MORTAL KOMBAT: BEYOND X

(Chapter 1 Celebration)

It was a hot summer day; it had been a month after Shinnok's demise. The protectors of Earthrealm were all relaxing at the beach. Their wounds were healed and everyone was feeling healthy, they were at peace at last. Sonya was lying down on a sun chair with her shades on and her eyes closed; suddenly she felt her stomach getting splashed by water. She opened her eyes to see Johnny with a water gun and a big smirk on his face while wearing a pair of sunglasses himself. He wore nothing but his swimming trunks, "what the hell was that for!" Sonya said in a tone that was not pleased. "Come on babe; me Cass and Jacqui are having a water gun war, I need a professional on my team I'm a bad shot!" Sonya couldn't help but crack a smile and chuckle a bit. She hated Johnny's cocky nature, but she loved his positive and laidback nature.

"Alright John, besides its been too long since I've played with Cassie". Johnny looks at her with pure content in his face. "Sweeeeeet The water gun is just under my sun chair, Il get it for you." Sonya takes the time to stretch. Her body looked noticeably aged but she was still very attractive, a firm body, a nice subtle hourglass figure, her face still hot if you ask most men. She was wearing a black bikini covering her features well enough so people wouldn't think she was a sleaze, but not so much that she would be called a complete square. A good balance between the two. Johnny now back with the gun, his gun much bigger than hers. "John I get the big gun or you fight without me" Sonya says with a serious tone although she was being playful.

"Yes Ma'am!" Johnny says playing around as if he's one of her solders. She has what she wants now, the big gun. "DAD LETS START ALREA—WAIT MOMS JOINING! AHHH SHIT WE'RE SCREWED!" Jacqui looks at Cassie like she's about to die. "CHARRRRRRGEEE" Johnny screams. Jacqui and Cassie pelt him with water; his glasses are his only protection. His gun is dropped and now he's covering his body with his arms trying to protect himself. The pressure from the water guns weren't pleasant but that's would made it competitive for them. They're guns needed to be pumped up, the two laughing at the sight of a fallen Johnny Cage. They completely forgot about Sonya who blasted the two laughing solders with her water gun. "AHHHHH MOM" "AUNT SONYAAA CRAAAAAP" The two girls now getting pelted themselves.

All of them are standing there soaked. "Damn it we lost" Cassie said. They checked their guns realizing that they were out of water. "OH SNAP YOU GUYS GOT OWNED" Said Johnny loudly. "AUNT SONYA DID ALL THE WORK" Said Jacqui just as loudly. "Hey not my fault your aunt's still got it". Johnny says playfully. Sonya just laughs lightly. "John next time it'll be me and Cassie" Sonya says with a smile at her daughter. Cassie felt warm inside, her mother had always been hard on her and now she's playing with her. "AHHH COME ON BABY" Johnny says genuinely sounding disappointed.

Aside from the war going on at the beach, there was actually some relaxing being done on the beach. Sub-Zero along with Jax were enjoying the water, Takeda and his Father were lying in their sun chairs. Vera just a Chair away was enjoying some Ice cream, which was melting fast in the heat. Takeda and Kenshi were talking telekinetically. "You know dad, I'm sorry how I was too you when you visited me at the destroyed city I—", Takeda was interrupted by Kenshi's thought though. "Son you had to endure a difficult childhood, and I was not present, it is I who is deeply sorry. Just know that my love for you is unconditional". " I love you too dad, and you know what, that was an old chapter in our life this is a new one" Takeda thinks to his father in a happy manner.

"Son one day I will take you to where I used to train as a swordsman before my blindness. It is a sight with beauty like no other" Kenshi thinks to his son; now in touch with more peace knowing his son is happy. " I'd love that dad" Takeda thinks back to him. "Do you feel that dad" Takeda said sensing one of their allies not in a good mood and rather depressed. "It is your friend Kung Jin, he is hiding something, He is attracted to men it appears." Kenshi thinks to his son. "There's nothing wrong with that, but he seems to be uncomfortable…. Wait he knows were reading his mind he's thinking about it right now." Takeda thinks to his dad. So you guys know what's bothering me". Kung Jin says in a stern but sad tone. Kenshi walks toward Jin using his telekinetic abilities to get close to him and trusting his son to let him know if he's about to walk into anything. He puts his hand on Jin's shoulder and speaks out loud now.

"You have no need to be ashamed, nobody here will criticize you nor should they". Kenshi said comforting Jin. "Love is not bound to heterosexuality my friend it is free and uplifting" Kenshi continued on only further comforting Jin. "Hey man I'm 100% Supporting you on this too" Takeda says only a couple of feet behind his dad. " Thanks guys and his name is Kaapo Tacitus. He actually trained under Sub-Zero as a Lin Kuei clan member. He's good with a Kitana." Jin went on now telling his friends about the new man in his life. "Does he possess cryomancing abilities like the grandmaster?" Kenshi asks curiously. "No he's been working with the grandmaster and Raiden to find out if he has any inner abilities." Jin says calmly now feeling like massive weights are off his shoulder. Johnny Approaches the group now dried off, from his water gun shower. "Heeeeeey you guys are coming to the party later tonight at my place right?" Johnny says like he's apart of some fraternity. "Yeah and Mr. Cag"- Jin is cut off early. " You can call me Johnny when your off the job Jin, makes me feel old when you call me Mr. Cage" Jin is struggling to find the courage to tell Johnny He wants his boyfriend to come to the party.

Kenshi puts his hand on Jin's shoulder again. "Do not be afraid son, speak your mind we will not judge you." Takeda was somewhat surprised that he called him son, but he puts it behind him knowing his father is just trying to make Jin feel comfortable. "What's the matter Jin"? Johnny says with a more serious and slightly more concerned tone. "Is.. Is it alright if I bring my boyfriend…" Jin says feeling heavy from speaking those words. "Absolutely, and don't worry Jin, its completely normal. Tell you what Jin Il let the others know he's coming as well and that you too are involved romantically. I don't want you two feeling like outcasts. And listen to me Jin anyone who says anything homophobic about you two is not welcome in my house." Jin looks at Johnny with a huge smile. "I really appreciate it Johnny, and please do let them know." "Well I'll see you guys at the party!" Johnny says back to his playful and exciting tone.

Later at night

Johnny had bought a much bigger house and ditched the apartment he used to own. The victory over Shinnok left him in good spirits and now his house was full of positive energy, and people having fun. Sub-Zero and Kenshi were at Johnny's dinning room table and enjoying a cup of hot green tea. Takeda was flirting with Jacqui and playing video games with her. Jin and Kaapo had arrived. Johnny greeted them warmly introducing Kaapo to all of the other Earthrealm defenders except for Sub-Zero, which Kaapo already knew, as his mentor. Everything felt right, except Hanzo Hasashi was not present. Takeda could not help but feel his absence. Hanzo treated him like a second son and Takeda looked up to him as well. The night progressed well and everybody seemed to like Kaapo, he was quite the opposite of Kung Jin. He was humble and kind; Kenshi took a liking to him for his personality. Sub-Zero Spoke to Kenshi of some of the training feats he had performed. Sub-Zero realizes his skill is above even that of Frosts. "He is talented with his kitana, Not a single movement wasted, a truly remarkable swordsman". Sub-Zero says admiringly. "Perhaps Takeda, Kaapo, and I may train sometime".

Kenshi says legitimately interested.

As the night progresses, Johnny and Jax are drinking beers and watching Cassie and Sonya VS Jacqui and Vera playing fuse ball. Johnny couldn't help but notice the pure joy Sonya and Cassie were feeling. "Man its great to see her with Cass playing like that" says Johnny in a low admiring tone. "She really does love her John, she loves Cassie more than anything in the world, she just wants the best for her, she wants Cassie to be even better than her." Jax says matching Johnny's Volume. "I know, but Cass needed this…. I needed it too, to see her happy like that." Johnny said passionately. "You're a good dad Johnny" Jax says giving Johnny a light tap on the back making sure not to hurt him with his massive robotic arms.

The Group decided to watch a movie on Johnny's Massive TV. Most of them fell asleep on the couch, the few that didn't were heading to bed Johnny decided to let them crash. Jin went upstairs to sleep with Kaapo as there was a queen sized bed and they shared it. Takeda and Jacqui took the opportunity to sleep together. There night not as tame as Jin and kaapo's. "How about we have a little fun" Jacqui says in a seductive voice. "I'm game" Takeda says in a seductive tone of his own. Jacqui grabs Takeda's hand and takes him to the bedroom on the main floor. Cassie, Jax and Vera are passed out on the couch. Cassie's is lying on Jax's lap. Vera pressed up against his shoulder, her head under his. His head is pressed just lightly on top of hers. Sub-Zero and Kenshi are lying down on two different couches. Which leaves Johnny and Sonya. "Il see you in the morning" Johnny says tiredly. "Johnny wait, you know at the beach earlier, when me and you won the water gun war… Didn't you mean? You just got caged instead of you got owned." Sonya said. Johnny now with a smile on his face pretends he doesn't know what she's hinting at.

"What about it babe" Sonya gives him a light punch to the gut. "You know what I mean right…." Sonya says her voice getting softer, and her face showing a sign of lust. She presses her body up against his placing her hand on Johnny's right pectoral muscle. "Babe all I know is what I want. I want us to get back together and become one big family again. A happy one…." Johnny's voice about as sincere as she's ever heard he really wants this badly. She can feel it. "Because Sonya, Those years apart…. They were torture. I love you and I don't want us to be split up anymore. I wanna see a smile on that pretty face when I wake up in the morning." His voice was weakening; he truly missed her all those years, he was fighting back tears and she could tell and felt horrible. "Johnny… I'm sorry I lost focus on what mattered most. I just felt weak…" Sonya feeling Johnny's pain started to tear up a bit." Baby you're the strongest woman I know and I love that about you. You don't need me to do anything for you. But I am here no matter what. So baby lets get married again and we'll work through all the issues we ran into".

Johnny said with some happiness in his voice. Sonya buried her head into Johnny's chest and began crying tears of joy, sobbing quietly to not wake the others. She didn't want to be seen like that and Johnny knows it. He gently removed her head from his chest and lead it up to his face. They shared a warm kiss Sonya's tears gently dropping down as if the tears were the conflicts she was holding with in her dropping away. "I love you John and I'm not weak for loving you or Cassie. I'm weak if I let people hurt you guys." Sonya says with conviction after the kiss is broken. "Lets head up to bed Sonya, I have a feeling were gonna sleep well tonight" Johnny kissed her head gently and he held her hand on the way to his bedroom. They shared another French kiss before turning the lights off. They fell asleep in each other's embrace. The reunited couple felt ecstasy as they saw a brighter future for their family.

On the next chapter

Raiden Seeks out Hanzo, enraged. He seeks to further protect Earthrealm and fortify their defenses. More on this on MORTAL KOMBAT: BEYOND X.