At two different places within the verse known as Earthrealm. Two very different people had reached the same conclusion to two very different situations. One was a boy who felt like he had the entire world on his shoulders and the other was a god who very nearly quite literally did. The boy sat in front of the mirror of Erised at his school on a very cold night, looking back over everyone he had lost to this horrible war. The god needed no such mirror, but did the same thing.
The boy grieved for the loss of his parents when he was only one, the loss of his godfather, and the loss of his mentor who all stood in the mirror, smiling happily at him. The god grieved for the loss of the greatest champion Earthrealm had ever seen to the damn deception.
The boy, named Harry Potter, who seemed to be both gifted and damned by fate itself, left the room and began walking the castle of Hogwarts. He had taken to doing this at night when he was in one of his introspective moods. He often pondered life and why it was good to some people and horrible to others, while dodging Filch and that damned wretched cat of his. He often grew quite jealous of his friends for having families that loved them, while all he had were an aunt and uncle who despised his very being. Maybe he was just a freak or maybe he was just put here to put an end to a mad man, though Ginny would chase him like a cursed bludger if she heard him say that. He had to distance himself from Ginny because of it. He had to watch from a distance, under a damned invisibility cloak, as his two best friends in the world got married. He knew there would be no peaceful reprieve for him. He hated his life.
The thunder god, Rayden, began walking the mean streets of various areas of Earthrealm. This was his habit when he had to much to think about and tonight was no different as he walked the streets of Hong Kong. He knew the final tournament was at hand. He knew the Earthrealm's best fighters were the at the top of their game so to speak. What his major problem right now was, without Lui Kang, will it be enough. The forces of Shao Kahn were massing and all they waited on was the first sign that it was time to invade. Then there were the others from Earthrealm that usually sought to undo things. Kano, the tekunin ninja: Cyrax and Sektor, and others. Kabal and his Black Dragons usually went to the highest bidder. All he had really were Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuai, maybe Scorpion and the Shaira Ryu if he felt like it, Sonya Blade, Jackson Briggs, and John Carlton. He laughed to himself as he though of the frustration that Jax and Johnny Cage would be put through at the use of their real names.
Harry began to smile as he did think of what and who he had left. Remus Lupin, the werewolf who was his last tie to his parents and his wife Nymphadora. He laughed at the though of her telling everyone to call her Nym now because her last name was no long Tonks. He knew also that he could turn to Ron and Hermione for anything, but didn't dare now that they had their own happiness. Asking Ginny was right out and he needed to put her behind him. Maybe she'd marry Dean or Seamus and be happy. Another generation of Weasleys or Thomas' or Finnigans. The last thing the world needed was another Potter.
They finally both stopped. Harry Standing on top of the astronomy tower and Rayden standing on top of a lightning rod on the tallest sky scraper in the city. The both stood looking reflectively at the moon. Its peaceful existence. It never had to worry about anyone fighting over it like some prize. It was just there to bring man a reminder of what peace really was and to shine its splendor over a distraught world. Harry and Rayden both sighed as they realized anymore thought was useless. Harry turned back and walked into the castle and Rayden formed into a bolt of lightning and disappeared into the sky.
As they both grieved and thought back over all that had happened in the past decade, they both looked up and said to no one but them selves, "The time is almost here..."