Raiden had never thought he’d be caring for a toddler. But he’d made a commitment to Elliot, and when she had magically reverted to a toddler, well, he had no choice. Problem was, Elliot’s memories of being a toddler and her current memories had blended, causing her to essentially be a weird amalgamation of herself.

This caused Elliot to be incredibly clingy. Her little self never had any real family to give her affection and emotional support, and her current self only had Raiden for family. Elliot refused to be away from Raiden for very long, if at all.

In meetings, she always had to be with him. Meditation; she’d try to sleep next to him. A quiet stroll through the gardens? The kid would play in the grass or dirt next to him.

Elliot would cry if she was away from him for very long. It seemed she had abandonment issues, and all she wanted was to be around him. Raiden was reluctant at first, just because it was hard to effectively focus on a special forces meeting when you had a toddler on a child leash on you at all times, but he couldn’t bring himself to break away from her. Elliot’s little eyes filling with tears tore him apart.

And this, children, is how the god of thunder found himself trying to meditate with a 3-year-old curled up on his lap, sleeping. She’d gotten bored pretty quickly and given her own circadian rhythm had been completely broke since the age incident, it didn’t take long for her little body to fall asleep.

Raiden had practically mastered meditation in his uncountable years in a human body. Having a tiny human sleeping next to him was nothing. Elliot was technically supposed to sleep at the old safe house, but Raiden both preferred to spend his nights at the Sky Temple, given his inability to leave Elliot, and personally found the idea of leaving a toddler alone, even just to sleep, a bit unsafe for his liking. Even in her current state, Elliot was still his daughter.

Thus, the ritual had been somewhat of Elliot’s bed time routine since she regressed to the physical and mental state of a 3-year-old. Raiden would assume his normal night time meditation routine, finding a spot that caught his fancy in the many gardens throughout the Sky Temple and assume his Lotus position as usual. Elliot, even if he tried to put her down for bed, would always follow him. She was like a puppy, one track mind laser focused on following Raiden. He’d try to keep her in her (or rather, his old bed room before it had been taken over by teenage Elliot) bed room but she’d always sneak out and find him. He could sense wherever she was thanks to her inherent connection to the Jinsei.

After a few nights, he found it simply easier to just let her be, keeping her from falling over a railing or jumping into a koi pond whilst she toddled behind him. Elliot was silent most of the time whilst she slept anyway, so it was honestly some of the most peaceful moments throughout his day with the child.

Elliot sat curled up in Raiden’s lap as he tried his best to focus on his breathing. He contemplated things, primarily his current situation. How would Elliot be restored? It had been two weeks and still she was just as small as before, and Havok was still after her and the twins for reasons neither he nor Fujin could grasp. Honestly, it was probably a good thing Elliot was so clingy. She needed constant vigilance when in public, so many in the Red Dragon were after her.

Water gargled nearby, a small pond with a spring in it surrounded the little island in the garden. Raiden sat in the lotus position, floating slightly as he always did when meditating in the center of the island. A small Sakura tree had blossoms falling from it, overhanging the whole pond and island. To get to the island, one needed to float over the pond, or tread through the shallow water, leading to mostly Raiden and Fujin only using this particular garden.

The night sky was filled with stars unobstructed by light pollution. Elliot always found the stars mesmerizing, even as a small child. She’d stare up at them as she drifted off to sleep, fumbling with the floppy ears on her little onesie.

It was a yellow, electric mouse onesie Cassie had chosen for her. Apparently, the character was quite popular with small children, worldwide. It felt fitting for a tiny child of the thunder god. Elliot seemed to like the onesie, and that’s all he cared about. As Elliot had completely drifted off to sleep, she shifted from sitting to almost laying down, using Raiden’s knee as a pillow. She was so small, especially compared to him. Raiden hadn’t changed from his every day attire, armor and numerous layers still present. It left quite a sight, a toddler wearing a bright yellow onesie curled up in the lap of a serious and stoic looking 7-foot-tall thunder god.

Elliot’s chest rose and fell, peaceful sleep enveloping her. An almost silent snore escaped her. Raiden could sense her emotions calming as she fell deeper into sleep. Since the incident, he had elected to rely more on his intuition than before with her. Toddlers were much harder to read but much more important to monitor.

She shifted a bit, grumbling out a whimper. He could sense some fear emanating from her. He opened his eyes from his meditative state, and sighed. Even as a small child, she was still plagued with nightmares. He stroked her head, gently pushing back her hair. He pulsed a harmless electric current into her head, silently viewing her dream.

She sat alone in a field, in her teenage form, crying Raiden’s name as shadowy figures formed around her, hands on her shoulder, speaking something to her, before placing a hand on her shoulder. Elliot grimly nodded as the figures led her away. Perhaps…was her true consciousness showing?

Raiden tried his best to insert himself into her dream gently. He materialized from electricity, standing just 20 feet from her. His perspective shifted from an overhead view of the field to one seeing from his figure that appeared. His voice echoed as he spoke.

“Elliot!” He chimed. She turned, looking hopeful. “Raiden!” She tried running to him, but the shadowy figures held her back. “Raiden! What’s happening? I know after that blast from that skeleton dude, something happened to me. It’s like I’m dreaming…everything feels so muddy. What’s going on?”

“Your body and mind have reverted back to that of a 3-year-old. Your body and mind are confused. I am unsure how we can restore you,” he echoed, a slight electric crackle sounded as he spoke.

“The only time I feel like I’m awake is when my body is asleep, I guess. I’m trying to reach you! I can’t hear anyone else’s voice when my body’s awake but your’s! I don’t know why!” She cried, trying to resist the shadowy tendrils wrapping itself around her.

“This is a magical issue, it seems. I will restore you, Elliot! Follow my voice! Keep trying to reach me!” He replied, willing as much as he could to go toward her. But no matter how much he willed, he couldn’t get his dream body to move. It was like his feet were covered in cement, and his powers didn’t seem to work at all here.

“I’m trying! Raiden!” She cried before the shadowy tendrils enveloped her completely, pulling her into a warp in the ground around them. Raiden was pushed out of her consciousness, opening his eyes back to reality. Little Elliot was almost crying, face scrunched in fear as she whimpered. He gently shook her trembling form. “Little one…” he whispered, before catching himself and trying again, a bit louder this time. She hated Fujin’s nickname for her, and only allowed him to call her that. Even Raiden wasn’t allowed to call her that. But he had his own nicknames he was exclusively allowed to use for her that she much preferred.

“Young one…” No response. He sighed. “Thunderbolt…” he whispered gently. Elliot’s eyes fluttered open, a soft, hopeful squeak escaped her. She looked up at Raiden, tears forming in her eyes.

“I am right here, thunderbolt. It is okay. Your nightmares cannot hurt you. Just look at me,” he whispers to her, his hat covering her head as he bent down to her eye level. She just looked up at him, sniffling, before nuzzling into his torso. “I don’t like the monsters…” she whimpered.

Raiden held her in his arms, still sitting cross legged with her in his lap. His neck craned down to cover her with his hat, keeping her focus on him. She kneeled where she sat, fumbling with her little mouse ears on her onesie. She still was filled with so much anxiety. He cupped her face, meeting her eyes, he smiled at her reassuringly, the glow of his eyes the only thing illuminating the little scene. What was that song she loved from that show?

In a low, soft, baritone voice, Raiden tried reciting the lyrics to her favorite lullaby.

“Leaves from the vine,

Falling so slow,

Like fragile, tiny shells,

Drifting in the cold.”

Elliot’s little voice followed suite, completing the lyrics, an old memory from her true self surfacing itself. “Wittle soldier boy, come marching home.”

“Brave soldier boy,” Raiden began, a small tear welling from his eye. Memories of two souls he once held like this came rushing to him, flooding his mind.

Lao…Liu…What I wouldn’t give to have you two here with your sister…

“Comes marching home,” Elliot finished, mesmerized by the words. She swayed, sleep pulling into her. But before she could fall into sheep’s embrace once again, she noticed her Ray-Ray looking sad. She wasn’t sure how to help him…but remembered what he’d always do when she was sad, and tried to emulate.

A small grabby hand reached for the brim of Raiden’s hat, tipping it a bit, snapping him from his stupor. As Elliot’s grip released it, she groggily squeaked words that melted Raiden’s heart, they were so cute.

“I’m right here, Ray-Ray…I won’t let any bad guys make you sad!” She said half asleep, head lulling into sleep. Raiden caught her, laying her back down against his knee. He smiled.

He may have lost so many champions and warriors, regrets piling through him, but he still had Elliot. The girl he almost killed, but saved. He’d broken her, but he managed to save her. No matter what, he’d at least be able to say he was able to protect at least her.