A/N: I'm rewriting this because I was looking over it a while go and felt it was really, really bad. There were so many mistakes and things that could have been written better that I just had to redo it. Also there are some things in the fic that follow the movies, mainly Shao Kahn and Raiden being brothers and Shinnok as their father. I still hope everyone enjoys this new version!

Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Kombat and most likely never will. The only thing I own are my MK games and the DVD's.

Summary: When Shang Tsung and Quan Chi open a portal to Raiden's past to keep him from becoming thunder god they put future of all of the realms in jeopardy. Raiden and the Elder Gods find out about this plot and send the Earthrealm fighters back in time to find them and bring them back to the present. When one of the fighters develops feelings for past Raiden, what will happen when they must return to the present. Slash! Liu/Raiden.


Raiden had no idea why he had been summoned to the temple of the Elder Gods. Everything had been relatively calm on Earth. Shinnok, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi were still banished to the Netherrealm and nothing had been heard out of Shao Kahn recently. He knew as he waited for the Gods to appear that his questions would be answered soon enough.

As if they had heard him, the spirits of the wind, water, and fire gods appeared in the respective places. Each of them waiting silently for the thunder god to speak.

Raiden wasted no time with his questions. He knew if they called him here, there had to be something big that was about to happen. "Why have you summoned me here?! Has there been a new threat to Earth?"

The fire god answered calmly, "There has been a new threat, but not against Earthrealm. It's against you this time."

Raiden was speechless. "What do you mean? Who's targeting me?"

This time the wind god answered, "Shinnok. We believe that he has joined forces with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi to rid the realms of you once and for all. He believes without you it will be easier to finally take out the Earth warriors and what better way to finally achieve his revenge against the god that first banished him to the Netherrealm."

"I don't believe this! If that's the case, it looks like that I'll be taking a trip to the Netherrealm to rid myself of that menace personally!"

"Silence!" The water god said sternly. "You know if you did that you'd be as powerless as a mere mortal. Besides, you have bigger problems to worry about than him. The deadly alliance has managed to open a portal five thousand years into the past, your past."

"W-what?! Five thousand years ago I-I was..."

"Yes we know and somehow they know too." The water god replied. "This why they need to be stopped. If they kill you in the past, everything here will change which I am sure they are well aware of. Gather your fighters and send them to Outworld, they should be able to get them back to present and you can handle all of them then."

Raiden nodded and left the temple, still in shock from the news. He had no time to dwell on it, he had to act fast and gather his fighters. They were running out of time and who knows what trials they were getting ready to face.

The sounds of sparring could be heard in the garden of the temple of the White Lotus Society. With the relative peace in Earthrealm lately, the monks still found no reason to become lax on their training and were having a friendly sparring session. As they sparred, Kung Lao noticed something different about his friend and rival. His moves were sluggish, his attacks barely had any force behind them, and he was just overall uncoordinated.

"All right Liu. What's going on with you? It's like your mind is a million miles away."

Liu sighed and sat on the ground, "I'm fine. It's just...I've been feeling a little off. I guess you could say I'm not used to the constant peace anymore."

Kung Lao chuckled, "Figures. You should be enjoying this. All of us could use a bit of down time every know and then. We never know when Raiden could appear warning us of the next big threat to Earth."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a blast of lightening struck the ground in front and they were left staring at the form of a very stressed thunder god. "Hello Liu, Kung Lao."

"R-Raiden? What are you doing here?" Kung Lao asked.

"We have a very grave situation. It's important that I gather you and the others and bring all of you here."

"What's going on?" Liu asked. "What's happened?"

The thunder god remained silent for a few moments before speaking once more. "I will explain when everyone is together. It is something I don't want to keep repeating to the others."

"Who else do you plan on getting?"

"Sub-Zero, Sonya, Jax, Kenshi, Kitana, and Jade. I will bring the others here and when I return you will have the answers you want." He pulled a map from his robes which had a secluded area not far from their temple circle and handed it to Liu. "I will meet you two there with the others in one hour. From there, you will receive your mission."

"Whatever you say Raiden. I guess we'll see you in an hour then." Liu replied. He didn't receive a response as Raiden just as quickly teleported away. "Whatever happened must be really bad."

"You mean everything else that has happened to Earthrealm wasn't really bad?" Kung Lao said.

Liu glared at him. "You know what I mean. He actually seems worried about what's happened."

"Don't think about it too much. We'll find out what happened in due time. Now let's just get to this area." Liu nodded and the two monks set off, one's mind focused on the mission and the other focused on their friend.

It was about an hour later when Raiden arrived with six other warriors in tow. Each one of them as confused and Liu and Kung Lao. They were in a heavily forested area of Earthrealm which appeared to be home to an old shrine. There was a large ancient circular structure in front of them with some unlit torches on either side.

"Now Raiden," Jax began. "You bring us all together, with no reason or explanation and I really don't like being kept in the dark. Can you finally tell us what the hell is going on here?!"

"I have to agree with Jax." Sub-Zero said. "This isn't like you Raiden. You would have have given us some information by now. What's so bad that you refuse to tell us anything?"

Raiden tightened his fist around his staff and the fighters heard the loud crashing sounds of thunder and the torches became lit, it was Raiden's silent way of telling the others to be quiet or they would learn nothing.

"I was summoned by the elder gods today. They told me that the deadly alliance has escaped from the Netherrealm and have opened a portal to...my past." he finished softly.

The was a chorus of gasps from the eight warriors and looks of surprise and shock on each of their faces. "How is that even possible?" Kitana asked. "They may both be powerful sorcerers, but to do something like that, they definitely need someone with major strength back them."

"It's believed they joined forces with Shinnok. I was the one that originally banished him to the Netherrealm and he's been after my head for centuries."

"That still makes no sense!" Jax shouted. "You can't kill an immortal. I know that much."

Raiden nodded. "That maybe true, but I wasn't always thunder god. I was born a mortal. It wasn't until I passed the three trials five thousand years ago that I gained my immortality and my role as protector of Earthrealm. Very few people know and it seems that somehow they've found about this and are going back to get rid of me while I'm still powerless."

The thunder god turned to the giant stone circle and held up his staff, a bolt of lightning hit it and the circle was filled with an eerie blue light. "This is a special portal that can transport people to the different realms at different points in time. This will take you all back five thousand years in the past. I can't force you to do this. It must be your own decision. As soon as you step through that portal, I cannot guarantee what will happen. Now are all of you sure about this?"

All of the fighters turned to each other and nodded. Kung Lao was the one that spoke. "Do you even have to ask? We owe you Raiden. We'll do whatever you need us to do."

"Thank you. Now I have to warn you, I won't be able to bring you back myself. All of you will be stranded there until I gain my powers as thunder god." He handed them a small medallion. "When that happens that medallion will activate, creating a portal that will bring all of you back to the present."

"Hold on." Liu said. "I understand why Shinnok is doing this, but what's in it for the deadly alliance? Kung Lao and I are the main fighters that prevented their invasions. Why aren't they going after us?"

"If I die there, I'm dead here." Raiden explained. "Since I was your teacher Liu, they believe that if I'm dead, you won't be strong enough to win the tournament. We must not let this happen."

He then walked over and clasped Liu on the shoulder. "I need to say this...If something does happen and I do die, you must promise that you will make sure that you will not let Earthrealm be taken over. I have faith in all of you. You are all powerful warriors which is why I called on you take this mission, but you still need to be prepared for the worst."

"Don't worry. You're not going to die. I'm going to make sure of that." Liu smiled and he and turned to the others and walked up the steps to the portal. "Are all of you ready?" The seven remained fighters walked up behind him, each ready to step inside.

"Wait!" Raiden called out. "You know I can't go with you. It would be too dangerous if my past self saw me, but none of you can reveal anything about the present time. It could alter the future in too many ways, and we can't take that chance. Now be careful."

Raiden stepped down from the portal and watched his warriors as they entered. First Kenshi and Sub-Zero, then Sonya and Jax, and next it was Kitana and Jade. Finally, as Kung Lao and Liu walked in, Liu sent him a final farewell nod as he walked into the light. The instant they disappeared, the light in the portal dispersed, leaving the thunder god completely alone.