Prologue:

Eons ago, the existence of Earth was recognized by the Elder Gods. These Gods ruled diverse realms which make up the unstable universe all worlds must occupy. The delicate balance of a realm's existence rests on its furies- negative and positive forces that keep the realm from collapsing onto itself. Each realm is therefore very powerful, containing a portion of the energy which makes up the universe as we know it. Before the Mortal Kombat tournament was started, The Elder Gods wrote folklore legends that no one was to know of. They wrote what they saw in their existence in the universe. Their writings were then hidden in a labyrinth. It was a hidden labyrinth that was discovered by two merchants eons later. The writings were then forwarded to Raiden. Raiden then read the writings, and classified them as a threat to the peace and existence of Earthrealm. The last tournament that took place was marked by the defeat of Goro and Shang Tsung. Raiden decided to get rid of these legends before evil gets their hands on them and makes alliances with them. He is having the champion of Mortal Kombat: Liu Kang take care of the possible threats to Earthrealm. The writings Raiden was reading were known as Forgotten Legends.

CHAPTER ONE: The Map.

And so the story begins. It was a cold, dark morning in the realm of Earth. It was quiet in Zorkia, a city near the Temple of the Order of Light. The sun was beginning to rise as the people of Zorkia began to do their daily routines. The Champion of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang, was trading with an aristocrat when Raiden appeared behind him sneakily.

Raiden: An early start on trading today?

Liu Kang: Raiden? I hate when you do that.

Raiden: Yeah, I know.

Liu Kang: Yes, you can say an early start.

Raiden: Let me guess, looking for a new broadsword?

Liu Kang: Exactly, except, I can't find any that I like. The Caravan seems late today.

Raiden: They should be here by now, then maybe you will find your blade of choice.

Liu Kang: Wonder what is taking so long?

Raiden: Who knows. Well, you should stop wasting your time looking for a weapon when you already have a pair of nunchaku, and start training new fighters for the next tournament.

Liu Kang: I have lots of time to prepare, I just became Champion. It seems like yesterday.

Raiden: You have patience, that is a good thing. But, its closer than you think.

Liu Kang: Indeed you speak the truth. Ah, I wish I new where that Caravan was. It is too eerie out today.

Raiden: Something is different.

Meanwhile, the Caravan is making its way through the Orca Forest, a forest in between the Temple of the Order of Light and Zorkia. Zui Qu Qua, a merchant is talking to another merchant Yoshitsune Minamoto.

Zui: Its awfully quiet this morning, something isn't right.

Yoshitsune: I agree, it isn't like the usual mornings when we come.

Zui: All these differences are probably making the people of Zorkia worried about us. After all, we are late.

Yoshitsune: We will just tell them that we ran into some trail side traders.

Zui: Something isn't right, I feel that we are in major danger.

Yoshitsune: I think I know why.

Zui: Why?

Yoshitsune: I am not telling you something I should.

Zui: What is it?

Yoshitsune: Well, when we ran into those trail side traders, I heard a funny noise in the forest surrounding us.

Zui: What was it?

Yoshitsune: I wasn't sure, so I went and checked it out. I followed the noise until I came to a cave. It was a huge cave, but very well hidden. It looked long abandoned. So I went inside, and as soon as I did, holy men . . . Priests came in. That is when I hid. They were doing something, I couldn't tell.

Zui: What were holy men doing in a cave that looked long abandoned?

Yoshitsune: I don't know, but I took this map. Apparently it leads to some ancient area. I walked outside with the map and that is when . . .

Zui: When what?

Yoshitsune: When they realized that someone had taken the map, I don't think they saw me run off, I am sure of that.

Zui: Why did you take the map? It would have been a lot safer if you didn't go inside, let alone wonder off.

Yoshitsune: Yeah, but the thing was, the holy men, they didn't even look like they were from here. And the map could be of some importance to us. It could lead us to ancient relics! Lots of goods that we could sell to others!

Zui: No . . . this is the thing, you get these crazy ideas, and then who knows what could happen to us. We should stay out of it.

Yoshitsune: Why?! We could be rich!

Zui: How do you know what kind of things are in that area! Don't you see, if they find some sort of a clue, or anything of that kind, we are marked men. They will especially suspect a Caravan for such events, if not the entire area. Wonder if it's a trap they were planning for someone else?

Yoshitsune: Look, we are almost at Zorkia. Why don't we check it out later, after we are done with our business in Zorkia, what do you say?

Zui: Ah . . . Fine.

The Caravan made its way to the gates of Zorkia. They paid their toll and entered the city. The Caravan stopped at its regular location and began to unload and open up for business.

Liu Kang: Look! There they are, lets go.

Raiden followed Liu Kang as he walked up to Zui Qu Qua.

Zui: Good day Liu, what can I do you for?

Liu Kang: Well, I am looking for a blade, I am looking more toward a broadsword.

Zui: Ah yes, many we have of those. Go look, Yoshitsune will help if any is needed.

Liu Kang: Thanks.

Raiden: So, what took you so long?

Zui: Haha, we ran into some trail side traders.

Raiden: I see.

Yoshitsune: (waving his hand around the swords) We only sell the finest of swords, if its broadswords you want, here you go.

Liu Kang: (pointing at a broadsword) I think I will take that one.

Yoshitsune: That will be 250 gold koins.

Zui: Yoshitsune!

Yoshitsune: Oh, right . . . Sorry Liu. Take it for free.

Zui: That's more like it.

Liu Kang: Thanks Yoshitsune and Zui Qu.

Zui: Its our pleasure.

Liu Kang: So, why were you so late today.

Zui: I just got done telling Raiden that. Well, we ran into some trail side traders in Orca Forest.

Liu Kang: (putting his broadsword in his leather sheath) At least you`re safe, I thought something bad happened to you guys.

Yoshitsune: Almost, haha.

Zui: (hits Yoshitsune in the arm)

Raiden: Is something going on?

Zui: Go ahead tell them, since you pretty much started telling it already.

Yoshitsune: Sorry. Well, when we were trading with . . . (looks both ways)

Raiden: Go on.

Yoshitsune: Can we go to somewhere private?

Raiden: Sure, if its for the best.

Zui: I will close up for now.

Zui Qu Qua closed up the Caravan, and all four rode in the Caravan to a small cottage on the outskirts of the city. Zui Qu Qua started a fire for heat, while they all sat down at the table.

Raiden: Now that you have your privacy, continue.

Yoshitsune: Right. So as I was saying, when we were trading with the trail side traders I heard a strange noise in the forest around us. I wasn't sure what the noise was, so I went and checked it out. I followed the noise until I came to a cave. It was a huge cave, but very well hidden. It looked long abandoned. So I went inside, and as soon as I did, holy men . . . Priests came in. That is when I hid. They were doing something, I couldn't tell.

Liu Kang: Holy men?

Yoshitsune: Yes, and I had no idea what they were doing there. When I was in there I saw this map. (pulls out the map) I took it. It looks like it leads to an unoccupied ancient area. Then I walked outside, and that is when they realized that someone was there with them and had taken the map.

Raiden: That someone happened to be you.

Zui: You guessed it.

Yoshitsune: So I ran off in fear.

Liu Kang: Did they see you?

Yoshitsune: No, and I am sure of it.

Zui: Now he wants to see where the map leads him.

Yoshitsune: Yeah, why not?!

Raiden: Sounds like a bad idea, it could be a trap that was planned for someone else.

Zui: That's what I said.

Liu Kang: Come on, lets go check it out.

Yoshitsune: Fearless, I like him.

Raiden: Both of you are not thinking clearly. However I do want to find out what is going on.

Yoshitsune: You might, because the holy men looked like they were not from here.

Liu Kang: Could it be Shao Kahn's doing?

Raiden: I don't know.

Yoshitsune: Shao what?

Zui: Shao Kahn, emperor and ruler of Outworld.

Yoshitsune: Since when do you know all of this?

Zui: Its not important. All you can say is that I believe in Mortal Kombat.

Yoshitsune: You want to run that by me again?

Raiden: Look, whether you understand or not, we have to do something about this. Something isn't right, whether its Shao Kahn's doing or not. I have a bad feeling about all of this.

Meanwhile back at the cave, the holy men are meditating. A man in a red ninja suit walks in and bows.

Red Ninja: My lords, a Caravan has been spotted by our spies in Zorkia. They could be responsible for the disappearing map.

All four holy men rise. One takes his hood off.

Holy man: You three leave us for a minute. (the three remaining holy men leave the room in the cave) What makes you so sure about this Caravan?

Red Ninja: Today, our spies detected them traveling on a trail nearby and stopping for a brief period of time, just enough to sneak in and take the map.

Holy man: If they show the map to others, our plans are doomed. And if they sell it, they will be the richest Caravan in the realms.

Red Ninja: We must find them and crush them!

Holy man: Don't worry, they will learn to never mess with the Red Dragon clan.

They both begin to laugh in an evil tone.