magic – nothing large, complex, or lavish. She was now in desperate need of conjuring success in a single motion for the once chance she had. Bi-Han stood precisely where she needed him, but the overall positioning was not ideal. Kuai Liang was brought down to his knees, right between her and Bi-Han. And he was unlikely to move an inch further. This was as good as it would get. So without liberty to pick a better situation, she concentrated all the blood she could spare. Meanwhile, she tried not to think of how the blood loss was affecting her aim, or the cruel, bitter irony…

… that to save Sub-Zero, she was going to literally stab him in the back.

The shadow of death now loomed before their eyes, and its name was Bi-Han. In his right hand, the blue shimmer of a cold sword lusted for fratricide. It was now or never.

It was not painless. Sub-Zero felt something thin and long, running him through. Half-blinded, all he could truly see was his brother stopping suddenly in his tracks. Kuai Liang's fingers twitched from the acute pain spreading outward from the entry point just below the larynx. But despite all, he would survive. Skarlet's blood needle had narrowly missed his vitals. Though the same could not be said for Bi-Han, and his skewered jugular.

However, the gambit proved only partially successful. Skarlet beheld in horror as Bi-Han weakly raised his sword while still bleeding out. The motion spoke by itself, even as those final seconds were yet to happen. The needle disintegrated, and so did her spirits. There was nothing she could do.

Skarlet closed her eyes, refusing to see it unfold. But the unexpected sound of ice shattering prompted her to look. The remnants of Bi-Han's sword broken lay on the ground. And Sub Zero's fate was averted by a black-feathered arrow piercing his elder brother's hand.

Sareena's voice thundered within the empty city, as she bellowed out a command in the demon tongue. The Netherrealm Defender prepared another arrow for precaution's sake, while countless soldiers and riders poured inside from every gate, surrounding the centre. In their midst were hundreds clad in yellow, led by the Scorpion himself, Hanzo Hasashi. Next to him, Jacqueline Briggs and her comrades stood ready to fight.

Such a plentiful, unlikely force was a sight for sore, hopeless eyes.

Vastly outnumbered and gravely wounded, Bi-Han found himself effectively defeated. The only thing he could do was seal the hole in his jugular by cauterising with ice. An uncertain fate for him awaited, but he seemed to be completely without fear.

"We made it." Hanzo said, making haste to aid his friend.

"Skarlet… Help her as well." Kuai Liang spoke with a weary voice.

Scorpion obliged with no argument, carrying the two away from the square, the latter still barely clinging to life. Hanzo was in no mood to smile, but he silently noted that the Shirai Ryu would have never been able to intervene if not for the devious woman's message. Whether or not she truly meant well, he reckoned it truly was the right decision. Furthermore, something happened in between to guide Sub-Zero's concern about Skarlet. It was something Scorpion would rather never know. If Sub-Zero trusted her, he would too. That sufficed.

Meanwhile, Sareena dismounted and approached Bi-Han. She looked upon him and his hideous works, but could not bring herself to hate him. The story, in this and all past lives, had forever been the same. Invariably, it was the elder brother who broke her shackles from Quan Chi's yoke. Even if she loved Kuai Liang, her esteem and gratitude towards Bi-Han existed beyond all vows and carnalities. She cared for the two brothers, deeply. Seeing them always meet as enemies was a dagger in her heart.

"What have you done, Bi-Han?" She asked. Deeply heartbroken, she did not expect an answer.

And she obtained none.

He would not even look at her in the eye.

Sareena looked up at the sky. Her birds continued to fly in circles, like feeders over carrion. From the sight alone she knew what kind of forces were at play. No matter the conditioning and training, the Blackbirds were always swayed back into primal instincts by the darkest magic. Even when crossing the portal back into the Netherrealm, this distant image was enough to send shivers down her spine. She wished it were not true, but the truth glared straight into her soul: There would be a war within the Netherrealm.

However, there was a significant solace. Sub-Zero's mission was a success. Sergeant Jacqueline Briggs and her comrades made it back through the portal, with the Child God Nakhari in tow. It was through their request and retelling of events that the army of the Netherrealm and the Shirai Ryu came together to save their precious ally in common. And now, the enemy that threatened this and potentially all other realms was known.

"This changes nothing… Kuai Liang." Bi-Han said suddenly. He snapped his fingers, and the men he killed himself revived as an army of Sprites. The resurrected Brotherhood could never overcome the Netherrealm army or the Shirai Ryu, but the objective was to simply create confusion. Bi-Han escaped Sareena's judgement in the ensuing chaos, promising he would only grow more powerful.

Alas, a greater unity was born from this series of events. The Netherrealm would no longer stand alone against this threat. This was a boon, grand and unheard of, begotten by seven warriors on a mission.

[ Epilogue ]

Kotal Kahn's rule was the diametrical opposite to the Conqueror's. It was not for the welfare of the few, but all of Outworld's peoples'. This extended even to the use of his grand temple in the capital. Among other things, funerary rites were common within its walls. In accordance to Kotal's ways, the hallowed structure housed mourning for all, from the humble to the wealthy. But on that day, one unexpected name was enshrined inside of the temple. One word alone that conjured dreadful images in Outworld's collective memory. Here lay the most loyal and faithful of the dead tyrant's extinguished fold.

Skarlet.

Unsurprisingly, she went unmourned by the many who visited the temple that day. Only one man stood before her desolate shrine in silent tribute for longer than a few moments. Another joined him, following in the shadow of the setting sun. The very sound of the spurs on his heels revealed who he was.

"Well, this is a surprise, Master Sub-Zero." The mercenary Erron Black said as he approached.

"What is, Mister Black?" Kuai Liang asked curtly. Though he was no longer an enemy of Earthrealm, the freelancer never held much of Sub-Zero's esteem.

"Seeing that she bit the dust after so long, for starters. That someone went through the trouble of mounting an offer, second. And that you're here, mourning her. Makes me think she did something real nice. Is that's what happened, Master Sub-Zero?" A thick, irreverent tone clung to his words.

"She did something laudable, yes."

"Probably about time. Those under Shao Kahn's payroll don't last unless they get another hustle. Were you there when it happened?"

"When she proved herself, or when she died?"

"Whichever you prefer." Erron spoke too vaguely for comfort.

"I witnessed it." Kuai Liang replied in similar fashion. The cold façade of his expression concealed a pride he never thought he would feel about his former adversary. "I could have never imagined it would happen the way it did. In the end, she demonstrated a greater inner fortitude than I ever gave her credit for. Had we only gotten to her before Shao Kahn ever did…"

"Some things you can never avoid. It's funny. Back when we were together, I tried talking her into ditching the Emperor and go freelance. You can imagine what came of it, but I didn't think she truly wanted to stay at his side forever. One of two things would happen, she'd either crave more power, or she'd stray because the lunacy of that blood shit in her. Glad she her crazy got her somewhere better than that."

Erron removed his hat, and paid his respects for a few minutes. It was a most unexpected moment of reverence on his part. A moment of sincerity in a lifetime of cynic pursuit for gain.

"You take care now, Captain Cold." The mercenary gave his farewell, but took a pause before leaving the temple. "Funny, Skarlet's dead as rocks now. But I get the feeling it won't be the last we see of her."

[ ]

Kuai Liang had spoken at length with Kotal Kahn on Skarlet's behalf. Sub-Zero's vouching was a powerful currency for these matters, but it did little to assuage her. By most accounts, Skarlet was a war criminal, and her native realm disowned her for her many deeds under Shao Kahn. A change of heart and her most recent actions would not easily gain Kotal's trust. Alas, it was a necessary beginning. Blood Magic would forever be part of her, and she could no longer allow it to live inside of her unchecked. Only a mentor like Kotal Kahn could teach her to fully control such a perilous art.

Gaining the Kahn's favour would not be a simple matter. On the other hand, gaining the favour of Outworld's populace was virtually impossible. For her native soil to eventually accept her once again, Skarlet, the Bloody Daughter, had to die.

After what felt like an agonisingly slow hour, Sub-Zero finally climbed the stairs to Kotal Kahn's personal offices. Skarlet discreetly sought refuge from the Kahn's overwhelming presence at his side. As for Kotal himself, he still looked sceptic to the entire development.

"As of this moment, you are officially dead." Kotal said to Skarlet. "Word of your passing will spread across the population. Hopefully in time they will be blessed by forgetting your sins. You are free to depart for Earthrealm under diplomatic protection, but you shall only be allowed back in this realm with the Lin Kuei's blessing. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Kotal Kahn." Sub-Zero and Skarlet answered in unison. No further words needed be said on the matter. From this moment forward, she would be subject to severe scrutiny and training. Even though Sub-Zero had much faith in her, this alone would not sway his clan. Whatever lay in store for her, she would earn it through her own merits.

All the while she, and all Realms, prepared for a war in Hell.

The first hurdle on her path was choosing a new name for herself, but nothing came to mind.

[ ]

Skarlet's training under the Lin Kuei began as soon as she set foot on Kharon's ship. The old captain did not hide his satisfaction on seeing how the air between his passengers had changed. However, his mood soured a little more whenever he yelled at them to stop rocking the boat. As a trainer, Sub-Zero proved more strict and impetuous than Skarlet ever imagined. Having seen what she could do without with her own strength, he aimed to hone her potential so it would completely overshadow Blood Magic. From dawn till dusk, he pushed her physical capabilities to their extremes and beyond.

But come nightfall, he took special consideration to soothe the aches of the day. On more than one occasion, she showed how much fire she still possessed, snatching the role from under him. Each time, the thick walls barely disguised the sounds with the crashing of the waves outside. And at the end, when things grew quiet, Kuai Liang allowed himself to think.

He thought about the one who brought their paths together. Cetrion's words rang true on the Little God's existence. But he wondered what exactly she told Skarlet; whether the bargaining chip was explicitly Shao Kahn's revival. Affairs took a sharp turn in the end: by renouncing the corruption he sowed within her, Skarlet severed the bond with the former Conqueror. It made little difference now, but there was still the pervading likelihood that Cetrion manipulated her from the beginning.

One way or another, Skarlet was guided through a God's will. Kuai Liang was no different. Lying down, he reminded himself that the mission was more necessary than anybody knew initially. He focused on the glaring notion that they emerged victorious, with Skarlet sleeping at his side as a tangible affirmation of the fact. This was his deliberate attempt to discard a bothersome thought.

Cetrion saw the light. Raiden atoned for his errors. Shinnok cast himself into the abyss. But in another life, things had been much different. The Elder Gods are as capricious and fallible as humanity itself. They could or sometimes would not see beyond the extent of their own sphere. Titans were of a similar nature. And so much more lay still in obscurity, far from the reach of man and God alike.

Is there merit to Bi-Han's words?

Neither one night, nor twenty would suffice to obtain a clear answer. Even so, Kuai Liang made a decision upon arriving to Earthrealm. Though war with the Brotherhood of the Shadow was inevitable, he shall not dismiss his brother as an enemy again. Through victory, he would earn armistice with his own flesh and blood. And if BI-Han was accurate in his motivations, there would be no hope for Realms divided. However, beneath the pragmatic introspection, Kuai Liang followed a more personal want.

Is there room for love in your heart, Kuai Liang?

Through duty, blood and faith, Sub-Zero saw his own heart thaw. He now had to face things he long turned away from – all to spare himself the pain. He would help his brother break free from the narrative, just like Skarlet had. Once and for all.

[ ]

Life in the Lin Kuei had grown significantly busier since the Grandmaster's arrival. Preparations for an upcoming journey to the Netherrealm were always a factor. But that was not all. Warriors of all ranks could tell something was different about Sub-Zero, and this extended to the way he trained his people. He was as demanding and strict as ever, but somehow more approachable and kind. There were varied opinions on the possible reason. Some chalked it up to success on the mission, while others deemed it a renewed spirit for the trying times ahead.

A growing minority wondered in hushed conversations if the newest recruit had anything to do with it. This was a woman with pale skin and red hair, who arrived alongside Sub-Zero, and immediately donned the Lin Kuei colours. Her driven attitude and vigour when sparring quickly earned her a favourable reputation amongst her peers, and the Grandmaster always recompensed diligence. However, late-night gossip claimed that she snuck out from the barracks, later to be seen near the Grandmaster's quarters.

Krimson denied the rumours every time, despite the devious spark in her smile.

Author's notes:

(The final encounter may or may not have been inspired by Sister Friede's boss battle in Dark Souls 3. Besides, Bi-Han has been a jobber far too long. Let's throw him a bone here, or several.)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING, AND FOR COMMENTING, AND FOR FOLLOWING.

The premise for this fanfic was pretty much an indulgence since I just wanted our protagonists to interact, and for Skarlet to win Sub-Zero over. Never imagined I'd get so invested in the characters' history and inner workings, world-building and all. It honestly felt like I was writing myself into a corner about some things, but I'm happy with how this story turned out.

Hopefully you were too.

I also may or may not write what happens with this war, but we'll see.

Thank you, and take care.