Heart of Ice

Heart of Ice

Chapter Six: Celestia

After Spike passed out and was put on the sofa with a blanket over him, Sub Zero was sitting with the girls discussing his arrival. Twilight had explained how she was experimenting with portals and what caused the purple sparks that had brought him to Equestria.

"Interesting, I saw the bright flash too. I have a feeling that is what brought me to this place." Sub Zero said to them.

"What happened? What were you doing when you saw the flash?" Twilight asked, trying to piece together what had happened.

"I was in the Netherrealm, in combat with an old enemy of mine, when his master forced me through a portal. I was falling to my death when I saw the flash." He explained to them.

"What's the Nettherrealm?" Rainbow Dash asked, sceptically.

"There are many names for that location such as Hell or The Underworld. You may know it by a different name." He told them.

The girls all realised the location he was talking about when told them this.

"Y-You were in T-Tartarus?" Fluttershy asked, scared and amazed that he had been to such a terrible place. Sub Zero nodded.

"W-Why did you go t-there?" She asked

"I was hunting an old foe of mine, Scorpion. Before I could finish him, his master, Quan Chi sent me through a portal. I saw the bright flash when I came through that portal. " Sub Zero explained to them.

"You were fighting a Scorpion?" Pinkie asked.

Sub Zero stifled a chuckle at her question, all strangeness aside, these ponies were quite amusing.

"No, I was fighting a demon named Scorpion. He is the dead soul of Hanzo Hasashi, a Japanese ninja of the Shirai Ryu clan." He corrected her.

"You fight ninjas? That is awesome!" Rainbow Dash said, seemingly warming up to her new found idol.

"Uhh... What? Ninjas?" The now waking Spike groaned from the couch. The girls took notice and went over to assist him. Twilight turned to Sub Zero before heading over.

"Can you... Umm..." She began, trying to put what she had to say nicely.

"Not scare him?" Sub Zero finished for her. "Fear not, I will try not to intimidate him."

The girls and the assassin all gathered around the couch, hoping he would not faint again at the sight of Sub Zero.

"Hey Spike, how are you feeling?" Twilight asked the waking dragon.

"I had the weirdest dream Twi, there was this giant, blue monster in the library." Spike said to her, rubbing his head.

"That wasn't a dream Spike. I have someone I want you to meet, but only if you promise me you wont freak out." Twilight said to Spike.

Spike took a deep breath and nodded. Twilight smiled sweetly at him and stood aside, revealing the assassin in question. Spikes face dropped when he saw Sub Zero, realising the reality of the situation.

"Spike, this is Sub Zero." Twilight said to Spike.

"I am sorry if I had intimidated you before, dragon, but rest assured, I will not harm you." Sub Zero said, trying to sound as sincere as he could.

"O-Okay, I-I'm Spike." Spike said to him, failing to maintain a brave face.

"Spike I need you to send a letter to the princess about Sub Zero. Can you do that for me?" Twilight asked him sincerely

"You can count on me Twi!" Spike said, ready to perform his duty.

Twilight smiled at Spike warmly and pulled him into a comforting hug.

"Thanks Spike, you're a great friend." She said to him.

Sub Zero looked on at the scene somewhat awkwardly. He was not used to this much emotion, and it made him feel a bit uncomfortable. Twilight released Spike and grabbed her quill and ink well and went over to her desk. She began writing her letter as Sub Zero now began to wonder how this young drake was so needed to contact the princess. Twilight levitated her quill back into the well and walked over to Spike. Spike took the scroll and took a deep breath. He then let out a burst of green flame that burned the scroll entirely. Sub Zero raised his eyebrow at this but then saw how the scroll burned and the smoke that was produced, started to make it's way out the window and off to it's destination. He was impressed. This was an effective way to stay in contact with the ruler, as no one could intercept the message. Twilight turned to face Sub Zero.

"We need to wait for the princess to respond, I don't think she'll be long, she was pretty interested by all this." Twilight said to him.

Sub Zero nodded and sat back down on the chair. The girls and Spike joined him, they all sat there in a somewhat awkward silence as the girls had no idea what to say to him.

"So... How did you get that wound?" Twilight asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Scorpion hit me with his kunai, as you saw, it managed to pierce my cuirass" He said to her.

"What's a kunai?" Applejack asked, quizzically.

"Think of a spear head attached to a rope, or chain, in Scorpions case. You use it to stun an opponent and pull him towards you to land a finishing blow." He explained to the group.

"Do you have one?" Rainbow asked.

"No. I do not need such methods to stun opponents." He told them, turning his head to the frozen jug he had demonstrated on earlier.

The girls seemed to get the message and all let their imaginations wander, thinking of how he could freeze somepony instantly like that. Sub Zero noticed the grim looks they were giving the jug and decided it was time to change the subject before those grim looks turned to him.

"You are certain you're princess can get me back to Earth-Realm?" He asked them, hoping that asking them a question instead would ease their minds.

"I'm pretty sure she will be able to help. She's the wisest and most powerful Alicorn that has ever existed. I'm sure she'll know something that could help you out." Twilight told him, turning her head away from the jug.

At that moment, Spike let out a loud belch and a small flame burst out of his mouth. The fire seemed to roll into itself in the air before disappearing entirely. With a loud 'poof' a scroll replaced the space the fire was in. Twilight grabbed the scroll with her telekinesis and opened it.

"Dear Twilight," She began "I will teleport to the library momentarily after you get this scroll. I will see you shortly. Princess Celstia."

As soon as she lowered the scroll, a bright white flash engulfed the library, causing everyone to shield their eyes. The flash subsided and where the flash once was, stood a large and regal looking pony with both wings and a horn. Sub Zero knew this had to be the pricess, as he knew that she was an Alicorn. She had a long, multi-coloured, flowing mane and tail. She had a large, golden tiara on upon her head and a large amulet on her neck, each of them bearing a single amethyst. She had large golden horse shoes that covered the lower half of her legs. Her cutie mark was a blazing sun.

She stepped forward and addressed the girls first.

"Hello Twilight, it is good to see you and your friends again, but I must ask you and your friends to wait in the kitchen. I wish to speak in private with our guest." She said to them.

"O-Okay princess," Twilight said, slightly disappointed "Come on girls."

The girls went into the kitchen and Celestia turned to face Sub Zero.

"Greetings, I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria and raiser of the sun. May I ask who you are?" She asked him, calmly.

Sub Zero bowed slightly and spoke to the princess.

"I am Sub Zero, of the Lin Kuei clan of assassins."