Chapter 14: Arrival at the South Pole

On the Boat

Ryu, Ken, Sakura and Blanka were on the boat, on their way to the Arctic. At night-time, Ryu was seen sitting at the top of the boat on his knees. Blanka was sleeping while Sakura and Ken looked at Ryu who looked troubled.

"Should we talk to him, he has sat there since he went on board. After you talked to him about the Pandora. He seems kind of... nervous." Sakura said worried.

"Ryu is just in a difficult struggle within himself. He is thinking about Akuma, and how he is supposed to defeat him. He did beat and kill master Gouken after all." Ken said.

"I hope he's okay. Maybe you should talk to him about it, I have to go check on the boat." Sakura said when she left the two martial artists alone.

Ken walked up to Ryu who was still sitting down and sat next to him.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Ken asked.

"It sure is, it's always beautiful to look at the dark night. You can see the stars shining everywhere." Ryu said.

"Yeah you're right, look there is the Lion right there." Ken said when he pointed at the sky.

"No Ken, that's a Capricorn." Ryu said smart

"Oh right, hahahaha, I was never that good in recognizing those figures. You were always better than me with those things." Ken said.

"Hahahaha." Ryu laughed.

"Hahahaha." Ken laughed.

"Hey Ryu, what's troubling you?" Ken asked.

Ryu then stopped laughing and had a serious look on his face.

"Ken, I'm worried about myself. I am having the feeling that I'm not strong enough to defeat Akuma yet." Ryu said worried.

"Ryu, you're one of the strongest people I know. You train day and night to become a true warrior, you can do this." Ken said.

"But my mind isn't with me this time. Master always told me that a true warrior thinks with the mind, and with his fists. When I face Akuma, I'm just worried that my mind will leave me right when I need it. Not to mention the Satsui No Hadou." Ryu said worried about himself.

"You just need to believe in yourself, your mind wouldn't just leave you, it's something you have to take care of yourself. Keep a straight head." Ken said understanding.

"Thanks Ken, you are right." Ryu said.

"Well now that it's settled, how about we get some good night sleep?" Ken asked.

"Of course, we need it when we reach the South Pole. Ken, one more thing, if I do lose myself by the Satsui No Hadou, please do whatever you can to stop me, just don't let me hurt Sakura, Blanka and you." Ryu pleaded to his friend.

"You got it buddy, good thing that I know what to do." Ken said friendly.

Then suddenly, Sakura walked out and approached them.

"Hey you guys, I just checked the map on the boat. We should arrive at the South Pole in just a couple of hours." Sakura said.

"Good, let's go to sleep." Ryu said when they all went inside.

The Helicopter to the South Pole

Back in the helicopter, Jin and the others were on their way to the Antarctic, to retrieve the Pandora box. Meanwhile, Jin completely focused his eyes on Lars and likewise. After a couple of minutes, Jin finally spoke up.

"Lars." Jin said.

"What is it?" Lars asked.

"When I was in that water tank, I felt a lightning surge coming from you." Jin questioned him.

"I wasn't able to do that, but after my training was done, I was able to do it with ease. It is also something that runs in the family." Lars said.

"And your uniform, it resembles my Mishima Zaibatsu army but different." Jin said.

"I changed it into a rebellion uniform, I was part of your army for a long time." Lars said.

"And your hair style, it looks very familiar. Just... who are you?" Jin asked.

"I'm Lars Alexandersson, son of Astrid Alexandersson and Heihachi Mishima." Lars said.

"What!" everybody yelled shocked.

"How is that possible, Heihachi Mishima is your father?" Jin asked.

"I don't remember much, only that I was just a little boy, and that Heihachi left my mother in Scandinavia after a mission he led." Lars said.

"So if you are Heihachi's son, then that means that you two are uncle and nephew?" Chun-Li asked.

"Looks like it." Lars said.

"Lars, how long have you known about this!?" Chun-Li asked him.

"I knew it all along, back then I was just someone blindly serving the Mishima Zaibatsu, but after Jin Kazama started this world war, I rebelled against them with my own army made out of rogue soldiers." Lars explained.

"I see, so you are that rebel leader I heard about, I never got the name because they couldn't identify the leader." Jin said.

"But you look like you could be his brother. Lars how old are you?" Yang said.

"I'm 28 years old." Lars responded.

"Jin, how old are you?" Yang asked Jin.

"22 years old." Jin said.

"Only 6 years older, yet Lars is basically your uncle." Yang said shocked.

"One more thing. The Mishima Family hate each other, they betray and will do everything to kill one another. Why do you intend on helping me?" Jin asked.

"I don't know the family that much... or not at all, so I don't know what to think yet. I wasn't planning on helping out at all, if it were me, I would have locked you up a long time ago if I had the chance. Chun-Li convinced me that you had... good intentions. I still have my doubts about you but I owe Chun-Li for helping me out, and the war you started, it needs to be stopped." Lars said.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." Jin said with no fear.

"What!" Lars said when he stood up.

"I can't end it... yet. There is still one thing I have to do, to save the world." Jin said.

"Save the world? The world is going to be destroyed, after this Pandora stuff, you have to end it. Or I'll stop you right where you stand!" Lars threatened him.

"I doubt that you can lay a finger on me." Jin said when he puts his arms crossed

"What was that!" Lars said as he came closer.

Then Chun-Li restrained him from going any further.

"Wow, wow take it easy. Don't start a fight now. He'll end all of this Pandora stuff, right?" Chun-Li asked as she looked at him.

"Hm..." Jin said when he nobs with his shoulders up and arms still crossed.

"Jin?" Chun-Li said worried.

"I'll see what I do about it." Jin said untrustworthy.

"Hmmmm..." Chun-Li said as she got closer to Lars. "Just... let's keep an eye on him."

"We will." Lars said as he calmed down and sat on his chair again.

After a couple of hours, Cammy awoke and looked around her.

"Huh... what happened all of a sudden?" Cammy asked confused.

"Oh Cammy, you're awake, good." Chun-Li said.

"Chun-Li. where am I?" Cammy asked.

"You're in my helicopter, are you feeling okay?" Lars asked.

"My head hurts, does someone know what happened to me?" Cammy asked.

"I can tell you what happened." Jin said.

"Jin Kazama!" Cammy said as she quickly rose up from the ground.

"Take it easy Cammy!" Lars said as he and Chun-Li tried to hold her tight.

"Let me go, why are you helping this criminal!" Cammy asked.

"Lars and I both have our reasons. Sometimes we are also wondering why we are helping, but this can end the war." Chun-Li said as Jin closed his eyes and leaned to the wall.

"Jin... when this is all over, will you end the war?" Cammy asked.

"Humph..." Jin grunted when he walked away.

"What's with him, does he really want the world to be destroyed by this war?" Cammy asked.

"Jin is... a complicated man. Sometimes you'll never know with him." Chun-Li said.

"Yeah, I can see that." Cammy said.

"Listen Cammy, why don't you help us out?" Lars asked her.

"Working with the enemy, no thank you." Cammy responded.

"Hmmm... And what if you just tag along with me, then you can keep an eye out for Jin if he does something wrong." Chun-Li asked her.

"I think that is acceptable." Cammy said.

The South Pole

After hours of sailing, Ryu, Ken, Sakura and Blanka arrived at the South Pole.

"Okay everybody, here, put on your jackets." Sakura said when she grabbed the jackets.

"No thank you Sakura, we don't need them." Ryu said.

"Are you sure? It's the South Pole you know, one of the coldest places in the world?" Sakura asked them.

"Yeah I'm sure. Ken and I can take the cold weather." Ryu said.

"Alright, then me and Jimmy-San will put them one, here you go Jimmy-San." Sakura said when she gave the jacket to Blanka.

"Thank you, it's very cold here. I hope I won't freeze to death." Blanka said.

"You won't Jimmy-San." Sakura said.

"Is everybody ready, let's go scout around the place, maybe we can find the box somewhere." Ken said.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Ryu said when they all left to scout around.

Arriving at the South Pole

Meanwhile, the helicopter arrived on the South Pole.

"Okay everybody, we are here, the South Pole, Antarctica." Lars said when the helicopter landed.

Everybody got out of the vehicle and looked around.

"So this is the South Pole, I'm almost there." Jin said.

"Wait, don't go everybody, I got something for when we get hungry. These are supplies I packed so that when something happens, we know what to do. Somebody has to carry it on his or her back." Lars said when he grabbed the backpack.

"Her? I'm not going to carry such a heavy bag. You men can carry it no problem." Chun-Li said when she, Cammy and Xiaoyu stepped back.

"Ugh fine, okay everybody let's pick someone who can carry it." Lars said.

"Let Hwoarang carry the bag." Yun said quickly.

"What, why me?" Hwoarang asked.

"Well you did say that you are the strongest in the group, so you're the best candidate to do this task. Show us your strength oh powerful one." Yun teased him.

"But I didn't say..." Hwoarang said but then Jin quickly spoke up.

"He's right you know, you always bragged to me about being the strongest opponent I will ever face." Jin said wisely with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

"This is something completely different!" Hwoarang said.

"Oh, so you're not strong at all, how unfortunate." Jin said.

"Hey, I'm very strong, and I can prove it with a fight!" Hwoarang said.

"No, you can't prove it at all, but if you carry the bag, you certainly can." Jin said teasing.

"No I can't, that'll prove nothing Kazama!" Hwoarang said.

"Yes, it will!" Jin said.

"No, it won't!" Hwoarang said.

"Then carry the bag!" Jin shouted.

"I will!" Hwoarang shouted unknowing what he just did.

"He said it himself." Jin said when he walked away

"But I... this... this is not fair!" Hwoarang said depressed.

"Too bad, you carry it, out of the question." Jin said.

"I.. I uhh... I." Hwoarang stuttered.

"Hwoarang, stop being a baby and just carry the bag, let those muscles do the hard work. Well... if you at least have them. Kind of on the small, don't you think?" Chun-Li said when she touched his bicep a little.

"Stop that, I have muscles and abs okay!" Hwoarang said as he pulls his arm away from her and mumbled depressed.

"Awh man, this is so unfair. Why does this have to happen to me. Fine, I'll carry them." Hwoarang said when he puts his hand in his pocket and kicked the snow.

He then picked up the bag and followed the others. Meanwhile somewhere far, Juri was hiding behind a hill and saw them walking, she then disappeared into thin air.

South Pole, Snow Hills

After hours of walking around the South Pole, Hwoarang got tired of carrying the bag and stopped walking as he was way behind the others almost crumbling from the heavy load.

"Ah, man that's heavy! Guys, can we take a break, I'm getting really tired with this thing on my back and we are walking for like 1 hour straight." Hwoarang asked tired.

"Maybe you're right, we have been walking for a long time. Sure let's take a break." Chun-Li said.

Right when Hwoarang tried to sit down, he heard a noise that was very, familiar to him.

"What is that obnoxious noise, and why am I having a déjà vu?" Hwoarang asked when he looked to the left and the right.

"Noise, I don't hear any noises. Are you sure it's not just your imagination?" Jin asked.

"Hmm, I don't know, but it sounds like... Wow!" Hwoarang yelled as he got kicked hardly in the back by Juri.

Hwoarang rolled away and landed face down in the snow. He then spat out the snow and looked at the person who attacked him in the back. Right in front of him stood Juri.

"Han!" Hwoarang said when he looked confused at her.

"Juri? How did she get here?" Cammy asked.

Juri then turned around to the others and her skin got all black with glowing signs over her whole body. She used her Engine, made a horizontal Fuhajin and pushed everybody away from him.

The others either blocked or slide away from Hwoarang, which left the two alone to face each other.

"Han, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Hwoarang asked shocked.

"I... want you all for myself..." Juri said sinister when she pointed at Hwoarang with her finger.

"You want me... eeww..." Hwoarang said from disgust.

"So that I can kill you!" Juri followed up to him.

"Yep, that pretty much proves it... Wait, what did you say?" Hwoarang asked.

"Kill... Redhead, kill him now!" Juri said zombie like.

"Kill me, what did I do to you? I thought we passed things up a while ago. And why are you all black and have tattoos over your body?" Hwoarang asked but Juri didn't answer him and looked behind her

Juri looked back at the others who ran up to her. The influence of the Pandora surrounded Juri's body as she released more of her overwhelming energy

"Stay away!" Juri yelled as she raises her right foot in the air and kicked the ground massively.

A huge earthquake is heard and a large crater is being created of it, trying to separate Hwoarang from the others.

"What massive power, what is that? Is that... Pandora?" Jin asked as he looked closer at her.

"Deeeh? How did you do that, you were not that strong the last time I saw you!" Hwoarang said as he looked down the crater.

Then Juri rushed him, jumped in the air and tried to give him a heel kick. Hwoarang blocked the heel kick with his arms crossed as a figure X but still received some damage.

"Wow, ouch, ouch, ouch ah! Man that hurts like a... huh?" Hwoarang said as he blew on his arms, shuffled it around and saw her coming with great speed.

She then tackled him and they both fell of a huge snow hill.

"Hwoarang!" Lars asked as everybody yelled at him.

"I'm fine I'm fine just... let me settle the score with her. Be back in a second... maybe." Hwoarang said.

When Hwoarang and Juri were on the ground again, they quickly stood up and kicked each other as they were struggling.

But because of the loud and massive sound of the kick, the sound wave caused a huge avalanche to be heard.

Juri then suddenly went back to normal as her black skin, red eyes and tattoos disappeared from her body.

"Where am... How the hell did I get here? I don't feel good, what's going on?" Juri asked but then Hwoarang grabbed her hand and ran away with her.

"You don't even... No time to explain, we have to run or we will get caught up in that avalanche Han!" Hwoarang said quickly while he was running while holding Juri's hand.

"Redhead?" Juri said as she started running too. "Is that avalanche coming closer to us!" Juri said.

"Look, a cave, run for it!" Hwoarang said as they both jumped into the snow cave.

The avalanche reached the cave and completely covered the entrance with snow and ice. Hwoarang and Juri both looked at the entrance that got blocked by the massive snow and ice.

They then realized that they were stuck in the snow cave with no way out.

"Well... damn it!" Hwoarang and Juri said as they looked at the entrance, then at each other with their eyebrows up and sighted deeply.