Chapter 10

(We are going forward a few years where a lot of dramatic events take place. Thank you for reviews and patience my friends. R&R)

(Raiden's temple sat in the late afternoon sun against the mountains where it looked as if anything but destruction blended there. The birds chirped and the wind blew through the planted cherry blossom trees in the gardens.)

"Dante! Come down here, boy!" Raiden hollered.

If only things were as peaceful inside as they were outside for Raiden's family. He had been at his ends with his nine year old son, Dante. Who over the years appeared to only be getting worse with attitude; and abuse of his birth rite.

"I said come down here!" Raiden couldn't have been more furious.

A small boy, baring a resemblance to Raiden, had he ever been a young boy; came down the stairs. His white glowing eyes in a frown, and his tied up white hair in a mess. As if he'd been in a tussle with someone. Dante wore white and blue robes with dark sandals adorning his feet. There was a tear in his left sleeve, and he had a red scratch across his cheek on his clear face.

"Yes, father?" Dante glared back up to his father whose arms were crossed; holding a torn teddy bear.

"What is the meaning of this?" Raiden held the bear in front of Dante's face.

"That's Cassie's bear…" Raiden nodded and his glare grew more dangerous. "Yes it is; Dante why would you do such a terrible thing?!"

"She had it coming to her! Telling me what to do, and playing with my toys!" Dante's eyes flared with electricity.

"I don't give a fallen elder god what Cassie did!" You had no right to tear up her bear!" Raiden had gotten very stressed lately. Things had ceased to get better for him since Dante had used his weapon against Johnny Cage's and Sonya's daughter, Cassie. She had a scar on her right leg from where Dante had slit her with his katana; in which Raiden had repossessed in the process.

"Go apologize or go to your room!" Raiden ordered.

"I'd rather go to my room and rot than apologize to that brat!" Dante retorted as he ran upstairs to his room.

Raiden sighed and went to the living room to find a still crying Cassie Cage sitting on the floor. He put the torn bear on a chair and picked her up. "Are you alright, Cassie?"

The blonde haired girl in pig tails sniffled and nodded. "He hurt my arm, Raiden."

Raiden looked at her left arm to see a dark bruise on her little forearm. He shook his head disappointed in his son for hurting a little girl. And for knowing that he would have to come clean for Cassie's injuries and the destruction of her toys.

Raiden looked into Cassie's watery brown eyes. "I'm sorry about today, Cassie. I'll see if I can get you another bear."

Cassie shook her head and smiled. "No, it's okay daddy will get me another one."

Raiden smiled a little at her when he heard Sonya's voice.

"Cassie, honey daddy and I are back." The little girl ran to her mother, arms out and happy.

Raiden stood up and looked at the little family; very hesitant to what could happen next.

"Whoa what happened to your arm?" Johnny Cage looked at Raiden and then to the torn bear on the chair. "Did something happen while we were gone?"

Raiden turned red, gosh this was embarrassing. "Dante and Cassie got into it again."

Johnny and Sonya looked at each other and then back at Raiden.

"Raiden, could I talk to you?" Johnny took him aside. "Raiden, I don't think we're going to bring Cassie here anymore."

"What?" Raiden's heart quickened. Was this really necessary?

"It's just that every time we leave Cassie here with you she gets mauled by Dante." Johnny looked down sorry about his decision. "Sonya and I are just always worried he might do something else."

"I understand." Raiden said. "I'm very sorry."

"Don't worry about it, Raiden. I know it's gotta be hard raising a son on your own."

"Still", Raiden shook his head, "that's no excuse for your daughter to get hurt, if you don't come anymore I'll understand."

Johnny Cage nodded and patted Raiden on the shoulder before leaving with his wife Sonya, and his daughter Cassie. Cassie waved at Raiden before leaving through the front entrance with her parents.

Raiden waved back and when they had disappeared through the gateway he fell on the sofa and massaged his temples. Everything was crashing around him. Yes Magdalene had left him a year after Dante was born; leaving him to figure parenthood out himself. And she had taken his daughter away with her.

The elder gods knew when he'd see his daughter again. Now here he was slowly becoming alone. "Where's family when you need them?" he sighed. Had he not been a thunder god he would've knelt down and cried his heart out, but he didn't. That just wasn't his way.

Raiden sat back and retraced his memory to his nephew, Tiberius. He had only seen him ten years ago. What was he doing now? Was he successful in his life? How he missed that boy.

(The Netherrealm)

(Shinnok sat in his throne next to his wife, Rashid waiting for his son Tiberius to come as he was ordered to the throne room; five minutes ago. Shinnok tapped his fingers on his arm rest, impatiently.

"What's taking that boy so long?" Shinnok stood up and walked the floor. "He should've already been here."

"Shinnok dear, don't be so restless. I'm sure he has a good reason for being a little late." Rashid's blue eyes flared as she spoke to her husband. Hoping he wouldn't get very angry.

Just as she had spoken the throne room doors opened and a sixteen year old boy entered, looking a little worried. Tiberius, now a handsome young man, bowed before his father. "I'm sorry I'm late, father. It won't happen again." He said in a firm serious voice.

Tiberius was tall and well-built for his age. Thick short white hair now covered his head; with the exception of thick black streaks here and there. His face bore chiseled features, and his eyes were a deeper shade of beautiful green. He wore a black sorcerers robe with a silver bone chest plate. Regardless of his appearance, Tiberius still had a gentle nature and meek tone to his voice.

"Damn right better not happen again!" his father boomed.

This shook him a little, but Tiberius knew it was for his own good. He had spent the last hour bandaging Zale's arm from the fight he'd had from an oni. The silver dragon was at least ten feet now, had he been allowed inside his room Zale would've covered it up halfway.

"Yes, father." He said as he returned to the present moment.

His father nodded and returned to his throne. "Your mother and I have been wanting to talk to you, Tiberius."

Tiberius nodded, knowing this would be important.

"We have thought it necessary to start your real sorcery training."

"Real sorcery training?" Tiberius was somewhat confused.

"Yes, you didn't really thing that what you were learning was actual sorcery; did you my son?"

"Um, no of course not, but why?"

Shinnok smiled at his son. "It is now time for you to start learning black magic my boy." Tiberius could only stare.

"Black Magic?"

"Yes, the power of the Netherrealm will soon be in your hands one day, and you can't possibly think you can conquer it with child spells can you?"

"No father."

Shinnok got up from his throne and put his arm around Tiberius' shoulders; leading him to the window that shown the Netherrealm. "Yes, soon this will all be yours; and maybe one day…" Shinnok smiled at his son. "With an iron fist you can claim all the realms."

Tiberius cringed at the thought of destruction by his hand. He looked at mother, but only saw sorrow in her flaming blue eyes for him. She had no power over his father either.

All he could do was accept this sad fate.

"Yes, father."

(Sad fates for the lonely thunder god Raiden and the warm hearted Tiberius. Thank you for your patience. R&R)