-Raiden's Sky Temple, The Next Day: One Day Until The Tournament-

Ava, Peter, and Danny sat in the grand dining hall, waiting. Lord Raiden, Yuki, and the two monks they encountered were speaking in a private chamber.

"What do you think is going on in there?" Ava asked in a rare uncertain tone as she tapped her fingers on the wooden table.

"Wish I knew," Peter answered in a nervous tone as he began tap his foot nervously on the stone floor.

He looked around, his mind racing.

"I know the tournament is soon and all, and granted I'm nervous about that, but just like you Ava, I hate being kept in he dark." Peter added.

Danny put a comforting hand on both his friends' shoulders.

"Rest assured my friends, whatever Raiden is discussing in there must be important–" He started to say.

"But we're the champions of our world," Ava interjected in an annoyed tone, "Don't you think we deserve to know whatever is going on in that private meeting?"

Before Peter or Danny could respond, the doors to the dining hall opened and out walked two young Chinese monks who where unfamiliar to the three young heroes, one wore a hat with a razor sharp looking rim, while one had the symbol of a dragon on his belt.

"Ava, Danny, Peter," one of the men greeted as they approached the trio.

"You are?" Ava asked.

"I am Liu Kang. I like Yuki have been chosen as a champion of my world." Liu Kang informed the three younger heroes and heroine.

He bowed to the three. Ava nodded, Peter grinned and waved, and Danny bowed. Danny and Liu Kang both then stood up.

"Lord Raiden has told me much about you three, it will be an honor to fight along side you three at the tournament," Liu Kang said.

The other monk simply crossed his arms, but nodded to them. One of Peter's eyebrows raised at this.

(Guess he wasn't chosen?)

Liu Kang gently elbowed his friend. The other man sighed and nodded to his friend.

"I am Kung Lao," he said, bowing.

The three young heroes responded as they did before.

"Our fellow monks at the temple are busy preparing a dinner for us later. Lord Raiden suggested we should keep ourselves ready by sparring," Liu Kang stated.

"A wise decision," someone said.

The group turned to see a man walk towards them, a tall Native American man with an athletic and muscular build dressed in a leather jacket, jeans, a belt with the buckle having the insignia of a wolf, and leather boots.

Liu Kang bowed.

"Nightwolf, I believe?" He asked.

The man nodded, bowing slightly to the monk. As both stood up, he turned to see the three young heroes and Kung Lao.

"You must be Liu Kang. Raiden speaks highly of you," the man stated.

"He honors me," Liu Kang replied, smiling.

Nightwolf smiled. He looked to the three young heroes.

"Raiden didn't inform me of more champions," he said.

Peter rubbed the back of his neck.

(This might take a bit.)

Nightwolf was told the full story. At the end of it, he found himself unsure of what to say.

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in," Peter said.

Nightwolf nodded.

"But who are you?" Ava asked.

"My name is Grey Cloud, given the title and power of Nightwolf by the Great Spirit. She is the protector of my tribe, the Matoka. Through actions I nearly cost me my soul, her wisdom guided me to the path she honors me with now. Raiden asked me to be one of the champions of Earthrealm. To protect my people and my realm, I accepted," Nightwolf answered.

Liu Kang walked towards the doors to the dining hall.

"I believe it is best we should get some practice in now," he said.

The rest followed him.

-Dojo, several minutes later-

Ava, Danny, and Peter had put on their equipment before practice. Peter left the web fluid to the side, saving it for the tournament. Soon they entered an old dojo. Yuki was there, practicing. She turned to them.

"Practice?" She simply asked.

Liu Kang nodded.

"Sparring. We need to keep ourselves sharp for what's to come," he answered.

"Let's pair up," Spidey said.

Liu Kang and Iron Fist turned to one another, bowing, before walking off to the far side. White Tiger nodded to Nightwolf, who nodded back, before taking place not far. Spidey turned to Yuki.

"Guess it's you and me," he chuckled.

Yuki nodded after a few moments.

(She's really not letting the whole 'child' thing go, is she?)

The pairs stood ready. Kung Lao stood to the side, raising a hand.

"Fight!" He proclaimed, slashing the hand down.

The pairs charged at one another.

Iron Fist leapt up, throwing out a swift punch. Liu Kang side stepped the attack then quickly retaliated with a kick. Iron Fist quickly dodged the strike after landing. Then he responded with a sweep kick. Liu Kang grunted as the strike did hit, but he quickly landed on his hands then stuck out with both feet. Iron Fist gasped in surprise, but quickly leapt over the attack. His opponent then swiftly twisted around and got back on his feet. As Iron Fist landed, Liu Kang seemed to fly forward as he struck out with a kick. The attack struck, sending Iron Fist reeling. Both young kung fu prodigies got back onto their feet then took fighting stances and circled one another.

"You are very talented, Iron Fist. Lord Raiden told me you trained in a secret city," Liu Kang praised.

"As are you. I was raised in the city of Kun-Lun," Iron Fist replied.

"It seems are stories are quite similar. It will be an honor to fight beside you in defense of our homes," Liu Kang added.

"The feeling is mutual," Iron Fist agreed.

They smiled and charged at one another.

Spider-Man dodged the slashes of Yuki's ice katana. The woman's grunted in slight frustration as her opponent dodged each attack. She stopped for a moment, eyes narrowed. Spidey just grinned under his mask.

"Not bad for a 'child', huh?" He taunted.

Yuki didn't reply with words. But she slashed her sword in the air, sending a thin yet sharp wall of ice hurtling as Spider-Man.

(Whoa.)

Spidey quickly caught the ice with both hands. As he crushed it, he sensed and saw Yuki charging. The woman jabbed with her blade, but Spider-Man quickly ducked under the attack. He then quickly used a sweep kick. Yuki grunted in surprise. But then the katana evaporated and she shot out both hands behind her. Ice and snow flew from them, leveling her to land on her feet.

(Ok, that was pretty cool...*Snorts* Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

In her hands formed a Yumi, the bow of a samurai. She pulled back on the string as she raised the bow. As she pulled back, an ice arrow formed aimed at her opponent.

(Not sure I like her attitude about those younger than her, but her powers are kickass.)

Yuki proceeded to fire arrow after arrow.

(Oh boy.)

Spider-Man leapt and dodged each arrow. Yuki slowly walked forward, not stopping firing her arrows. Spider-Man's eyes narrowed at this. He kept dodging, but watched her carefully as he let his spider-sense urge his body to stay clear of harm. Yuki was within a few yards of Spider-Man when the bow disappeared and the ice katana manifested in her hands as she lunged forward. Spider-Man grunted as he landed after dodging the last arrow and caught the blade in both hands, just an inch away from him. Yuki's eyes narrowed, but a small grin appeared on her face. She pulled back her blade.

"Yes, not bad at all," she praised.

Spider-Man grinned.

White Tiger growled as she slashed furiously at Nightwolf, lunging with vicious speed. The Matokan warrior grunted as he dodged the claws, eyeing her attacks carefully. Nightwolf blocked one of her strikes, raising his arm and keeping one of her claws from striking by holding his arm against her wrist. Then he quickly grabbed her other wrist with his other hand. Then he slung her. White Tiger flipped in the air and landed gracefully. She grumbled then lunged forward.

"I sense a powerful medicine within you, but it feels...restricted," Nightwolf studied.

White Tiger grumbled.

White Tiger frowned as she launched herself at Nightwolf, claws forward. Nightwolf grunted as he dodged the slashes, eyes never leaving her. He slid away from her last slash in the fury. His eyes narrowed, studying her. White Tiger stared right back, the intensity in their eyes was unmistakable.

"Kiyyahhh!" White Tiger suddenly shouted, lunging forward with a kick.

Nightwolf moved to the side, quickly grabbing one arm just before she landed. He slung her in the air then rushed forward. His opponent saw this and started flipping in the air. As she fell to the floor, she slashed down with one hand and raised the other up. Nightwolf raised his hands, a spectral green tomahawk manifesting in them and blocking her strike.

"What the-?" White Tiger gasped in confusion.

The tomahawk then vanished as he quickly grabbed her hand again then swiftly moved behind her, grabbing her other hand. He held both hands behind her.

"You have a strong spirit, but you-" Nightwolf tried to say.

White Tiger grunted as she lifted her legs up and kicked back into him. His hold her was gone as her double kick hit his lower torso. With the kick she propelled herself forward. She twisted in the air and landed gracefully before charging at her opponent again. Nightwolf stands firm, eyes narrowed. The young heroine slashes again and again, but Nightwolf blocks and dodges each strike. She sees his eyes going to her claws and fierce eyes. She then slashes downward with one hand, he responds by pushing the strike to the side. A spectral green dagger appears in his other hand, twisted in her direction as he jabs it at her. Her free hand quickly grabs his hand by the wrist, claws drawing blood. White Tiger snarled as her other hand slashes high, but he catches her hand by the wrist with the claws a hair's length from where his jaw meets his throat.

"What was that?!" White Tiger hissed.

"You focused your anger and saw the attack coming. A disciplined move and you responded with an instinctual attack," Nightwolf replied.

"I lost control," White Tiger replied.

"No, you were listening to your spirit," Nightwolf explained.

The two released each other, the spectral dagger vanishing.

Not a few moments afterwards, Raiden walked into the dojo.

"Practicing, good. Stay sharp. The tournament shall begin soon...and all of you need to be ready for what's to come," he proclaimed.

The god of thunder turned to Nightwolf and approached him.

"Nightwolf, I'm glad you came," Raiden said, offering his hand.

"Thank you, Raiden. I will do what I can," Nightwolf replied, shaking the god's hand.

"Lord Raiden, everyone is gathered. We are ready," Liu Kang said.

Raiden and Nightwolf ended the handshake as the god of thunder turned to the others.

"I have meditated on what is to come. I have faith in all of you. You will defend Earthrealm and this other world," Raiden affirmed.

Nightwolf and Liu Kang studied him.

"But there's something else?" Liu Kang asked.

"No...just a feeling...in the past I have sought champions to fight in the tournament...they all fought bravely...but I have not told anyone this...but in the past...I have sought others, those of whom I believed would assure the victory of Earthrealm...but they did not join," Raiden replied.

"Cowards," Kung Lao spat.

"No...those of whom I managed to find through great difficulty, did express their willingness to fight...but..." Raiden started to say, but stopped talking for a few moments.

"What, Lord Raiden?" Liu Kang asked.

Spidey rubbed the back of his neck.

(Not sure I like this.)

Raiden sighed.

"When they met with the other champions and revealed what they could do...they were met with fear, disgust, or both by the other champions. Some were attacked by the others I chose...no bloodshed came, but he attacks caused all of them to leave. They warned me about what would happen if they showed what they could do and how the others chosen would react. I heard them, but assured them that what they said would come would not...I was wrong," Raiden continued.

"And?" Kung Lao asked.

"And now...And now I believe this most dire of situations calls for me to seek one of them out," Raiden answered.

"Just one?" Yuki asked, confused.

"There is only time to find one and I believe this one remains where they last were. I don't know where the others are now, but I believe this one I can find. Though their response to the attack from last time wasn't without its danger...but this one is one I felt was determined, as were the others I tried to recruit, to protect Earthrealm," Raiden answered.

"Well come on! Let's go get them," Spider-Man said.

"No," Raiden said.

(Come again?)

"No?" Spider-Man grunted in confusion.

"This matter must be handled...delicately. Despite the compassion you and the others have...the must be handled with a feeling of calmness and a careful approach. I will need one to go with me to recruit them. Nightwolf, I believe you may have the best support and spirit for this. Will you accompany me?" Raiden asked.

"Of course," Nightwolf answered, nodding.

"What do we do, Lord Raiden?" Liu Kang asked.

"Train, eat, and rest. The tournament begins soon," Raiden answered.

Then he and Nightwolf vanished in a bolt of lightning.

-Meanwhile, Netherrealm-

From a fiery green portal emerged Shang Tsung. The sorcerer walked through the hellish landscape, sensing and seeing demons and other beings watching him almost out of sight or hidden within the landscape. But he paid them little mind.

"Quan Chi...Quan Chi!" Shang Tsung called out.

He walked through the lower depths of the barren wastelands that was the Netherrealm, ignoring the tortured screams of the damned that seemed to linger in the air. Much to Tsung's surprise a black mist seeped up from the ground itself and manifested into a man wearing a pure black cloak that covered every inch of his lower body, a man that Tsung had only met once, but still felt he knew well enough from that one encounter.

"Shang Tsung," the entity greeted, slightly bowing.

"General," Tsung greeted.

The entity had a foreboding and impossibly chilling presence. Shang Tsung showed no fear, but he did present an air of near friendliness or an air without mockery.

"I must admit, I was looking for Quan Chi, not you general. Could you please summon him for me?" Tsung asked in a rare sincere tone.

"I'm afraid Quan Chi is unavailable at this time," the entity responded curtly yet seemingly friendly.

This earned a suspicious yet well hidden look from Tsung.

"But you may address me, and I will inform him," the entity offered in a sincere tone.

Shang Tsung ran a hand down his long beard, contemplating.

"I mean no disrespect general, but I feel it is best that I speak with him directly. Surely he can be pulled away from other things for 10 to 15 minutes?" Tsung asked.

"Like I said, you may address me, and I will inform him," the entity responded, his tone calm.

Shan Tsung sighed at this, as the the demeanor of the being presented he wasn't going to budge. The sorcerer nodded.

"Very well. The Emperor has specific orders for the Netherrealm once the merger begins," Tsung began then paused to take a breath.

A a scroll materialized in his hands with a small flash of green light, which he handed to the general a few moments after.

"He wants the orders to be followed exactly down to the letter," Tsung said in a serious tone.

The entity opened the scroll and began to look over the battle plan for the merger. The sorcerer waited at the being carefully read the document before rolling it up and looking to the sorcerer.

"The Emperor also would like to know who, other than Quan Chi, is going to be representing the Netherrealm in the coming Grand Tournament?" Tsung asked.

The general was quiet for a few moments.

"My lord hasn't informed me, I'm afraid. But rest assured, Quan Chi will choose a champion worthy of Shao Kahn," the entity answered.

The sorcerer nodded.

He felt the being smiled within his cowl as he bowed.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I must return to my chambers to study these battle plans for the merger, and then to relay them to my subordinates and inform my lord as soon as it is possible," the entity said before a black mist quickly engulfed his cloaked body and he was teleported to a location unknown to the Outworld Sorcerer.

Shang Tsung raised a hand and motioned it bending him, a portal opening behind him. He sighed then entered it before he and it disappeared.

The entity stood in the throne room of Netherrealm, motionless. Then Quan Chi emerged from a portal. The general bowed low to Quan Chi who sat on the throne of Netherrealm.

"Quan Chi, my lord, we had an unexpected visit from Shang Tsung a few hours ago," the general informed.

"And?" Quan Chi asked simply.

In response the being tossed the scroll that contained the battle plans to his master, who proceeded to open the scroll and look them over.

"Was the tournament and merger all he was asking about?" Quan Chi asked.

"Yes," the being replied, "I assume your meeting went according to plan?"

"I wouldn't call it according to plan since the trust has not been forged as of yet, but give it time to be forged, and it will be turned into a rather deadly alliance. Come General Reyes, we have much to discuss with Lord Shinnok," Quan Chi responded.

"Yes, my lord," Reyes replied.

To Be Continued...

AN: So it seems Quan Chi had a secret meeting, any thoughts as to who it could possibly be with as we are so very close to the grand Mortal Kombat tournament. Please let me know in the comments.