There Will Be Shadow
Although to do with Brawl, it is more based on the darker, live action parody of Brawl, "There Will Be Brawl." Hence, the title of the fanfic, partially. If you've not watched it, I urge you to do so, either before or after reading this. Remember, reviews loved!
Prologue: Blood and Shadows
I used to be somebody, you know. A true fighter, you understand. Now, I am a nobody. Traitor, they jeer at me from the dark; too soft I've gone, say the others. I've lost so much, yet gained little in return...my legs, my arm, my eye. They even destroyed my fucking levitation platform, goddamn it! I spent months creating that thing so I still had a shred of my old life. They even took that away from me. I truly am nothing; nothing but an old broken veteran who can't fight anymore.
I eventually, and rather painstakingly, crafted myself a new set of legs. But what use is walking on my creations when there's shit all to walk for in this dump? All the others do is jeer and jest now. I'm just a soft worthless traitor scumbag to them. A shadow in the darkest depths of night. Maybe I was better off an immobilised pile of crap in a cardboard box. That way, they'd have to find me, and I'd be ready and waiting with the Executioner in tow.
You know, I was starting to view my life that way, I really was. Maybe my life would be better. After all, the past was just a faded memory now; glory a mere product of intoxication. And pride...none of us fighters ever had pride. Pride was for foolhardy motherfuckers.
Bah. No use reminiscing about the past anymore. That life is gone, lost in the wastes of this city state with its spineless government. The old days are over; the dark days of new are about to unfold, and this city shall burn. Damned to hell, that I should see this day! There is no-one left to fight – no more fighters. Well...save me...but I cannot fight. Our state...is doomed. That is my view.
Then...then I saw her...
A scream. That's all it started with. One simple scream that was about to change my life forever...
I'd been running. I know not how long for, but it seemed to be for hours; yet in reality, probably only mere heartbeats. I was pretty certain that, despite my speed, I had not lost the assholes on my tail just yet. Good job I had a lot of stamina, as well as energy to burn. Surely, I'd lose those idiots sooner or later...
But I didn't. That was probably the worst part. Perhaps these bastards had inhuman endurance, much like myself. Skidding to a halt, I whipped out my trusty pistol from its holster on my right thigh. I was hoping it wouldn't come down to this, but seeing as it has, I was going to give them a pasting good and proper. I would show these amateurs that, suit or no suit, I wasn't going down easily. Hell, they'd have to drag me to the underworld kicking and screaming if they wanted to get me down there. Spinning, I surrounded myself with a whip made of pure plasma, smiling in a "bring it on" kind of way. Yes, this was going to be very entertaining.
"You're mine." I taunted softly to my aggressors, who were fast closing in on me in the darkness. I was very much looking forward to dealing with these jerks once and for all.
A human figure, with torn clothes and a generally messy look, leapt at me headfirst, his knuckle-duster adorned fists poised for my face. Extending the Plasma Whip from my Paralyzer, I lashed out at the human's wrist, catching him off-guard, before effortlessly throwing him aside. Then, before I knew it, I was surrounded by more figures. With a crack, I plasma whipped the pavement, to show them I was serious and I was only going to give them one warning to back off. Unfortunately, none of them took it. In my mind, I was sighing; etched on my features though, was a determined look. These guys were going to wish they had never set eyes on me. I would personally make sure of that.
I did fine at first, easily despatching the first few of them who dove at me. After that though, the fight began to change, and the first I knew about it was when I felt something slash across my back, which was followed by a sharp pain just under my left collar bone. Before I could comprehend what had been done to me, I was on the floor, breathless. I clutched at my shoulder; to my horror, my once blue hand was now red with blood. My blood. It wasn't long before a kick to my stomach sent me flying onto my back. I lay sprawled out; defenceless, staring at the bloodshot eyes of the first man I had thrown so effortlessly aside.
"Actually, you'll find that you're mine, lady." The foul breath of the street brawler poured a crude version of the taunt I had greeted him with over my face, choking me. My sapphire eyes widened in fear as I saw him raise an object high into the air. Just before he bought it back down, I caught the soft glint of a sharp blade in the fading moonlight. I was finished.
Uncharacteristically, compelled by female instinct, I screamed as loud as I could, before I felt a hard blow to the head and I began to black out. Just before I faded completely from the conscious world, I heard a new, strong voice from somewhere, but I couldn't decipher the words it was saying.
'Must...hold...on..!'
That was my last coherent thought before I finally lost my grip on the world around me; my mind stolen away by the black hand that was unconsciousness.