Sarah. Cherin, Sub-Zero, and the Edenian army had just begun to awaken. Sub-Zero had led them to a large clearing in the middle of the Living Forest. Sarah eyed the trees suspiciously. If she looked hard enough, she thought she could see faces within the bark, but it was probably just her imagination. Sub-Zero is suddenly standing at the edge of the clearing, no one had even seen the movement that put him there.

"What's wrong?" Cherin asked, yawning.

"I heard something," the Lin Kuei replied, "I'll be right back."

Leaving the others behind, he made his way through the trees, heading for the strange sound. After a few minutes of walking, he almost tripped over something on the ground. It was woman, sitting with her back to him. He recognized her immediately.

"Frost," he said quietly.

Frost turned, her pale faced was streaked with tears.

"Don't kill me," she begged.

Sub-Zero knelt down, "What are you doing here?"

She sniffled, "I...I tried to follow the Deadly Alliance a year ago. I thought after they were gone I could take over the army for myself. I found out they had been defeated, and I knew I couldn't go back to Earthrealm after what I'd done. I wandered around Outworld, I could never stay in one place for long. Then, when I was traveling north a while ago, I ran into a woman. She said her name was Kira, and she wanted to help me...I followed her for a while, but then..."

She stopped, sobbing.

"Then what Frost?" Sub-Zero asked patiently.

"I had no money, but Kira did. I...I attacked her, I stole all of her money. I couldn't help it. I left her unconcious and fled here, into the forest. I had only been hiding for a day when she sent a man to kill me. He attacked me, I think he presumed me to be dead, so he left."

Sub-Zero noticed for the first time the gashes that covered her arms and face. Going against his instincts, he extended his hand.

"Come on," he said. Frost took it, standing with effort. She gasped, her crystalline eyes focused on a spot behind the Lin Kuei master.

"There you are," said the red headed woman, "I've been looking for you."

"You are Kira I presume?" Sub-Zero said.

The woman nodded, "Yeah, and you are?"

"My name is none of your concern," he replied, "You only need to know that I will not let you harm Frost."

Kira seemed a bit confused, "Why are you protecting her? She's nothing more than a thief. You know what, it doesn't matter. I guess I'm outnumbered...but I'll be back!"

With that she vanished. Frost let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

"Are we almost there?" Maria whined.

Scorpion didn't turn, she'd been complaining almost the whole time, "Two hours at the most."

Jay was becoming more and more concerned about Ashlynn.

"Maybe we should stop and rest," he said.

Ashlynn yawned, "No...I'm fine...really..."

"Ash you look really bad," Amilee remarked.

Ashlynn glared at her, "Thanks."

"She's right," Jay agreed, "Your eyes are all red and your walking is starting to slow down."

"But I'm telling you I'm...okay..."

Suddenly she fell forward, almost knocking Ermac over. Jay caught her just before she hit the rocky ground.

"Ash," he said, "Ashlynn wake up!"

She didn't move.

He looked around frantically, "What's wrong with her!"

Scorpion approached them, taking his mask off and fanning himself.

"I'm guessing it is some kind of spell...there is an aura of magic surrounding her," he said.

Jay drew his eyes away from Ashlynn, focusing them on Quan Chi.

"I assure you I was not me," the sorcerer said, "What would be the point? This is only slowing us down."

"You're the only sorcerer here," Amilee said.

"Sorcerers are not the only beings capable of using magic," he retorted, then gestured to Maria, "It could have been her for all we know."

Jay cradled Ashlynn closer, "I'm not buying that!"

"Stop it Jay," Maria snapped, "It doesn't matter who did it. Right now we just have to figure out what we're going to do."

"Find a cure," Scorpion said, "Something to awaken her."

Amilee shook her head, "Thanks for the advice mister state the obvious."

"Where would we find a cure? We're in the middle of the mountains," Maria said.

The ninja specter looked at Quan Chi, "You are a sorcerer, you tell us."

"I am not a healer by any means. I impose curses, I do not lift them."

Li Mei planted her hands on her hips.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" she asked.

"I propose we leave her here," the sorcerer said indifferently, "And continue our trek."

"No," Jay snarled, "Are you insane! I'll carry her the whole way before I ever leave her."

"It seems that is the only option," Scorpion said.

"Then what will be do when we get there hmmm?" Amilee asked.

"Wait," Quan Chi said, holding up a hand to stop their bickering, "I may know of something. Long ago, I heard a tale of a god who was cursed with somethin similar to this. He was finally cured by a rare herb called...I forget the name, but that is not important. It is located in a cave here in Outworld."

"And?" Maria asked.

"There is one problem," he continued, "The cave is only accessible to sorcerers, it is guarded by a magical barrier. Anyone other than a sorcerer would be incinerated."

"Great," Amilee sighed, "We have no idea where this cave is and you're the only one who can enter it anyway."

"You are wrong about one thing," Quan Chi replied, "I do know where the cave is."

"You have to take her..." Maria said quietly.

The sorcerer laughed, "I do not have to do anything. Why would I do such a thing for a woman I care nothing about?"

"I do care about her," Jay said, "And you will take her or so help me I will..."

"You will what?" Quan Chi interrupted. Jay went silent.

"You do have a reason," Ermac interrupted quietly, "She promised you a favor, did she not?"

If you do not help her, you will never receive that favor, whatever it may be."

Quan Chi paused, thinking.

"All right," he muttered after a few moments of silence.

"I don't trust you," Jay said, staying close to Ashlynn, "I'm coming with you."

"No Jay," Amilee said, "We need you with us. You're going to have to trust him"

Jay stood, staring at everyone like they had three heads.

"Have you all lost your minds? There is no way..."

He was cut off by Maria, "We don't have any other choice. We have to find Onaga and we don't have time to waste."

Jay looked at the sorcerer, his eyes blazing.

"Be warned," he said, "If any harm comes to her I will kill you."

Quan Chi only smiled, enjoying his distress.

"Before you go you have to tell us how to kill Onaga," Amilee said.

"Destroy the kamidogu," the sorcerer replied.

"The what?"

"The kamidogu are ancient artifacts once hidden by the Elder Gods," Quan Chi answered, "Onaga is collecting them. They are his source of power. If you destroy them, he will be weakened. There are six. Make sure you destroy each of them before you confront the Dragon King, or you will fail."

He looked at Ashlynn, who was sleeping peacefully.

"I really do not wish to carry her all the way there..."

"Neither do I," Jay growled.

Amilee was starting to get frustrated with him.

"Will you please stop being so stubborn?" she said, "Now come on, we have to get to Dragon Mountain."

Frost walked alongside Sub-Zero, avoiding Cherin and Sarah as much as possible. They had just passed through a small village when they spotted a group of people up ahead. Amilee turned as they approached, running to hug Sub-Zero.

"I thought you guys were in Edenia," she said.

Sarah looked at the army, "We were...This is Edenia's...army."

Cherin noticed Jay seemed reserved, angry.

"Hey Jay," she said, "Are you mad or something?"

He didn't look at her, his eyes stayed glued to a spot on the horizon.

"I'm not mad," he said, "I'm furious."

Cherin and Sarah seemed confused.

"Something happened to Ashlynn," Maria explained, "Scorpion said it was a spell or something. She just fell over all of a sudden. Quan Chi said the only thing that could cure her was some herb in a cave here in Outworld that only sorcerers can enter, and well...you can see she's not here anymore, so now you know why he's mad."

"They made me stay here," Jay said, his eyes flaming.

"I told you we need your powers," Amilee snapped.

"I don't care, I want to be with her!"

"I know but..."

"You don't know," Jay interrupted, "You have no idea how I feel right now!"

"Yes I do! She's my friend so of course I'm worried about her!"

"You sure are good at hiding it!"

Amilee, hurt by his words, slapped him full across the face.

"How dare you say something like that!" she screamed. Jay said nothing, instead he started to walk away.

"Jay where are you going?" Maria called after him.

"I'm trusting my instincts," he replied, "I'm going to find them."

Ermac shook his head, "You have no idea where they went."

"They can't be too far away," Jay said, still walking.

Sarah tried to follow, but Amilee stopped her.

"Let him go if he wants to," she said angrily, "We don't even need him! If he gets himself killed it's not our fault anyway."

"You don't meant that Amilee," Sub-Zero said. Amilee only glowered at him. Jay was already out of sight.

"I've had enough of this foolishness," Scorpion snarled, "We must get to the mountain."

Amilee nodded, and they began walking again. After a few more hours they had arrived at the base of a mountain that towered above the others.

"Please tell me that's it," Maria begged.

"Yes," Scorpion replied, "Dragon Mountain."

Jay Yung had caught up with the sorcerer almost and hour ago, but he was staying out of sight, hiding behind boulders and trees when necessary. Suddenly, Quan Chi stopped in front of a solid wall of rock in the side of a cliff. He did some strange motion with his hand, and said some words Jay couldn't hear. Then there was an opening, as if it had been there all along. He walked inside, Jay staying near the entrance.

"Jay..." he heard Ashlynn say, "Ahhh! Get away from me!"

"I just saved your life," the sorcerer replied, "You should be thanking me."

"What are you talking about? Where is everybody else?"

"Someone, or something, placed some kind of a spell on you. You passed out, and I brought you here. The others should have arrived at Dragon Mountain by now."

"Without me," Ashlynn sighed.

"I do not see how you could have helped them anyway," the sorcerer laughed.

Jay heard Ashlynn stand.

"I would not advise that you walk through that hole."

"Why not?" Ashlynn asked.

"Because without my help you will be killed."

"I don't believe you," Ashlynn said.

"Fine," Quan Chi replied, "Walk through. I really do not care either way."

Jay prepared to stop her, but she never came through.

"Well," she said, "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

"No," he heard the sorcerer reply, "I have carried you all this way, I think I deserve a rest."

Ashlynn let out a sigh of frustration.

"Come on," she said, "I won't wait here while my friends are inside the Dragon King's lair!"

Suddenly, Jay heard a gasp.

"Understand this," Quan Chi hissed, "If you ever raise your voice to me again I will not hesitate to kill you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Ashlynn choaked.

Jay took a chance and looked in. Ashlynn stood against the wall, the sorcerer's hand around her throat. He calmed himself, trying to control the rage that was taking over.

"Getting myself killed won't help her," he said quietly to himself..Just before he was hit hard from behind. In seconds everything was black.

Ashlynn was still trying to catch her breath. Quan Chi stood across the cave, his back to her. She massaged her throat, thinking of how stupid she was to keep irritating him. She decided it was best not to speak unless she had to.

The sorcerer turned, "Whatever is the matter? You look frightened."

Ashlynn lowered her eyes to the ground, "When are we leaving?"

"When I feel like leaving," Quan Chi replied, "Is there a problem with that?"

"No," she almost whispered, "Of course not..."

The sorcerer laughed, leaning against the wall. Ashlynn kept her eyes glued to the ground.

"I cannot believe Jay Yung cares so little for you," the sorcerer finally said, as if to himself.

Ashlynn looked up reluctantly.

"I am only telling you the truth," he continued, "He had no problem with me bringing you here. It seems he could not care less what happens to the person he supposedly loves."

Ashlynn stared hard at him, "You're lying."

He shrugged, "Believe what you want, but I am not lying to you. I did notice, however, that he could hardly keep his eyes off of Amilee..."

Ashlynn didn't want to believe him, she tried not to, but something about his voice told her he was speaking the truth.

"No," she said through tears, "No! Why are you doing this!"

"I am only warning you," Quan Chi replied, "Haven't you noticed how cold he has been to you lately? And then letting me bring you here, alone. That proves to me that he cares nothing for you. I could have killed you, and he knew that, but he still let you go. I would bet he is with Amilee right now...celebrating your absence..."

"No!" Ashlynn screamed, scrambling for the cave entrance, only to be pulled backward.

"Let me go!"

"You wish to die?" the sorcerer asked. Ashlynn stopped, she had forgotten about the magical barrier thing. She took a breath and pulled her arm away from him,

"Don't touch me," she muttered.

"I am sorry I had to be the one to tell you this," he said, "But think of it this way; you would have found out later, no doubt in a more painful way. At least now you know what kind of a person Jay Yung really is."

Ashlynn sniffed, sitting down on the ground with her back to him. He smiled, his plan was starting out perfectly.

"You are acting as if this is my fault," he said after a while, "I am only trying to help you."

Ashlynn stayed quiet, ignoring him.

"Get up, we are leaving."

Without a word she pulled herself off the ground and followed him.