CHAPTER TWO: The Destination.

It was late afternoon. The Caravan decided to stay at the cottage with Liu Kang and Raiden just in case they were being hunted. The Caravan definitely didn't want to be out in the open with others. They stocked the cottage with plenty of food, water, firewood, and weapons. While Zui Qu Qua and Yoshitsune began to start a fire for heat, Liu Kang and Raiden began to talk.

Raiden: Something seems to be bothering you?

Liu Kang: Well, I don't exactly like the possibility of being watched by strangers, or hunted for that matter.

Yoshitsune: He is not the only one.

Zui: You got that right.

Raiden: Don't let it get to you, we are a good distance from the city. They have no idea of our location.

Liu Kang: I wish we didn't get involved into such action now. I am unprepared, I need to train new fighters.

Raiden: Well, you're right. You are unprepared, you still need additional training in order to train new fighters to their full potential.

Liu Kang: Training?

Raiden: Yes. You are going to be the only one training them. I can't train them, I am guiding you. Kung Lao can't train them, he is on an assignment. That's why you need to extend your training a little further in order to train new fighters.

Liu Kang: And how am I going to do this?

Raiden: I have the perfect mentor for you, Nobletow Kewana.

Yoshitsune: (overhearing) Hah! That old wizard, he is nothing but an old hermit, lives out in the dune valley.

Liu Kang: Dune valley! That's too far away, nothing lives out there, its dead.

Yoshitsune: He is probably dead by now, haha.

Raiden: We will find out I suppose. Now, lets get indoors.

All four of them went indoors. It was a very quiet evening and all you could hear was the wildlife around. It soon turned dusk, and Zui Qu Qua and Yoshitsune fell asleep while Raiden and Liu Kang stayed awake.

Raiden: Liu Kang, I want you to start traveling to Dune Valley now, its best to get an early start. You should be there by late morning. I want you to make your way through the Botan Jungle. It will be dark, so be on your guard. After you have made your way out of the Botan Jungle, you will reach a rocky terrain with little vegetation called The Charred Plains. Travel on the small mountain range, the moonlight will be shining on it by the time you make it there. After you have past the small mountain range, there you will find Death Desert, in which Dune Valley is located. You will find Nobletow easily from there, just use your instincts.

Liu Kang: Yes master Raiden. What about them?

Raiden: I see they already fell asleep, they will be fine.

Liu Kang left the cottage with his water pouch and broadsword and set foot out of the forest, and soon disappeared into the night. Raiden walked out into the night and teleported away. Then all of a sudden there was a ruckus inside the cottage.

Yoshitsune: (waking up) What? Where did they go! Zui Qu (shaking his arm) wake up!

Zui Qu: Now what happened?

Yoshitsune: They left, the weird Thunder God and Kang!

Zui Qu: Raiden is not weird, he is the Thunder God. I am sure they had to do things.

Yoshitsune: At this time?!

Zui Qu: Calm down, just relax, they wouldn't have left us behind for good.

Yoshitsune: I bet they took the map!

Zui Qu: (sighing) Ah, by the gods . . .

Yoshitsune: No, they didn't do that, it is here.

Zui Qu: Of course they didn't! Stop it now!

Yoshitsune: Sorry . . .

Then Yoshitsune got a crazy idea.

Yoshitsune: (holding the map high in the air) Hey! I got an idea my friend, haha.

Zui Qu: Let me guess, you want to go see where the map takes us!

Yoshitsune: Yes!

Zui Qu: No! (hitting his pillow hard)

Yoshitsune: Ah, come on!

Zui Qu fell asleep, and that is when Yoshitsune soundly left the cottage.

Yoshitsune: (talking to himself) Sorry Zui Qu, I have to find out where this leads.

Then Yoshitsune ran off into the night. It was an hour later when Zui Qu woke up. He looked around as he lit a candle for light. He saw that no one was with him.

Zui Qu: Damn fool! So greedy in his conscious!

Zui Qu then went out to the Caravan, lit himself a torch and pulled out a katana and ran off into the night. Meanwhile Liu Kang made his way out of the city and was beginning to walk through the Botan Jungle. It was a very large forested area with many tropical plants and a lot of wildlife.

Liu Kang: (talking to himself and waving his hand in front of him) Ah, I can't see a thing. All I can hear is wildlife. I must be in the Botan Jungle. I must be going in the right direction.

Then Liu Kang got his broadsword in hand and sliced off a branch that was in front of him. He went over to a rock that he could barely see and with his broadsword he stroked the rock creating many sparks. He did it repetitively until he caught his branch on fire. Now he had a source of light. He then was able to navigate better. As Liu Kang left the small area he was in a red ninja appeared in the path. Then another and a third jumped out.

Red Ninja #1: One of you go back and tell our leaders that we are the trail of the Champion of Mortal Kombat.

Red Ninja #3: I will. (he ran off into the darkness)

Red Ninja #2: We will need reinforcements!

Red Ninja #1: No, we will spy only.

Red Ninja #2: He has the map, we must bring more warriors to take him out!

Red Ninja #1: How can you be so sure?! We will find out by spying on him only!

Red Ninja #2: Yes sir.

They ran to find Liu Kang.

Meanwhile, Yoshitsune was making his way aimlessly through the deeper parts of the Orca Forest. He was following the ways of the map, but then he ran out of moonlight. He began to panic. Then he tried to find a stick or any type of branch. He then found a branch. But, he had not way of starting a fire. He tried to use another small rock on another rock to start a spark but he failed. Then he broke his branch in anger.

Yoshitsune: No! Why Elder Gods?! Why!?

Then all of a sudden, he saw two humanoid like figures walking toward him from a distance.

Yoshitsune: (jumping in a bush) They must have heard me, damn!

As they got closer, Yoshitsune saw that they were red ninja like warriors. He began to shake.

Red Ninja: What was those noises we heard here?

Red Ninja #2: Who knows, probably some animal.

Red Ninja: I don't know about that. We should search this place, after all the map is missing.

Red Ninja #2: That's a good idea.

They began to search the small premises. Yoshitsune was beginning to shake more and more. Then he made a small noise. The red ninjas drew there swords. Yoshitsune slowly tucked the map in a small hole he quickly dug. Then he lost sight of the red ninjas. Then all of a sudden the bush was being slashed by swords. It was the red ninjas. They chopped the bush and pulled Yoshitsune out and threw him on the ground.

Red Ninja: Well, well, well, look what we have here!

Yoshitsune: Ah! Please don't kill me! Aha!

Red Ninja #2: (placing his sword up to Yoshitsune's neck) We won't, just tell us what you are doing out here so late.

Yoshitsune: Nothing! I swear! Just going for a nightly walk, want to join me? Haha

The red ninja then picked Yoshitsune up by the neck holding him in the air.

Red Ninja #2: You're on thin ice old man now tell us . . . Uh, ah!

Red Ninja: What's wrong?

All of a sudden the red ninja saw that his comrade had a katana blade through his stomach. And in an instant he was decapitated as soon as he saw his comrade killed. Yoshitsune fell to the ground in pain. It was Zui Qu.

Yoshitsune: Zui Qu!

Zui Qu: What is your problem?! You're going to get yourself killed!

Yoshitsune: I almost had them where I wanted them, haha.

Zui Qu: Enough! Lets get out of here before more come.

Yoshitsune: Where did you learn to fight like that?

Zui Qu: Long ago from my sensei, and yes I am a swordsman.

Yoshitsune: Why do you wait until something like this comes along to tell me? You could have threatened people to give us the money that we wanted!

Zui Qu: Shut up! No! This stops now! Where is the map!

Yoshitsune: (pointing at the chopped up bush) There!

Yoshitsune got up and dug it back up.

Zui Qu: No we are leaving! Lets go!

Yoshitsune: No! Wait! We are close to the location, lets go check it out!

Zui Qu: I don't think so, we are returning it to the cave in the morning!

Yoshitsune: We are too far to stop now!

Then they both saw four humanoid figures in the distance walking toward them with torches and weapons drawn.

Zui Qu: Damn! They heard us, must be more of your red buddies, looking for these two.

Yoshitsune: Oh, no.

Zui Qu: Come on! Lets go! This time you win, but there will be no next time.

Yoshitsune: Follow me!

They both ran off away from the four warriors. Zui Qu and Yoshitsune made their way out of the Orca Forest. They escaped the Red Dragon Members and were out of the deep parts of the forest.

Zui Qu: We are running out of moon light. I need another torch.

Yoshitsune: Here! (snaps off a small branch from a fallen tree.)

Zui Qu: (grabbing the branch) Now I need a rock to create a spark.

Yoshitsune: Its too dark out, I can't see.

Zui Qu: Hold on I see one. (pointing at a small rock)

Yoshitsune: (panicking) How is that going to work?!

Zui Qu: Watch and learn greedy man!

Zui Qu took his sword and slashed as hard as he could at the rock breaking it into small pieces creating many sparks. He caught his branch on fire.

Zui Qu: And the Elder Gods said, «let their be light.»

Yoshitsune: Haha!

Zui Qu: We are almost there according to the map, are we not?

Yoshitsune: Yes, we are almost there. I can smell the treasure from here!

Zui Qu: (sighing) You assume too much I believe.

Yoshitsune: We will see.

They then ran off. They were traveling through the end of the forest very quickly, with the help of the moon light, Zui Qu's torch, and Yoshitsune's map skills. Soon enough, they made it out of the Orca Forest and were now a mile away from a huge mountain range they saw in the distance. It was a mile of open flat land with grass and small trees.

Zui Qu: (pointing at the mountain) Look at that mountain. It must be Whitesnake Mountain.

Yoshitsune: X marks the spot! Our destination must be somewhere on that mountain, look!

Yoshitsune pointed at the X on the map.

Yoshitsune: On this part you can see it was illustrated to show flat land, like the land that we are on now. And right where the X is, you can see that it was illustrated to show high altitude and rocky terrain!

Zui Qu: By the gods, you are right! Map skills is about the only thing you are good at.

Yoshitsune: Hey, of course I am! I am a merchant! But, the best thing I am good at is treasure! Come on!

They both ran through the flat open horizon. Yoshitsune was running as fast as he could. Zui Qu, however, was just jogging behind. As soon as they got in the middle of the field Zui Qu stopped.

Zui Qu: (talking to himself) I sense something.

Yoshitsune: (still running) Lets go!

Zui Qu: Wait Yoshitsune!

And at that, five Red Dragon members popped out of the high grass around Yoshitsune. Zui Qu ducked and hid in the high grass.

Red Dragon member #1: Hold it right there scoundrel!

Red Dragon member #2: Another step and I will saw your head off old man!

Red Dragon member #3: What's that in your hand?!

Yoshitsune: Nothing! I swear! Just a poem written by my mother! Hah.

Red Dragon member #4: Shut up! (hitting Yoshitsune in the face with the end of his sword)

Yoshitsune fell to the ground.

Red Dragon member #5: He is too weak and old to put up a fight.

Red Dragon member #2: (grabbing the map out of Yoshitsune's hands) Look what it is commander!

Red Dragon member #1: Yes . . . Yes! it's the map! Our lords will be most pleased.

Red Dragon member #3: Victory is ours!

Red Dragon member #1: Kill this imbecile!

Red Dragon member #4: Yes sir. Good bye old man. (raising his axe)

Yoshitsune: No! Zui Qu!

Zui Qu had snuck up to where the Red Dragon members were interrogating Yoshitsune. He waited for the opportune moment. Red Dragon member #4 raised his axe and was beginning to come down with it. In a flash, Zui Qu popped out of the high grass and sliced the top part of axe clear off with his katana. Red Dragon member #4 then stopped his down stroke and looked at his axe handle in amazement. Zui Qu then stabbed Red Dragon member #4 through the stomach. Yoshitsune moved out of the way as soon as Red Dragon member #4 was falling on him. The three Red Dragon members came running at Zui Qu. Zui Qu stabbed Red Dragon member #1 through the stomach as he was running toward him. On the spur of the moment, the other two Red Dragon members drew there swords and began to sword fight Zui Qu. Zui Qu was blocking each of their strikes proficiently. Finally Zui Qu grabbed Red Dragon member #5's sword hand stabbed Red Dragon member #2 through the stomach as he decapitated Red Dragon member #5. Red Dragon member #3 began to throw small daggers at Zui Qu. Zui Qu began to deflect everyone of them. Then Red Dragon member #3 jumped in the air and jumped on Yoshitsune as he began to run. Zui Qu held his blade steadily, as Red Dragon member #3 got behind Yoshitsune holding him in a head lock and threatening to kill Yoshitsune with his small dagger.

Red Dragon member #3: Try anything funny swordsman, and the greedy merchant dies!

Zui Qu stared fearlessly at Red Dragon member #3

Red Dragon member #3: Put your sword down!

As Yoshitsune was panicking, Zui Qu began to use a mind trick with chi on Red Dragon member #3.

Zui Qu: (waving his hand) I don't have to put my sword down.

Red Dragon member #3: (repeating in a trance) You don't have to put your sword down.

Zui Qu: We aren't the ones your looking for.

Red Dragon member #3: (still repeating in trance) You are not the ones were looking for.

Zui Qu: You can let the old man and I go.

Red Dragon member #3: (repeating in the trance) You and the old man can go.

As soon as Red Dragon member #3 let Yoshitsune from his grasp, Zui Qu jumped up and chopped off Red Dragon member #3's head off.

Yoshitsune: How did you? . . . How did . . .

Zui Qu: It was a mind trick that my sensei taught me using chi, the life force.

Yoshitsune: Ah, great. Now you tell me that you have magical powers. You could have tricked people into giving us money and treasure!

Zui Qu: For the last time, my powers and skills are only used for defense and good!

Yoshitsune: Sorry . . .

Zui Qu: Lets keep going.

Yoshitsune then got the map from Red Dragon member #1's pocket, and they were on there way to the mountain.

Meanwhile Liu Kang made his way out of the Botan Jungle. He then was surrounded by rocky and mountainous terrain, with little to no trees and grass.

Liu Kang: (talking to himself) This must be The Charred Plains. The small mountain range Raiden was talking about must be here.

Liu Kang then looked over at the moon and looked at where the moonlight was shining. It indeed, as Raiden said, was shining on the small mountain range. He climbed down the ledge where the Botan Jungle ended. Now he was in a rocky ravine with small and medium mountains surrounding him. As Liu Kang walked through the ravine, the two red ninjas popped out of the bushes on the outskirts of the Botan Jungle.

Red Ninja #1: Where is he going?

Red Ninja #2: I don't know. He must have the map!

Red Ninja #1: Impossible, why is he so far out here then! The map leads to Whitesnake Mountain!

Red Ninja #2: Maybe he is going to aristocrats in the North! You know, the Baron's aristocrats at his trading post! He can cash in the map for so much money and treasure! I bet that is what he is doing.

Red Ninja #1: Well if we don't shut up, we are going to lose him!

They both ran after Liu Kang. Liu Kang was making his way out of the ravine and he was already close to the small mountain range. The red ninjas, however, were hot on his trail, jumping from rock to rock spying on him. As Liu Kang approached the small mountain range, the two red ninjas stopped.

Red Ninja #2: What is it?

Red Ninja #1: Don't you smell them, hear them?!

Red Ninja #2: I hear nothing, or smell nothing.

Red Ninja #1: Listen! That is the battle cry in the distance of a Tugsten Terrian. You can smell them too.

Red Ninja #2: Maybe they will kill him for us!

Red Ninja #1: They are still quite a distance from here, but they travel fast. I am sure they smell his blood.

Red Ninja #2: Then lets go.

Red Ninja #1: Hurry, he is traveling up the mountain range!

Liu Kang began to climb the small mountain range by a large path. The moonlight lit the mountain as bright as heavenly light. The red ninjas were on his trail once again, making there way close to the base of the mountain. Liu Kang then looked down, he got a little dizzy as he continued to climb. The red ninjas began to travel up the same path, but faster than Liu Kang. They then climbed up the side of the mountain with their foot spikes and claws. Liu Kang made his way to the top of the small mountain range. He was standing on a small ledge. As he got closer to the edge, a small chunk gave in. Liu Kang began to fall but he grabbed both sides of where the chunk fell out. He then pulled himself up and did a flip onto the ledge. The ledge was leading to a cave. The red ninjas were halfway up the mountain range. Liu began to enter the cave. The cave encompassed a tunnel. The red ninjas began to climb up on the small ledge in which Liu Kang fell. They jumped on the ledge and saw Liu entering the cave. Liu Kang sensed more than his presence.

Red Ninja #1: Hold it right there Champion!

Liu Kang turned around slowly.

Red Ninja #2: What are you up to Mortal Kombat Champion?

Red Ninja #1: We've been following you since the Botan Jungle.

Liu Kang: What do you want with me?

Red Ninja #2: Where is the map?! We know you have it! It's been missing ever since you left the city!

Red Ninja #1: Give us what we want, and there will be no trouble. Your outnumbered Champion!

Liu Kang: I don't know what you're talking about.

Red Ninja #1: We will kill you for it then! FIGHT!

Out of nowhere, Liu Kang drew his broadsword and cut red ninja #1's head off. red ninja #2 drew his steel staff. Liu Kang began to block the staff strikes from red ninja #2. Liu Kang then kicked red ninja #2 in the stomach. Liu Kang then took red ninja #2's staff while he was still holding it and striked him in the face with it. As Liu Kang was holding red ninja #2's staff with his right hand, he wielded his broadsword with his left hand and sliced the staff in half. red ninja #2 then stroked Liu Kang with the other half of his staff, but Liu Kang knocked it out of his hands and stabbed him right in the solar plexus. Liu then sheathed his sword. At last, Liu Kang then entered the cave and followed the tunnel to Death Desert.

Meanwhile, Raiden has come back to the small cottage on the city outskirts where the caravan is located.

Raiden: (teleporting inside) Zui Qu? Yoshitsune? Where are you?

Raiden then realized that they were not there. The only thing that made him sure that they were around was the fact that they left a candle lit.

Raiden: (sighing) Why leave a candle lit when you are being hunted? Just point fingers right at you.

Raiden then pulled out an apple and began to eat it. He decided to stay in the cottage and wait for anything that came near the cottage.

Zui Qu and Yoshitsune were making there way to the base of the mountain. They were jogging slowly, but when Yoshitsune saw something glow with great light, he was attracted to it.

Yoshitsune: (pointing) Look at that bright light! Its gold light! I bet its treasure! Its where the X is marked on the map! Come on!

Zui Qu: You should have been a pirate, not a merchant. This is interesting, I wonder what is up there?

They began to run as fast as they could, especially Yoshitsune. Zui Qu was running fast just to keep Yoshitsune out of any entanglements. They then reached the base of the mountain. It was small in height, but large in its length. Yoshitsune was only concerned with the glowing light coming from the indent of the mountain. After all, it was where the X was. They began to climb up the mountain side. It was tough but short climbing. Yoshitsune was soon up to the top of the mountain, he tucked the map in his pocket and began to climb up the indented ledge where the cave was located in which the glowing light was coming from. But, Zui Qu grabbed him before he went any further.

Yoshitsune: (whispering loudly) What are you doing to me!? Let me go!?

Zui Qu: (whispering loudly) Your greed takes over your thoughts completely. At any time didn't you think that are red buddies might be up there?!

Zui Qu slowly climbed up the ledge. He crouched down to be hidden. He pulled up Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune also crouched, but was restless. Zui Qu slowly peeked around the corner and into the cave. He observed two red ninjas guarding the inside with many candles lit around the interior of the cave and a bronze altar in the middle. There was two scrolls laying on the altar, surrounded by gold riches. Then, another red ninja popped around the corner as Zui Qu ducked back to hide his presence. He looked like he was a commander of the clan.

Red Ninja Guard #1: Commander, we have secured the objects from the labyrinth.

Red Ninja Commander: Good. Shao Kahn will be most pleased. Now hurry! Transport them to Outworld as soon as possible since the map is missing.

Red Ninja Guard #1: Yes sir!

Red Ninja Guard #2: Right away sir!

Yoshitsune: (whispering) Shao Kahn! That's that guy you and Liu talked about! They are doing his dirty work!

Zui Qu: (whispering) You're right. Shao Kahn cannot enter the realm of Earth because his warriors didn't win ten Mortal Kombat victories yet. You can thank Liu Kang and Raiden for our period of peace.

Yoshitsune: (whispering) What did you see in there?! We can't let Kahn get what he wants. Only I can get what I want!

Zui Qu: (whispering) You will find out soon enough.

As the red ninja commander walked out toward the ledge, Zui Qu and Yoshitsune hid by climbing down the mountain. The red ninja commander was standing on the very edge of the ledge. Yoshitsune began to panic because the red ninja commander was standing right over them. However, Yoshitsune and Zui Qu were out of sight. But, Yoshitsune made a small noise by kicking a rock down the mountain. The red ninja commader then looked out over. Zui Qu quickly grabbed the red ninja commander by the chest and threw him off the mountain. The red ninja screamed as he fell down the mountain. He landed with such force and died. However, the scream caught the attention of the two red ninja guards. The began to come out of the cave when Zui Qu flipped up in the air drawing his sword and landing on his feet. Red ninja guard #1 drew his sword and went to strike Zui Qu, but Zui Qu wacked the sword out of red ninja guard #1's hands and slit his throat. Zui Qu then impaled red ninja guard #2 in the stomach before he could draw his daggers. Yoshitsune climbed up the ledge and ran into the cave. Yoshitsune noticed two scrolls on an altar lit by candle light.

Yoshitsune: (angry) Wh . . . What?! No gold, no treasure!

Zui Qu walked up to Yoshitsune. He noticed the two scrolls on an altar lit by candle light.

Zui Qu: (sighing) See, no treasure. Your greed fools your mind.

Yoshitsune: Worthless! What kind of value do scrolls have?!

Zui Qu: (taking one of the scrolls and begins to read it) By the Elder Gods . . .

Yoshitsune: What? Does it say where there is treasure?!

Zui Qu: (angering) No! (calming) These are the scrolls of the Elder Gods prophet, Confucius. It is true! Confucius wrote folklore legends. He wrote the divine Revelations of the Elder Gods as well as observations of what he saw in the existence of the realms. The legends became the teachings of Confucius.

Yoshitsune: (confused) What happened to him?

Zui Qu: Confucius was then crucified for defying the Hirobei Empire, an empire that ruled Earth eons ago, after his teachings were discovered. The legends were hidden by one of Confucius's Apostles in a labyrinth in hope of keeping them safe. They were forever forgotten.

Yoshitsune: (overjoyed) We got to read `em! I'm curious!

Zui Qu: Perhaps we should take them, since they would be in the hands of Shao Kahn if we didn't. I wonder what he wants them for?

Yoshitsune: Oh! Maybe that Raiden guy knows!

Zui Qu: (grabbing the scrolls) Maybe. Lets get out of here before any more trouble arrives.