You ever wonder what it would be like to be a God? All that power, all that knowledge, the immortality? It's something many a man would aspire to, dedicate their entire lives to searching for, a way to become a God. Brother would kill their own flesh and blood for even a sampling of the power that comes with being one. Many believe that obtaining the powers of a God, or even a half-God would be the greatest thing in all the world, no more sickness, no more weakness, no more death. With the power of a God, you are an unstoppable, eternal, unrelenting force that cannot be reasoned with, cannot be controlled, it's your world, and all who don't obey, die.

Honestly, it sucks.

All that power, all that knowledge, and what do you do with it? Try and help people? Well, what happens when people start to scream and run in terror. What happens when you're branded a warlock because of your powers? That's the problem, unless you want to rule with cruelty, or have the people who listen to you be complete nutjobs, there really isn't much you can do. And as for the never getting sick thing? Yeah, that's wrong. You can get sick, you can get drunk, the only thing is it'll pass eventually. Yes. Even that will. Sure, for the first few hundred (or if you're really uncreative, thousand) years things are great. You can choose how you look, you don't have to worry about money, anyone who tries to start a fight with you is in for the surprise of their life, and there isn't really much you need to worry about. But at the same time, don't bother trying to find someone to spend your life with, either human, cat or dog. You'll outlive them. After a few decades, you'll have seen the entire world, and sure, watching it change is fun, but the conflicts get really annoying after a while. Seriously guys? Someone said something barely racist on the internet and you're getting all pissy about it? Grow up…

Also, try being accidentally tossed into a criss-cross of realms you've never been to and finally marooned on one for the past few millennia and things get REALLY dull. And before you ask those questions I just KNOW you're going to ask, let me answer them: First, I didn't leave because I can't. Godly powers don't work like that, and most of them were nullified when I got knocked into that vortex. Second, I haven't tried to contact anyone because I have no way to. Third, I haven't gotten involved with this world because I don't care about it. It's just another world, not the one I was supposed to protect. Also, yes, I said powers. I used to be able to open portals to other dimensions and realms with a wave of my hand, but now all I can do is manipulate plant life and can travel through shadows. Also, no, stepping on a flower won't piss me off.

Honestly, you'd think I'd be happier, after being stranded in a realm of pure and total darkness for… however long I was, that being trapped in Earthrealm for the past eight hundred years wouldn't be so bad. And all in all, it isn't unbearable. They have these things called 'Comic Books' that have really, really weird characters, but they're surprisingly well written. I'm reading one about a guy with spider-powers trying to save his aunt form dying. Apparently, the devil shows up in it or something… Also, they have this thing called 'Mexican Food' and it's amazing, I need to remember tacos and nachos if I ever am able to get home… I bet they'd love it!

Anyhow, I've been sensing something… Portals were opening a lot more frequently than they should've. Forces from multiple different realms coming and going, and there was konflict, lots of it. There was a lot of death, more than normal, hell, the Netherrealm was for some reason coming to earth… But when I got down there, where the sources were, there were no traces of anything. It seemed… wrong. Something's up, my spine's telling me to be prepared, and it hasn't led me wrong yet… So. I guess we'll wait and see. Regardless, this world's issues aren't my issues, so I don't feel a need to get involved. Still, I do miss her, I miss all of them. The old 'squad' (I think that's the term people use now) back home. I just hope for the best and that they're doing okay.

End of entry.

Setting his pen down. Roc sighed audibly before turning to his beer. Taking a long drink, he sighed contently before looking up to the television, seeing how the game was going. He smirked as the rookie took a shot and the puck soared past the goalie into the net.

"Woo." He quietly said, holding his beer up.

"Can I get you another one?" The bartender asked.

"Nah, I'm good Ryu." Roc replied with a wave.

"It's Ryo." Ryo replied, slightly annoyed.

"Yeah? I'm drunk. What do you expect?"

"Well, then I'm cutting you off. I can't let you drive home drunk." Ryo said matter-of-factly. "I ain't dealing with that legal nightmare."

"I walked here!" Roc retorted. "And I'm still feeling things! I need more beer!"

Ryo laughed and poured the old man another drink. Since he had started working at the Overworked Beaver nearly nine years ago, he didn't really know what to expect. Once the previous owner gave him the keys, he still wasn't sure what to expect. Still, for the past seven years, he had gotten to know 'Roc Shaye' and honestly, he was glad he got to know him. Sure, the bar always had patrons who he'd talk to, but Roc, well, Roc got it. The old man was always ready with a quip or an insult and always had some rather fascinating philosophical insight into almost everything. And from what he talked about, he had done almost everything. But now, he was content to work down at the docks mending boats and fishing to pay the bills (and more importantly, his bar tab) but hey was always good for conversation, although he could be a little mysterious. But Ryo wasn't the kind to judge or pry, Roc paid and at the end of the day, and the conversations were a bonus. Regardless, Roc picked up the mug and took another long drink.

"Ah… That's the stuff!" He sighed. "I'll be back in a sec, I need to ask you something."

Picking up his walking stick, he began walking towards the bathroom, disappearing into the door as two men walked into the bar. One of them wore a blue and grey hoodie with black sunglasses and the other man wore a red vest with used a walking stick to find his way towards the bar. Ryo paused, a bit surprised when he realized who was in his bar. What was Johnny Cage doing here?

"You sure this is the place?" Johnny asked aloud, looking around at the mounted moose head on the wall, the paddles and the canoe in the rafters.

"Yes, the spirits guided us here, he should be near." The blind man replied.

"Huh." Ryo said quietly, shocked that Johnny Cage was in his bar. And approaching.

"Can I get a beer?" Johnny asked, clearly seeing the shocked look on Ryo's face.

"S..sure…" Ryo said pouring a beer for the actor.

While standing at a urinal, Roc felt something odd. Someone in tune with the spiritual forces was very close. Roc's brow furrowed, unsure of what to do. Had they finally come? Had they finally won the tournament? No, they couldn't have. He hadn't felt the force of his old friends magic in nearly thirty years… But it was definitely human, so Roc sighed and picked up his walking stick he made his way back to the bar, passing a blind man and seeing Ryo talking to that actor… Case? Johnny Box? Whatever, Roc hadn't been keeping up with media these days.

"Ryo, who's your friend?" Roc sighed sitting back down. "I thought I was the only old guy you hung out with."

"The name's Cage, Johnny Cage." Johnny introduced himself. "You may have heard of me."

"Nope." Roc replied, taking a drink and making Johnny's jaw drop.

"Really?! Return of the Dragon, Fists of Fury… Ninja Mime?!" Johnny listed off some of his titles shocked that someone didn't know who he was! Roc however, heard the blind man stifle a laugh and smirked slightly himself.

"Weren't you that guy who had that sextape leaked with that military commando a few years back?" Roc asked, remembering hearing something about some hot-shot Hollywood actor having a tape leaked online, supposedly by an angered ex or something. The look on Cage's face game him the answer he needed. "Yeah, I don't watch movies."

"I…er… okay, screw you." Johnny finally managed to reply, slightly agitated.

"Why? So, it can end up on the internet as well? I'll pass." Roc retorted, finishing his beer and standing up. "Thanks for the drinks kid." He then picked up his walking stick and left the bar.

"I like him." The blind man smiled as he watched the old man leave.

"Really Kenshi? He's an asshole!" Johnny groaned.

"I thought you two would get along in that regard." Kenshi coolly replied.

"Don't mind Shaye." Ryo shrugged. "He's old, but he's not mean to be cruel, he just makes fun of everyone, himself included."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Johnny replied with a dismissive wave.

"What can you tell us about him?" Kenshi suddenly asked, sitting down at the bar.

"What the hell are you doing man?" Johnny asked confused.

"He's the one we're looking for." Kenshi replied under his breath.

"Not much." Ryo replied. "Why?"

"Look kid, we're kinda here for reasons we can't talk about. So, whatever you can tell us would be great. I'll give you an autograph if that helps."

Ryo looked at the two of them and then sighed slightly. Not sure if he was about to betray his friend's trust or not.

"Like I said, he's an old guy who just sorta shows up here most nights." He began. "I don't know where he lives or what he does all day but I'll tell you this, there are some things better left in the dark."

Ryo then left to go make a drink for someone else, leaving the two at the bar. Kenshi seemed to be focusing on something while Johnny watched him go.

"Well, that was weird." Johnny commented.

"He dosen't know much more." Kenshi remarked. "He's known that man… 'Roc' apparently, for a few years now. But there isn't much to go off of."

"You sure this is the guy we're looking for?" Johnny asked, still bewildered that the old man may have been the one they were sent to find.

"Yes. I sensed an energy in him unlike everyone else. If he isn't the exact one we're looking for, he's certainly a piece to find him. And don't forget Cage, Raiden and Tsung could make themselves look older than they really were."

"Raiden's a God and Shang ate souls." Johnny sighed as the two left the bar. "Your points are mute."

"He may be a God himself Johnny."

"Yeah, yeah." Johnny muttered as he left the bar, leaving a twenty for the beer.

When Roc returned home, he cracked his neck and sighed. As he entered his house, he sat down in a series of roots which formed a sort of chair with leafs and grass forming a cushion, he leaned back and folded his hands. While he enjoyed drinking at the Overworked Beaver, he was confused as to why a blind man would have such a strong connection to the spiritual forces, and he didn't want to stick around to ask him. Come to think of it, he may not have been blind at all, but who was Roc to judge? He cast a glance over to an old withered journal he kept on his shelf, he extended his hand out and a vine grew forward and picked it up before bringing it back to him and disappearing. He opened it and leafed through a few pages and smirked at the drawings in it. One of them depicting a large winged man fighting a woman who controlled water. He remembered the fight, it had been an intense one, but as always, he friend came out on top. He tossed the journal back to the shelf and stared up at the ceiling, now questioning what he was going to do. It was only five-thirty-three, the sun was still up in the sky.

"Crap…" He muttered, slightly annoyed. What now?

Meanwhile…

Kenshi and Johnny had made their way through the small town, stopping several times so Johnny could take pictures with fans. In the one hand, this really annoyed Kenshi, but on the other hand, he had known Johnny long enough to know this wasn't worth making a big deal over. Besides, the actor seemed to have mellowed out in recent years, and while he could still be a bit of an asshole, he was much calmer in most regards, even sometimes being downright intellectual. He certainly wasn't the man he was years ago, and Kenshi had to admit, he didn't mind the actor. He'd even go so far as to say he enjoyed his company.

Sometimes.

As Johnny finished up taking a picture with a fan, Kenshi tapped into his senses and began probing the area for any stray magic. It was… everywhere. The entire town seems to have the same type of magic that emitted off of 'Shaye' back at the bar. Either all these people had powers and they didn't know about it, or he had been here long, long before the town was built, influencing the world around him as the years went by.

"So, I asked around and roughly half the town at least knows about Shaye." Johnny spoke up. "Apparently, he works at the marina, but that's where most people's knowledge ends, although he apparently dosen't have an enemy to speak of." The actor paused for a few moments then added: "Look, I don't doubt your ancestor's knowledge and all that, but I think he's just an old fart."

"Do you remember when you first arrived on Shang Tsung's island?" Kenshi asked, and Johnny groaned, knowing where the swordsman was going.

"Yes." He sighed, annoyed.

"And do you remember your skepticism about the history of Earthrealm and the Mortal Kombat Tournament?" Kenshi continued like a parent talking to a child.

"Yes."

"So, what would be so odd about Shaye being the one we're seeking?" Kenshi finished.

"It's… just… the location." Johnny admitted. "I mean, why would a God want to live at Victoria by the Sea? I'm not saying it's not a nice place, hell, I'm thinking I want to buy a summer home out here now, but it just seems weird."

"I have to agree with you on that." Kenshi nodded. "It does seem odd that he would choose Prince Edward Island, but it also makes sense. It took us how long to find anything about him?"

"True that." Johnny remarked as they headed towards the docks. "I'll give the guy credit, if he's trying to hide, he chose a damn good place. Who'd expect he'd hide here? After all, it's not the most populated, but it's also not obvious…"

"I hope that the kids are having better luck." Kenshi commented.

Meanwhile… (Again)

Takeda and Jacqui were walking down a path leading away from the town towards a small neighbourhood, they been told by a teen at a coffee shop that 'This old dude' lived outside of the town and they were headed to see if they could find him.

"So, what makes this guy so special?" Jacqui finally asked, still confused as to why they flew out to P.E.I.

"According to records, he may have been a Kombatant in previous Mortal Kombat Tournaments." Takeda explained. "He may have come from Outworld as well, and considering what Kortal's been worried about, any support we can get to keep the peace would be great."

"Oh, I thought you were bringing me out here so we could be alone…" Jacqui said with a grin, grabbing Takeda's hand and pulling him close.

"Hey, why do you think I said we'd cover this area?" Takeda replied giving her a grin.

The two moved closer, but stopped when they heard something behind them, startling them both. Perched on a branch just above them, a great horned own looked down at them with piercing yellow eyes. It tilted its head and seemed to be studying them.

"Hoo."

"What's an owl doing here?" Jacqui remarked, confused. "I thought they were nocturnal."

"They're supposed to be…" Takeda replied, confused. Looking up at the owl, it looked back at him, as if trying to say something wordlessly, and then flew off into the nearby woods. "C'mon. We should follow it."

"What?" Jacqui asked flatly.

"Trust me on this Jacq. I think that owl was trying to tell us something." Takeda said before beginning down a path towards the woods, following the Owl off the path. Jacqui sighed and began following her friend.

After a few minutes of traversing through the woods, Takeda stopped and looked around for the owl, having lost track of it. He closed his eyes and focused his senses, feeling a strong surge of energy from nearby. Waiting for Jacqui to catch up he slowly made his way towards the energy and stopped when he came into the clearing, looking at a cottage with an old man lounging in a hammock, reading a book.

"Huh." Takeda muttered. This wasn't what he expected.

"Huh." Roc mused. This wasn't what he expected. "Wow… This comic sucks… I feel offended and I don't even read these that often…" Closing the book he looked up and saw Takeda and Jacqui standing near the forest. While he had sensed a presence nearby, he was somewhat surprised to see the two. "Hello there." He waved.

"Uh, hey." Takeda replied awkwardly, not sure of what to say. This led to him awkwardly staring at the old man, allowing a long silence to overtake the clearing.

"You looking for something?" Roc finally asked, his tone slightly annoyed.

"My friend here was following an owl." Jacqui suddenly spoke up. "He likes owls."

"Yeah, do I." Roc replied, sighing and leaning back in his hammock. Suddenly, he stopped when he sensed something familiar… the same type of psychic prowess the man in the bar had… Were they related? To be honest, he kinda looked like him. But the girl didn't look like the actor…

Takeda also sensed it, this was definitely the man they were looking for, the amount of pure energy radiating off of him was astounding, but that also cause him to feel slightly nervous. The man seemed in is seventies at least, but with that much power, he could probably kill both him and Jacqui without a second thought, so he needed to be careful.

"I ain't gonna kill you kid." Roc suddenly said rather bluntly, finally sitting up and putting his sandaled feet on the ground. "Your paranoia is obvious, it's written all over your face. So, how about you do us all a favour and tell me what you and your girlfriend want."

"We're looking for someone." Takeda began.

"Crap…" Roc muttered. Having a feeling he knew where this was going.

"Someone with powers…" Takeda continued.

"Look, I'm going to stop you right there." Roc cut Takeda off as he stood up and picked up his staff. "I know your kind, I know every kind. While I can't tell if you're the 'Desperately seeking enlightenment and part of a cult' type or the 'Desperately seeking approval from your girlfriend's father by completing some stupid task' type, but either way, I'm not that guy. So, do yourself a favor, and get the hell out." He finished with a slight snarl, making it clear that he was done with this conversation.

"Do you know who we are?" Jacqui asked, shocked at the old man's words.

"No, other than you're getting on my nerves." Roc muttered as he began to walk towards his home.

"We're looking for an Elder God who lives among men." Takeda suddenly spoke up, and Roc paused, his body noticeably tensing at the two words 'Elder' and 'God'.

"No Idea what you're talking about kid." Roc simply shrugged it off.

"You're him, aren't you?" Takeda prodded. "Xunos-"

Before Takeda could say another word, several roots suddenly shot forth from the ground, two grabbing his arms and one wrapping around his legs, suddenly lifting him upside-down off the ground. Jacqui rushed forward but found her arms were pinned to her side by a root that had a tight grip on her, keeping her slightly off the ground, and more importantly, unable to move. Takeda cane eye-to-eye with the old man, whose topaz eyes seemed to have a mixture of unimaginable fury, and a sense of someone who had seen so much, yet felt unachieved first and foremost.

"I don't know who the hell you are or what the hell you want, but if you want to walk away with her spine not snapped like a twig, you'd better talk. NOW." Roc growled. While his tone was furious, his voice was low, only making everything all the tenser.

"We're looking for someone, a supposed fallen Elder God." Takeda began, now genuinely frightened. "I don't know exactly why, but the Emperor of Outworld senses a dark force returning. He believed that this this forgotten God could help prevent whatever is coming."

Roc's eyes seemed to lose some of their anger, but was now replaced with skepticism.

"If this so called 'Elder God' is supposed to be forgotten, how the hell do you know they're real? Let alone where they'd be?" He asked.

"Raiden had a book, containing all the known Elder entities, past and present. Most of them are gone or simply in the afterlife. Some of them were unaccounted for, and we were trying to find any of them that were still around to try and help us. As for how we found their locations, it was a mixture of magic and technology from both Outworld and Earthrealm. It was a bit of a hunch that they were even real, but we thought we should at least look into it."

Roc's eyes seemed to regain some of his anger at the mention of the thunder god. Takeda noticed this and was unsure of what was coming next.

"Hang on." He flatly said, clearly not believing what he had just heard. "Outworld is working with Earthrealm. Is that right?"

"Yes." Takeda replied with a nod, then exclaimed in pain as the roots got tighter.

"Don't lie to me." Roc demanded, his eyes beginning to glow.

"We're not!" Jacqui exclaimed. "He's telling the truth!"

Weather Roc believed her or not was unclear, but he did stop crushing Takeda's ribs as fiercely and he looked back into the teen's eyes.

"Okay, so, two kids are sent on a magical quest by some electric jackass to find a God that supposedly dosen't even exist? You really expect me to believe that?" Roc replied finally breaking down Takeda's explanation. Jacqui thought over what he had said, not feeling much surer this was the forgotten Elder God if he somehow knew about Raiden. Roc also silently cursed himself for accidentally showing his hand somewhat with that last remark.

"Well, yes. Because we found you." Takeda replied before he realized what he was saying. Then immediately regretted it as Roc's head snapped back to look at him.

"Huh. You're right in that degree." He muttered, mostly to himself with the faintest amount of a chuckle. Suddenly, another root shot up and an arrow was lodged in it. Roc's head snapped in another direction and saw a young man with a bow and arrow aiming at him.

"Let them go!" The man demanded.

"You fire and they die." Roc blandly replied, moving Takeda in front of him. "Make your choice."

The man's eyes seemed to widen in realization, and he slowly let the string loosen, sheathing the arrow.

"Look, let's all just calm down and-"

Roc was cut off by a punch to the back. Yelling in pain, he fell to one knee and loosened the magic holding Takeda, allowing him to wrestle himself free.

"Cassie! Wait!" He exclaimed as Roc stood up and turned around, his body language now one of a deadly predator. Roc glared at the young woman with blonde hair just slightly shorter than him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He finally spat.

"Me?! The fuck's wrong with you!?" She retorted, slightly angered.

"Trust me, you don't wat to do-" Roc began but stopped when Cassie threw a punch at him with he stepped out of the way of. His speed surprising everyone. "Alright then."

He elbowed Cassie in the jaw then slammed her head into his knee, making her stumble back. Blood coming from the girl's nose now, before she could get re-aligned, a large root appeared and grabbed her right arm. The roots flipped her onto the ground, slamming her face-first. She rolled back and managed to position herself so she could stomp on the roots, managing to tear them off of her leg and shot forward. She threw several punches at Roc, who simply walked backwards as if he was on a leisurely stroll, he managed to dodge them until the archer wacked him in the back of the head with his bow staff. Roc growled and decided to go on the offensive. He sweeped the archers leg, bringing him to the ground before catching the girl's arm and twisting it behind her back, then hitting her in the spine with his palm. The move caused the woman to yell in pain as she stumbled forward. Roc then grabbed the archer and punched him directly in the gut, before giving him a left hook across the face.

"We can keep fighting, or we can stop and talk!" Roc growled. "I'm fine with either, but if you go with option one, you're not walking away alive!"

Cassie shot forward with a glow kick, the green aura surprising Roc as he managed to avoid the attack, mostly. Her foot did hit his shoulder, and caused him to lose his balance, when the archer used to his advantage. Hooking the man's leg with his bow staff he yanked hard and flipped Roc into the air then onto the ground. While he didn't want to, he had to admit that they fought well. Suddenly, two large roots shot out from the ground, pushing the old man onto his feet. He grabbed his staff and spun it, clashing with the archer's then disarming him and sending his bow flying away. He spun his staff before hitting several key points on the archer's shoulder, waist and leg. No place that would be permanently damaged, but enough to hurt. As he spun back, his staff was bragged by two whips from Takeda, who yanked the staff out of his hands.

"Interesting." Roc remarked, before two roots shot up and wrapped around his arms, mimicking Takeda's whips. "Let's see whose better."

Takeda shot one of his whips straight forward and made the other one arc above him. Roc saw both of them and blocked them both, making the roots dart about unpredictably before the whips wrapped around them. Takeda seemed confused, then realized what the old man was doing as Roc began to spin, dragging Takeda for a few loops, then throwing him into Cassie. He motioned to the still restrained Jacqui and the vines brought her over.

"Everyone calm your asses down or else I'll do something I don't want to." He ordered, slightly tightening his fist and making Jacqui groan as the roots got tighter. Cassie just seemed more pissed off then she was before, Kung Jin seemed hesitant about his next move, but Takeda nodded.

"I'm sorry." He suddenly said. Shocking everyone.

"What?" Roc replied.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you like that." Takeda began with his apology. "I don't know you, and you might not be the man we're looking for. But things haven't been great over the past year, so we've gotten somewhat desperate. Look, it's obvious you have powers-"

"No." Roc cut in with a very sarcastic tone. Takeda frowned, but didn't say anything.

"…and honestly, we need help. I'm sorry I accused you of being someone you're not, and I'm sorry my friends attacked you." He finished. While Cassie still seemed mad, Jin nodded in agreement before bowing in a sign of respect. Roc's eyes softened and he sighed, gently setting Jacqui on the ground.

"I guess… I guess I was kind of an asshole as well…" He muttered, clearly not happy about admitting to it. "I mean, you did give me a reason to be one… But kid, you're not wrong." He added, as a vine handed him his staff. "You want to know who I am? Then follow me."

He began to walk towards his house, Takeda looked to the others, then began to follow the old man, Jacqui following after him and eventually Cassie and Kung Jin following in the rear. Unsure of what they were getting into.

A.N. So, there's chapter one. This is something I've been thinking about for a while now, and with the upcoming release of Mortal Kombat 11 (which you BET I'm hyped for! Shao Kahn ALONE made me pre-order that game!) I figured this would be a good time to toss this out here.

So, here we are. Before you ask, this is set after the events of MKX but before MK11, it's also not tied to any of my other stories, so don't expect Mad Dawg or myself to appear. This is meant to be a straight up action adventure Mortal Kombat story. No idea when updates will be, I guess I'll see how many of you enjoy it. Also, yes. I am working on both versions of A Dawg's Tale, as well as Zyon's Legacy, and the DBZ Death Battle Story and one other concerning humans… and androids…

X = Doubt

So, if you enjoyed. Please leave a review and fav and follow! Also, for updates on all the stories, go stalk me on twitter at NTorch (yeah, I kinda messed the registration up but whatever.) Now, I've got a seventy-five-page document on a certain warrior I need to go dig through for history and weapon facts… Aye. This should be fun.