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GFD

©2001

Chapter 12: Fast & Furious

I

Fight 6! Round 1:

Sakura vs Nightwolf

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Then, there's the other side; I love you, Ryu! You must feel something more for me, or was it just "your duty" to dive to my rescue when Rain tried to hit me with that bolt. I still can't get that one out of my mind; had the A-O not done anything, I just know that you were going die. You just don't risk your life like that for no reason. Oh Ryu, if you ever did die... I just don't know!

"Sakura, we are supposed to be having a match here, yet your mind seems to be on anything but the fight. Are you worried about the guy who saved you from Rain. Ryu was his name, wasn't it?"

"What? Oh, I'm sorry, Nightwolf. Yes, you are right. I'm VERY worried about Ryu. He..."

"You don't need to explain. It's alright! A lot's happened, and I'm sure it'll all work out. I am, after all, a shaman. For now, let us put this on hold and start our match."

"Yes, thank you. I'm ready when you...HEY! What's going on?!"

"By the power of The Heavens, what manner of magic is this?"

"Do you not recognize it, Nightwolf? It is the Soul Chamber." replied a green glow from what seemed to be the mouth of a statue.

"Freaky! The sooner we start, the sooner we can leave! Let's get this over with!" declared Sakura, not able to hide the trembling in her voice.

She went for a fireball to see what he would do. He just seemed to stand there. Sakura was shocked as he started to glow green. The fireball hit him, bounced back, and keeled over Sakura.

"All right, let's see how you handle this! Shinku Hadoken!" yelled Sakura as she fired a long beam at Nightwolf.

The results were the same, only the first half of the beam canceled itself. The last half drove her into the ground. She stood up, dazed, only to be hit by his green arrow. He followed up with two more which she then leapt over, and tried an angle fireball. He returned it, only it went into the ground instead of her.

"Have you not learned? It is useless to use any projectile on me!"

She leapt and tried another fireball, with identical results. This time, Nightwolf leapt into the air to follow-up.

"That's what I thought you'd do. Hadoken !"

She fired it at him as he was descending. It hit clearly, and he fell to Earth.

"Clever girl. Unfortunately, it didn't get the job done, and I learn from my errors. What do you have left?"

She started to run toward him, a look of desperation on her face. He began to form his green ax. She was almost at him, and stopped. Nightwolf didn't count on her stopping, and went for a wide swing with the ax. Although she was still too far away for it to be fully effective, she shouted, "Haru Ichiba!" as she ducked down and began spinning toward Nightwolf. She only caught him with the last few kicks, then delivered a powerful kick to the gut, sending him across the room!

"I..." and then she fell on her face, engulfed in darkness from the pain she had suffered during the match.

"Double KO!"

With that, they were back to where their friends had been.

"Nightwolf! Is he dead?"

"No, but he will need some attention. Awake!"

As the voice spoke, they began to come to, though still in pain.

"Jade?!"

She did not respond, but merely helped him to his room.

With much difficulty, Sakura looked for Ryu. She was met only by Sean. She fell back down, a look of anger on her face.

"Easy, Sakura. It's me. Sean."

"I know who it is," she spoke in a tired voice, "and that's not the reason I'm upset."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm here to help you get back to your room. The next fight will be starting soon. I think Ryu will have his hands full with this guy."

She immediately sat up and asked, "You mean Ryu's fight is next?"

"Um, yea! But why do you..."

"Forget it! I only wish I could stay to watch, but I'm a little tired."

"I'll help you."

"That won't be needed."

"Let me at least walk you back to your room."

Though she didn't consent, they both headed back. Sean talked about the upcoming fights, but all Sakura thought about was Ryu.

"Hello, Ryu. From what I've heard, you're a great fighter. I'm honored to fight you."

"You are too tense, Kai. You are too worried. You must maintain focus and relax, or you will lose. Clear your head of all thoughts, and then we will be ready."

"Um, thanks (I guess). I guess I'm set."

Without waiting, Ryu leapt into the air, and did a hurricane kick. Kai was totally unprepared. He didn't know what to do. Ryu landed behind him. As Kai turned, he was met with a hard greeting from his opponent.

"Shin Shoryuken!" cried Ryu as he slammed one fist into Kai's gut, then the other. After a second to pause, with his first fist, he delivered a dragon punch, sending Kai far and into a nearby pond.

"A pond! Wait. I know this place. It's where I first met Scott. Scott!?"

"Only in appearance, Ryu. Only in appearance."

Ryu didn't need to be told, for he knew who it was (or what it was, anyway). There was the great stone bridge with it's arc, over-looking the water. There is the wooden bridge, which he had fought on so long ago. It was also one of the few times he had actually paid attention to Sakura. Or was it? Perhaps he was impressed with the size and power of her partner, Bruce! One so large, powerful, and smart. It would indeed be a worthy challenge. He began to play the fight up in his head. The damage done by his massive foe would make a direct assault on him suicidal. It also took several hits to knock him away, as he was near-impossible to flinch. The heat of...wait, he didn't have anything to create heat. He opened his eyes, and was met with a fireball in his face. As he stumbled, he was lifted off his feet by an equally powerful ball.

"You are getting careless, Ryu. That was a very strong move, and I have never felt a human do a move with such power. However, it isn't enough to get the job done. Are you getting overconfident? Your pal Ken said you never get overconfident. Perhaps you were thinking of the girl you had saved from Rain?" Kai inquired.

Sakura?! She had just had her fight, and he wasn't there, even though he had promised to be there for her. This isn't good. If he got through this one, she'd probably kill him.

Kai then picked up what appeared to be a skull, and threw it at Ryu. Shocked at what it was, all he could do was block, and watch as it bounced off of him. What type of create had a skull THAT large. As he let down his guard to try and prepare for the next move, Kai picked it up, and threw it again. This time, it landed closer to Ryu. Ryu then threw it (though with some uneasiness). Kai simply side-stepped, and hit Ryu with a huge combo. This time, Ryu went for a swim. As he got out, Kai began to rush in for another combo.

"Shinku-tatsu-maki-senpu-kyaku!" as a storm formed around Ryu, causing a tremendous vacuum to form around Ryu.

Kai was sucked in, and hit so fast and hard, that he was out before the move had finished.

"Shinku-tatsu-maki-senpu-kyaku! Winner of Fight 7, Round 1, Ryu!"

"Hey, Ryu! Good fight!"

"Thanks, Ken. Maybe our match will come soon."

"When it does, it'll be THE FIGHT OF ALL TIMES!"

"What about these dark-halves? They could prove even deadlier than our own fight. I've heard that XSakura killed her foe, and enjoyed it! Imagine, that darkness lurks within her. It makes my blood freeze! Have you given any thought as to what your dark-half may be like?"

"Um. well...look! It's Sean, and he looks bummed. Let's see what's eating him."

"Safe again, Ken."

"It comes with the good looks."

"Hey, Sean! How is one of my favorite students? Why are you so glum? What's wrong?"

Sean did not answer them, for he could not hear them. His mind was off in a world onto itself. He was at that very moment trying to figure out how to break the news to Ryu, and it was not until Ken tapped him on the shoulder did he know they were there. At the first touch, Sean fell over, hitting his head hard. The two friends rushed to help him up.

"So, Sean, would you like to tell us what's ripping you..."

Before Ryu could finish, Sean said in a dazed voice, "I'm sorry, Ryu, it's Sakura."

Too filled with concern for her, he let go of Sean, and he fell on Ken like a ton of bricks.

"Sean, what's wrong with her?"

"She wound up in a DKO for her fight. Since Ryu was busy with his match, I watched. I then helped her to her, ah, room. She thanked me. I knew she was holding something back, but before I could ask anything, she collapsed! I rushed to her side--I feared the worst. I pleaded for her to get back up. Then, the BIG A-O appeared, and in a voice that sounded like my mom, told me that she had been through the hardest fight of her life--up to this point, and that she would live. Man, A-O FREAKS ME! He used my mom's voice, healed Ryu that time, and what did he mean by--up to this point?"

"I don't know, Sean. But let's hope that for both their sakes, they can pull through this."

"So, the big movie star comes to fight, eh?"

"Do not think that just because you enforce the law, you are the law. Here, only the strong survive. The law of nature resides."

"I don't know where you idiots come up with that load of trash, but it ain't gonna cut it. Things like this are done for a reason. If not, then somebody like Shao Khan comes and wipes out all life. This is how it'll be! You don't like it, drop dead! As for your babbling, that sounds like something from a B-Grade movie! Reminds me of another guy I know who is in movies."

"You compare me to that second-rate!? No mercy!"

"Nope, just me and another star with an ego, and absolutely no talent!"

Fei Long rushed in, and hit Stryker with three fast and hard hits, sending him to the ground.

"It's like I said, you don't fight the law! You're told what to do, and if you don't like it, you're going to get busted up for it."

"Let's see how you bust this," and Fei Long hit Stryker with his Dragon kick.

"Time for a little hard-play!" said Stryker as he whipped out his night-stick, and tripped Fei Long.

As he got up, he was then thrown into a balcony, across from which he saw his pets.

"Woah! That must have been some hit. Even I'm starting to hallucinate! I see a phoenix, and things I don't even know how to describe. Something looking like a cross between a dragon and a lizard of some kind."

"How did we get back to my home?"

To both the men's surprise, one of the 'dragons' Stryker described turned to them and answered Fei Long's question.

"It is your host who has brought you here. Like the others, I give you a change of scenery."

If I hadn't already seen all of the wired thing this Alpha-Omega could do, I think I'd die of shock, Stryker thought to himself.

"You want to fight using weapons?! Fine! I might as well join the fun!" bellowed an enraged Fei Long as he withdrew his nunchucks and started swinging them like a berserk animal.

That may not have been a smart move. These big-shot stars usually have a HELL of a temper. What's worse, he seems to be able to do something about it.

He was stopped in mid thought as he was hit across the face by a wild-shot. Fei Long then used his Phoenix kick, frying Stryker. As Stryker got up, he was met by a Super Rekka Ken. He was pummeled by what felt like a wild demon, which may have been what he had unleashed. Helpless, he fell. Fei Long was upon him, repeatedly bashing Stryker with his weapon. Stryker had now been knocked out, and Fei Long was now fueled only by his rage.

"ENOUGH!" You have won Fei Long. As you were!" Fei Long hesitated, stopped, and looked at his bloody foe.

He then left, realizing what he had done. He had to go and clear his head. His demon had become too strong. If it didn't get it controlled soon, he could wind up killing somebody. He shivered at the thought.

"So, Jimmy, what's eating you? Oh, guess that's a bad choice of words. Perhaps I had better ask, 'What's up doc?'"

"Hank!"

"Glad to see you remember an old friend. It touches me deeply. But alas..."

"Cut the quotes! How'd you get here!"

With a faint glow emitting from his eyes, he replied, "Hank isn't actually here, only his image. I also suggest that both of you be careful in this Pit. Reptile knows of the danger, for this is where he'd meet his challengers. I figured this would be a good place for him to..."

"COME HERE!"

Blanka was speared in his shoulder, and toward his opponent. He was quickly uppercutted by Reptile. It took Blanka little time to realize that his foe wanted to end the fight as fast as possible, because he was about to land on a spike. It was only by a miracle that his animal instinct took over and let him flip so as to land away from the spike. However, as soon as he landed, he was knocked off his feet by Reptile's slide. Again, he attempted to rise, and was then frozen in place by an ice-blast from Reptile.

Reptile grabbed Blanka, and flipped him into the air, teleported, and smashed his face into Blanka's face. As Blanka rose, Reptile threw out anohter hook. Blanka crouched down, and then rumbled across the ground, the spear missing him entirely. Just as Reptile realed it back, Blanka crashed into him, hitting him repeatedly with his beastly assault. He shot up, flipped, and landed on his feet. He just blocked a slide, to leap onto Reptile, a vicously bite into his neck.

"Gauuh!" Blanka groaned, as the taste of Reptiles blood tasted like, well, a reptile's. As he tried to clean the taste from his mouth, he was frozen in a blast of ice.

"Look at how helpless you are, just like a caged animal. Now, you die like the freak you are. What the Hell!?"

(NOT A GOOD THING TO SAY!) In his anger at the insults, Blanka's electricity melted the ice, and he was zapped by his own bolt. However, Reptile was also zapped by a stray bolt. Blanka, being used to the bolts, soon recovered. Reptile would not, as he had landed upon a spike.

Blanka turned away in horror. He couldn't believe what he had done.

"Winner of Fight 9, Round 1, Blanka."

He had vowed to never take a life (except Bison's). The beast was now running rampage inside.

"Ah, so you are the Shaolin Fighting monk and Mortal Kombat Champ, Liu Kang. Your rep is as large as our star, Ryu. Too bad the two of you didn't fight. It would make an interesting match!"

"The fates have chosen us to meet instead. Perhaps in the future, Ryu and I shall fight."

"It's a large world, or whatever, and the possibilities are endless. Let's do it!"

Charlie started off with a Sonic Barrage, wanting to end it quickly to get to Bison. However, Liu Kang was prepared, and dodged the main wave of the assault, though he was caught by a stray. Charlie tried to follow up with a Cross-fire Blitz, but Liu Kang blocked it all. He then pounded Charlie with a heavy 7-hit kombo, driving Charlie to the ground. As Charlie got up, Liu Kang hit him with the same kombo again. This time, Charlie toppled over a throne.

"By the elder gods! How did we arrive in the Throne Room!"

"It was I, Liu Kang!"

"A Shaolin monk? But you were all dead! I saw it."

"Yes, they are. I, however am much more than them. I'm your host for this fight."

Liu Kang was starting to drift in thought, when he saw that Charlie was rushing him. Quickly, he yelled what seemed to be a bunch of gibber as he went into a Bike Kick. However, Charlie blocked it, and as he bounced back, he was hit twice by a hard Flash Kick from Charlie. Charlie leapt toward Liu Kang to go for a finish, but Liu Kang leapt up and hit him with a fireball. Just as he was about to hit the ground, Charlie was met by a Fly Kick from Liu Kang.

He's real good! I've never seen anyone able to do that, that fast. This won't be as easy as I had hoped. He seemed to be able to control his action, even in mid air!

As he got up, he shot a Sonic Boom at Liu Kang. He ducked, and hit Charlie in the legs with his own fireball. Before he could recover, he was pounded by Liu Kang's Bike Kick. Once again, Liu Kang dashed in using the same combo on Charlie. (Suffice to say, this isn't going Charlie's way.)

Liu Kang moved in, cautiously, making sure that he wouldn't be caught off guard. Sometimes, it is best to strike quick and hard. As Liu Kang was near Charlie, he shot up and delivered a long series of flip kicks; "Somersault Justice!"

As Liu Kang got up, he was hit by the Somersault Justice a second time. Now, Charlie was gaining momentum and the fight was turning in his favor.

Charlie and Liu Kang looked at each other intently, almost as if they were attempting to establish a sort of mental connection with the other. Each was impressed with his opponent and both are worthy challengers. Liu Kang is the MK Champion and a respected fighting monk. Charlie's a former Olympic Free-Style Martial Arts gold medal winner, and tied with Guile as the top man in the Special Forces (the other being Guile). Each was wondering as to how to get the upper hand and win the fight.

Like a few of the previous fights, they had each tried for a relatively fast end. However, it has proven to be anything but easy for both of these men, as they have now learned. Each of them are bruised over from their assaults. Charlie's nose is bloody, and it drips from his nose freely. Liu Kang, on the other hand, has a bloody mouth, the result of being kicked there so many times by Charlie's Somersault Justice. Their breathing was heavy, and they had nearly stopped, when they realized that they were breathing at the same pace, tone, and number of times. It was spooky.

Since the momentum seemed to be on Charlie's side, he decided to rush in and try some hand to hand tactics. Unfortunately, Liu Kang was as rested as Charlie. Charlie was knocked back by a series of high and low fireballs. Finally, for the finish, Liu Kang knocked Charlie with his Fly Kick though the door, and out into the entrance of the throne room.

"Outstanding! Winner of Fight 9, Round 1, Liu Kang!"

"Charlie! Charlie! Are you all right? Talk to me, buddy!"

A voice spoke quietly in his head, assuring Guile that his friend was still alive, and that he had only been knocked out from the fight. Charlie would live.

"Oh, Liu Kang!" cried Kitana as she ran up to him, "You won! You're still alive! I'm so glad!"

For a moment, he was beside himself; Kitana had never acted like this. He asked her, but she replied that she'd tell him later. She had to see Sindel to make sure she was ok...

Liu Kang sat on his "bed," and was attempting to use deep meditation to help him block out the pains from his fight with his powerful foe. He was grateful that he was able to get through in one piece, considering who he had just fought. But that was not what he needed to put his thoughts toward. No, he needed to totally clear his head in order to get the best possible results.

Now, a few hours had passed, and he had partially succeeded in his goal, but it would take him much longer to fully recover, and he wasn't sure if he would be given the needed time to recover. Then, there was a gentle rap at his "door," and he sprung to his feet, and nearly fell flat on his face, for he had hit a part that still ached. He quickly regained his balance, and approached the "door." From the aura, he could tell instantly who it was.

"Hello, Kitana!" he said energetically to try and hide his pain, "What brings you here? What may I do for the lovely...Kitana?"

"Liu Kang, may I please come in?" the graveness in her voice instantly killed his happiness, and brought a few of his pains back.

"Kitana, what's the matter? You seem like someone you love died. Either that, or you've seen a ghost."

"Both, I'm afraid. It's my mother, Queen Sindel. Liu Kang, I'm so worried about her. During the fight, before we came here, she was nearly set to kill me! Then, Subzero froze her legs, and she fell. I'm not sure who suffered more from that, her or me. Anyway, I told her to look deep into my eyes; and she seemed to know me. Now, she doesn't recall any of it. I'm frightened. What can I do to help my mother? Can you tell me anything at all. Has anything like this EVER like this occurred on Earth!" cried Kitana.

What indeed can be done?

"One doesn't need a costume to be a ninja, Subzero."

"I'm not referring to the costume, I'm referring to the style. I have never seen a ninja style like that, ever."

"A Style is not something handed down, but something created."

"That sounds like something an old man would say."

"Do you have a problem with that!?"

"None. It just doesn't seem very, enlightening."

That was all Guy could take. It was bad enough that Subzero questioned his style, but to question his master was more than he could bare.

Subzero tried to stop Guy by flipping backwards and leaving an ice clone in his place. Guy was too smart, and easily leapt over it. He then was in reach over Subzero, and gave him a demonstration of his newest move, a short, yet strong fireball.

Subzero went crashing through a corner stand that had not been there moments ago.

"Owww! Where did this come from? It's a regular pain!"

"You are in the little neighborhood of a friend of Guy's. Guy calls him 'grasshopper.' You two go on with the match, I'll fix this," replied a young woman.

When Guy saw who it was, he couldn't believe it. It was Rena! No, there was a power so strong emitting from "her," it could only be the A-O.

That did get him to start thinking about his Rena, back home.

Oh, Rena! We just haven't had time to get together. I go off for a training journey, but I hear you had been kidnaped, along with your father. I'm glad my friends Haggar, Carlos, and Maki were able to get you back safely. It was a long while before we were both finally able to put it past us.

Later, it was the arrival of that new gang. They took a lot of effort for us to defeat, and it took a lot of time away from you and me. When it was finally over, we had finally set a date to be married.

Now, there's this load of crap! I'm not only fighting to save our beloved Metro City or even the Earth, but if I'm guessing this right, ALL CREATIONS!

I know it may seem a little selfish, but what about us! We've been through so much together, yet we haven't really had much time to actually be together. I've heard that there's already been at least one death here. If I die, Rena...

*Brief intermission: Somewhere on Earth.*

"Don't worry, Rena! I'm sure that wherever Guy is, he'll be ok!"

"You're a good girl, Maki. Thank you!"

"That may be, but that isn't telling us where my best friend is! I'm going out to some places and seeing what I can find."

"No, Cody! Maki's right. He'll be ok! Besides, you promised Jessica that you wouldn't fight anymore."

"This is different! I need to find out what happened to Guy!" and without waiting, he burst open the door, out into the stormy night, and into trouble.

"That man is so stubborn. I don't see how Jessica can put up with him! Rena?"

"I thought I heard Guy..."

*End intermission (I said it'd be brief).*

"I won't die without a fight!"

"What the..."

But Guy had grabbed Subzero, and looked at him malevolently. Then, there was a flash of light; Guy repeatedly hit Subzero with a barrage of punches. Such power, such speed, yet such anger. Why? Then, Subzero was hit by an even stronger fireball, flooring him.

Thinking it was over, as Subzero was covered in blood and most of his uniform was ripped, Guy turned away to focus his attention elsewhere. He had also suffered heavy wounds, and now was the time to let them heal before his next move.

IMPOSSIBLE! He felt his opponent arise, and make ready for an attack. Instantly, he was frozen like a statue.

Guy was pummeled by a series of hits. Each time he'd try and get up, he'd either be hit by an ice blast, slip on an ice puddle, or hit a clone. Each time, he was pummeled harder and harder. Finally, he could take no more, and he keeled over, loosing much blood from the attacks.

"Winner of Fight 11, Round 1, Subzero!"

Later, when Guy came to, he flinched at the amount of pain he was in. He must not have been out too long, because the A-O said it shouldn't take long for one to recover in these places...and who brought him here?

"Glad you're awake. It seems that some one got some one mad at them, real mad."

"Rose?"

"Rest, Guy. You've been though a lot."

"Thanks."

"Sleep now."

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MKvSF
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