Millions of years ago, Shinnok tried to invade and conquer Earth with a mystical Amulet. Raiden, Earth's Guardian, waged a war with Shinnok that ended up destroying an entire civilization (the Saurians) and plunged Earth into centuries of darkness. But Raiden was victorious and Shinnok was banished into the Netherealm. The Amulet was then buried in the Temple of Elements on Earth and guarded by four gods.
In the Netherealm, Shinnok was immediately tortured by it's then ruler Lucifer. He would suffer there for centuries until he was contacted by Quan Chi. Quan Chi offered to help Shinnok ovethrow Lucifer and eventually escap the Netherealm. In return, Quan Chi wanted power. Shinnok agreed and together they managed to tear down Lucifer and take over the Netherealm for themselves. Shinnok however, hated it there and always desired to escape and take Earth.
Meanwhile, by this time Shang Tsung had been sent to Earth with Goro to win the Mortal Kombat tournament for Shao Kahn. Goro killed Earth's Champion, the Great Kung Lao, and Tsung took his soul. Upon stealing Kung Lao's soul, Tsung learned the location the Temple of the Elements. In exchange for Shinnok's assistence in a plan to resurrect Sindel, Tsung told Quan Chi where the Temple was. However, the very presence of the four Temple guardians prevented Quan Chi from being able to enter. He needed someone to get it for him.
At the beginning of Mythologies, which takes place about two years before MK1, Sub-Zero (the older one) is hired by Quan Chi to steal a map from the Shaolin Temple that would lead to the Temple of the Elements.. While on the mission he encounters Scorpion of the Lin Kuei's rival clan, the Shirai Ryu. They fight and Sub-Zero wins. Scorpion asks for mercy, but Sub-Zero viciously rips his head off, killing him.
Sub-Zero returns to the Lin Kuei where he learns Quan Chi also hired Scorpion as a back up if Sub-Zero failed. As payment for the Lin Kuei's services, Quan Chi slaughtered every last member of the Shirai Ryu and their families. He then hires Sub-Zero to use the map to go to the Temple of the Elements and steal a sacred Amulet for him.
Sub-Zero accepts the job and goes to the Temple. There he defeats the four guardians of the Temple, the God of Wind (Fujin), God of Earth, God of Water, and the God of Fire. He finds the Amulet but before he can get it, Quan Chi teleports in and snatches it. Quan Chi then taunts Sub-Zero saying his lord Shinnok would soon conquer Earth and teleports away.
Sub-Zeor doesn't believe him until Raiden appears and tells him he has to get the Amulet back. At first Sub-Zero doesn't care but Raiden says if Shinnok gets the Amulet the Earth will be destroyed. Sub-Zero reluctantly agrees to go into the Netherealm to get the Amulet back, only because he has no choice.
Sub-Zero goes to the Netherealm where he is eventually captured in the Prison of Souls. While being held prisoner, he encouters Scorpion who is pissed that Sub-Zero killed him and he believes the Lin Kuei wiped out his clan and family. Sub-Zero tries to tell Scorpion that it was really Quan Chi, but he doesn't listen. They fight and Sub-Zero wins again.
Sub-Zero fights his way to Shinnok's Fortress. Inside he fights Quan Chi's three assassins, Kia, Jataaka, and Sareena. Sub-Zero decides to spare Sareena's life for some reason and he gets into Quan Chi's chamber. Quan Chi offers to let Sub-Zero join the Brotherhood of the Shadow because he can sense Sub-Zero's soul is tainted with evil. Sub-Zero wants nothing to do with him and they fight.
As they fight, Sareena teleports in and helps Sub-Zero defeat Quan Chi. He asks why she helped him and she says she wants him to help her escape the Netherealm, saying she's waited an eternity to escape. Before Sub-Zero can say anything, Sareena is suddenly shot in the back by Shinnok. She collapses into an enraged Sub-Zero's arms and appears to die.
Shinnok says he wanted Sub-Zero to join, but he will instead be treated as a bitter enemy. Shinnok attacks Sub-Zero, but he manages to steal Amulet away from him. With the Amulet in hand, Sub-Zero leaps through a portal Raiden opens and escapes back to Earth, leaving Shinnok pissed.
Back on Earth, Sub-Zero gives the Amulet back to Raiden but demands to know if Quan Chi was telling the truth about his soul being tainted with evil. Raiden says Quan Chi was right, but only Sub-Zero can change it.
Sub-Zero ignores Raiden's warning and returns to the Lin Kuei where he finds out he's been invited to participate in Shang Tsung's Mortal Kombat tournament.
