The end of a mighty conflict.

I hope you all enjoyed this short story. This is just a taste of what I have planned for MK. Stay tuned.

Sub-Zero buried Dust and Eli as best he could. Two clumps of dirt were all the signs there were two bodies here. They deserved to be buried back at the temple but until that thing was dead he could not risk dragging them back. The Predator had come after his trophies before so there was no doubt in his mind that it would come for them if he left their bodies lying around. They deserved this much at least. If he survived the night he would return for them.

There was no mound for Gwyn, Eli or Kazaki. The Predator had probably skinned them and turned their skulls to trophies by now. If Sub-Zero were honest with himself, he could have cared less what happened to Kazaki's body. That man had been willing to turn his back on men and women who had stood by him and leave them to die. He viewed Kazaki's fate as justice. However, the man had been Lin Kuei and just the thought of the Predator turning him into a trophy sent shivers down Sub-Zero's spine. The creature had gained enough Lin Kuei heads, three too many. They would be his last.

The sun was setting on the horizon, sending a blood red glow over the jungle. Sub-Zero did not have long to prepare. The Predator would no doubt be hunting him as he sat there, looking for its prized trophy. It ended tonight with one of them dead. The grandmaster headed out into the jungle, turning once more to look at the two mounds he had placed in the earth.

"I'm sorry," he said softly to them. "Tonight, you shall be avenged and returned to the temple crypts. Your names shall be honored by the Lin Kuei for generations. Never have I fought beside such brave warriors."

With those words said, he raised his head high and marched out into the unforgiving jungle. Only one could live this night.

In truth, the Predator had not been hunting Sub-Zero, there would be plenty of time for that later. Instead it was admiring the three new skulls it had added to its collection. These three had been fine warriors, though the last one had been too easy for his liking. He gently put them in the satchel that hung beside him. Inside were at least ten other Lin Kuei skulls. This hunt had indeed been profitable.

Next it picked up the tech one of these warriors had used. This was indeed interesting gear. It allowed the wearer to command the elements around them like play-things. The first had been in command of the wind and though that was indeed a powerful ally to have, the Predator could not see how much help it would be in a fight against a cryomancer like his opponent.

The other though had been in command of fire. This would indeed be helpful in the upcoming confrontation. Fire melted ice. He slipped on one of Gwyn's arm bands and looked at the mechanisms in his palm. There seemed to be a lighter of some kind there. He flicked the switch and a small tongue of flame appeared. Testing it he shot his hand forward but the flame did not extend like a fire ball as hers did. He looked again and saw another small button right below the lighter. Extending his arm once again he pressed the button with his thumb. A jet of flame extended out into the jungle, igniting the tree in front of him. This had been the desired effect. There were also small arrows on the side of his palm, like arrow keys on a keyboard. He assumed this was to control where the flame flew which he, after a quick test, discovered to be true.

Smiling, the Predator placed the other band on his arm and made the same tests. These flame throwers alongside his own tech would make him unstoppable. He placed his own gauntlets over the bands and leaped from branch to branch out into the jungle toward the setting sun. It was time to find his last victim of the night.

It wasn't long until Sub-Zero found a less dense area beside a river. Here he would make his final stand against the creature. Using his ice sword he began to clear away some of the foliage for traps. Throughout his fight he planned to place ice clones in these areas in which to confuse the predator. Being made entirely out of ice the Predator would not see them and, if his hunch was correct that the thing was reptilian, begin to slow as it ran into and shattered them, allowing the cold to seep into it.

These were not the only traps he laid. Using an ice dagger he sharpened twigs to deadly points and set trip wires where the Predator could activate the traps. He had also placed a huge log in a similar trap, hoping to crush bone. The last thing he did was make a roaring fire, giving the Predator an indication that the fight would be held here. With that done he climbed into one of the trees to examine his work. Everything looked perfect, each trap hidden well and in areas that one could not miss. With his examination done he took a deep breath and let out a roar. No doubt the Predator would hear it, recognize it as a challenge and come to him.

The Predator had found the two makeshift graves Sub-Zero had made. His scanners indicated that two human bodies indeed lay under here and he knew that these must be two of his kills. However, he could not stop to collect their skulls now, there was bigger game to be found. He would return for them once his prey was dead.

Suddenly, a roar split the night sky. It sounded like an enraged animal issuing a challenge to a worthy opponent. Many would assume it was a wild beast but the Predator heard the distinct human qualities in the roar. He knew it was his target calling him to battle. Without hesitation the Predator ran for the sound, engaging his cloak as he went. Though he intended to make this a fair fight, using none of his tricks, the Predator did not see any need to announce his arrival. He would get there and they would fight with honor but not only on Sub-Zero's terms.

Unfortunately for the Predator Sub-Zero had indeed anticipated this. He hid in a tree in full view of the fire, his body temperature lowered to a point that no infrared could have picked him up. He sat there and watched, waiting for the point when the creature would show itself.

He did not have to wait long. Right next to the fire, blue static appeared and the Predator stepped into view. The resemblance to a Lin Kuei cyber warrior was uncanny. The metal mask it wore was similar in design to many of the metal heads and the long dreadlocks hung like the wires from their heads. Its skin reminded him of mottled lizards that scurried around on the jungle floor. It wore a simple armored chest plate, two gauntlets and leg guards, as well as armor in the crotch region. The rest of him was covered in a weird netted material. Unfortunately for Sub-Zero the gauntlets covered the arm bands and he could not see them.

The creature kept scanning the area, looking for him. It even looked right where Sub-Zero laid in hiding but thanks to his powers it missed him. A low growl escaped from behind the mask. Quietly, Sub-Zero crept closer to his enemy. He alighted on a branch right above the Predator's head and behind it. He slowly formed two ice darts on his fingers. He knew these would not be lethal but they would get its attention. Without hesitation Sub-Zero let them fly.

The Predator felt two sharp pricks in its leg. He let out a roar of pain and looked down but saw nothing. Gingerly, he touched the effected area and was surprised to feel two ice darts imbedded in his flesh. Without removing them he spun around and saw a faint heat signature in the tree above him. Quickly he brought his shoulder blaster up and aimed right at his opponent. However, there was no longer any target there to shoot.

Stunned, the Predator began to look around. Where had the man gone? Had he found some way to escape his vision? Many thoughts swam through the Predator's head but before an answer could be reached something heavy rammed into him. He heard the swish of a sword through the air and his shoulder blaster fell to the ground, useless. Enraged he rose to his feet and sent two jets of flame into the jungle wildly.

Sub-Zero was stunned and narrowly dodged the fire as it shot toward the jungle. The Predator had taken Gwyn's flame throwers! This, above anything else, made Sub-Zero mad. Without thinking he shot an ice ball right at the creature's face. It made it through the flames and hit its mark, freezing the Predator's face. He fell over onto the ground, his hands quickly coming to his head.

The Predator had to think quickly. If he did not act soon the cold would certainly kill him. He shot the flames right at his face at full power and the ice became water fast. However, that was not the end of his problems. Sub-Zero leapt into the air right at him. Hearing the enraged grandmaster's cry, the Predator rolled out of the way and heard a sword sink into the ground.

Blindly, he kicked where he thought his opponent was, making contact with Sub-Zero's ribs. Unfortunately the blow was not powerful enough to break one. Slowly the two of them stood up and faced each other. The Predator could not see his prey at all but he knew he was there. It was time to remove the mask.

Sub-Zero watched as the creature reached for its mask. Still clutching his side from where it had hit him, he was too winded to do anything. The predator pulled two wires from its side that let out a hiss as air escaped them. Then, with clawed hands, it slowly pulled the mask away.

The face behind the mask would have made the great Shao Kahn scream. It had a tall forehead with no hair except for eight spikes that were formed in a v-shape. Its eyes were a bright, golden color and its face seemed to be in a permanent grimace. Four mandibles clicked around a mouth filled with sharp teeth. Sub-Zero's first thought was of a crocodile, spider mix.

"I guess I've seen worse," said Sub-Zero, trying to sound braver than he felt.

The Predator let out a roar and aimed the flame throwers at Sub-Zero. He could now see his target. The grandmaster tensed, ready to dodge out of the way. However, no flames came. Confused, the Predator looked at his hands, futilely trying to spark a flame. He had no clue that the lighters required gas to burn. He had used what Gwyn had left too quickly.

"You're all out," Sub-Zero said, smirking behind his mask.

He charged the Predator and aimed a flying kick right at its chest. Though confused by his failure to summon flame the Predator was ready for this. His reflexes quicker than a cat's, he caught Sub-Zero's foot and twisted, sending the grandmaster spinning to the ground. Landing with a thud, Sub-Zero had barely enough time to dodge a well aimed punch that buried itself in the ground. Quickly, he swept the Predator's legs out from underneath him and caused the creature to crash to the ground.

Standing up as fast as he could, Sub-Zero formed his ice sword and stood ready to do battle. He charged forward raising the ice blade above his head, prepared to plunge it right into his enemy's chest. The Predator rolled to the side quickly, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow. The blade sank into the ground with a distinct "snik" right where he had laid before. Sub-Zero tried to remove the sword but it had sunk fast into the ground, making it impossible to move.

The Predator leapt at his prey, the two wrist blades drawn and thirsting for blood. The beast was so fast that Sub-Zero barely had enough time to move. He jumped back and the two blades hit nothing but empty air. The grandmaster formed a second sword quickly and raised it in a defensive position. The Predator laughed at the sight of the sword. How could such a weapon stand against his own? He slowly walked over to Sub-Zero and swung again, his enemy raising the sword in defense

What happened next surprised the creature. When the blades had connected there was no sound of ice shattering or even cracking. Sub-Zero had thickened the ice sword so much that no blade could possibly shatter it. The strength needed to wield such a weapon was so great that the Predator began to actually feel fear. Could this human possibly kill him? Who exactly was he dealing with?

While the Predator stood stunned staring at the blades, Sub-Zero placed one hand against the creature's abdomen and fired. Burning pain blazed through the Predator's brain as the ice took hold. He backed away from Sub-Zero, clutching his side. The ice began to spread quickly, covering his lower half and making it almost impossible to move. It then extended to his chest, then arms and it was soon apparent that he would not be able to move at all. The last thing he saw clearly before the ice covered his head was the grandmaster walking toward him, the sword still in hand.

At first, Sub-Zero had considered just cutting off the creature's head and ending it quickly. Then he thought of Gwyn, Eli, Edward, Dust, and Frost. Each one of these people had been loyal Lin Kuei, willing to die for their cause and had indeed given their lives, Frost in defense of him. No, after everything that had happened Sub-Zero was not going to let him off that easily.

Rage fueling him and giving even more strength Sub-Zero grabbed the creature by the throat. The ice there shattered at his touch and he had a strong grip, perfect for what he had in mind. The grandmaster began to pull with all his exceptional strength. It wasn't long before he could hear the rip of bone and flesh as the Predator's head began to come loose. With one final heave there was a loud snap and in Sub-Zero's hand was the creature's head, the spine somehow still attached. He held it over his head and let loose a victory scream that rang through the night. He then fell to his knees, the head slipping through his fingers. He was exhausted.

The sun rose slowly into the sky, shining off of the temple's walls. A heavy fog covered the jungle floor, making it impossible to see into the jungle. Jade and Alec stood on the walls looking out into the jungle. The decoy party had returned, every man, woman, and dragon still alive. None of the others had returned.

They knew that five would never come back. Each Lin Kuei has a special connection with their dragon that they can feel what the other is, physically or emotionally. Each one of their dragons had felt their deaths and were now brooding in the holding pins. However, Sub-Zero's dragon Miyukiko was not. She had become sad when her fellow dragons had lost their riders but there was no indication the the grandmaster had joined them in their fate. They all knew he was still alive.

Suddenly, through the mist came a lone figure. Jade had been the first to see it, her mind solely on her husband. She had done nothing else but watch over the walls, just waiting for her beloved to return. The figure walked through the mist and once it came into the light it held up something.

In its hand was a head, the spine dangling from what was left of the neck. It let out a triumphant roar that reached their ears easily. Jade knew then and there that Sub-Zero had returned and he had killed the monster. The horror was over.