Chapter 6:

Everyone looked upon Chun Li and Ryu laying there in the commons room dreaming of things they would never want to wake from. Ken's hopes were held high for his best friends.

In Chun Li's dream state…

A few years had passed in Chun Li's dream state and her relationship with Ken had become very serious.

"Three years today!" Chun Li exclaimed, leaning over Ken who was sitting down at a desk in his house in Hong Kong.

"Three years? Is that today?" Ken replied knowing very well what day it was. Chun Li put her hands on her hips and made a face as Ken looked back at her. "You know I can't resist you when you make that face." Ken got up from his desk and picked up Chun Li to give her a big hug. "Happy anniversary!"

"That's more like it!" Chun Li said and kissed Ken. He put her down. "I know you have something planned for tonight, you never miss any chance to spoil me, which is totally not necessary by the way! I'm just fine with dinner and a movie or even a walk…heck, even a spar!"

"No way! Ken Masters never lets the woman he loves have just an ordinary anniversary celebration! She must be fine dined, ordered extravagant clothes, she must have all the best!" he declared.

"Alright, money bags, calm yourself. I don't want to do anything extravagant tonight. Let's just take a walk in Victoria Park and grab some food to go."

"You know, there are many girls I've dated that want fancy jewelry or expensive hotels, but you want to take a walk?" Ken questioned.

"Yes! Slow things down a little," Chun Li paused, then continued in a stern voice, "And hear this…don't compare me to other girls!" Quickly, she jumped up and kicked for Ken's head but with his quick reflexes, he was able to dodge her surprise attack. He backed away and she came at him again this time with agile punches to his abdomen and swift movements reacting to his feedback. Ken caught her punch and brought her in close and kissed her. "You jerk, I was on a roll!" Ken laughed at her.

"I have to tease you a little bit! Otherwise, you will think I'm getting soft," he said. "So, about that walk in the park…"

Thirty minutes later Chun and Ken were walking through Victoria Park. She enjoyed seeing all the other people around and enjoyed things Ken got for her from foods stands. They walked along hand in hand and came to a beautiful fountain. They sat down on a bench to eat their food.

"This is so nice. I love talking these walks in the park," Chun Li said. She looked around and a warm feeling came over her. She remembered the many times she and her father came there for walks and during times when she was younger working as a tour guide. She cuddled up close to the strong and muscular arm next to her, put her arm around it and rested her head on a soft shoulder. "Oh, Ryu, isn't this night perfect?" Ken quickly looked down at Chun Li.

"What did you just say?" He backed up a little.

"I said this was a perfect night. Why are you making that face?" Chun Li asked.

"You just called me Ryu!"

"Ryu? What are you talking about?" Chun Li did not realize the mistake she made.

"You called me Ryu! Why in the world would you call me that?" Ken pressed her. Chun Li stopped and thought for a moment, she felt hot, and a memory of having an argument with Ryu by the fountain came into her consciousness. She was confused, she closed her eyes and tried sorting her thoughts. "Chun Li! Hello!" Ken said. Chun Li opened her eyes and saw Ken was upset, she quickly thought of an excuse.

"I'm sorry," she stammered, "I…I was thinking about a tournament I was in and I fought against Ryu."

"Even on our date you think about fighting?" Ken smiled, "I'll have to think of another way to keep other men and fighting off your mind." Ken leaned in and tried kissing Chun Li. She was hesitant but did not want to alarm Ken of her confused feelings. She searched her memories. What was that memory with Ryu? Did I come here with before with him? Why does it seem like I was upset about something in my memory? Chun Li continued to ponder the argument in her memory. It felt real, yet she did not recall it happening, as if it were some kind of dream. It must have been some stupid dream. She shrugged it off and continued her date happily with Ken.

In Ryu's dream state…

Ryu was back at Master Gouken's dojo. It was run down and looked like nobody had been there for years. He was there to pay his respects to him. He kneeled to the ground and tears began to flow from his eyes. I'm sorry, Master! I wish I could have been there to protect you. I wish I was stronger to defeat the evil demon who took you away from this world. Ryu heard a noise come from the house. He looked up and saw a young Ken running toward him. Ryu looked down, he saw he was a teenager again. He was perplexed at this sight because when he took another look around, the house was in perfect condition and life seemed to emanate from all around. Ken continued running toward Ryu and tackled him.

"Hey, all this fighting has got you looking like an airhead, Ryu!" Ken laughed and gave him a noogie.

"Hey! Cut that out!" Ryu protested. He flipped Ken over and got out of the head lock. From inside the house, Ryu heard a familiar voice.

"Boys! Go down to the river to fetch some water before breakfast." Master Gouken said.

"Yes, sensei!" Ken replied compliantly. Ryu still wondered if he was having a flashback or if what he was seeing was really true. "Hey, Ryu!" Ken said to him, "Master wants us to go get water. Last one there has to do 100 finger pushups." He sped off in the direction of the well.

"Ryu! Did you not hear my request?" Master Gouken said. It filled Ryu's heart to see him there alive. He suddenly forgot everything else and let the reality around him sink in.

"Yes, sensei! I heard you." Ryu sped off in the direction that Ken went.

In the commons room…

"Come on, Menat! You have to keep trying!" Cammy urged her.

"I am doing my best. This is strong psycho power. I got through a little bit to Chun Li, but Ryu is even harder to reach." Menat said. "He must feel very strongly about something from his past. His mind blocked by something."

"My buddy is no weakling. He'll pull through! He's just gotta!" Ken said.

Back in Chun Li's dream…

Chun Li, Ken, Dorai, and Fei Long were all at Disneyland in Hong Kong. Ken wanted to give Chun Li the best experience she could have for her birthday. He bought her balloons, got the best reservations, got tickets for the best seats for all the shows and all the park food she could want.

"Best birthday ever!" Chun Li smiled as she took a picture with Mickey Mouse and his friends. "We still have to see the princesses, visit the gift shop, and get souvenirs for all the workers in the dojo!"

Dorai leaned over to Ken, "I know your wallet is endless but are you sure you can afford my daughter with her Disney obsession?"

"Maybe I should look in Disney stock or buy some of the company myself," Ken said jokingly.

"You should have seen her when I took her to Japan to the Ghibli museum…" Dorai said.

"I see you guys whispering over there!" Chun Li said, "And just for that, I'm going into another gift shop!" All three men groaned in unison. Chun Li went into a princess themed shop and began to look all around. As she was looking at themed Minnie Ears, she saw a familiar face looking at some other things in the shop. I know that face…but where do I know it from? She watched the man as he looked around the shop, there was something recognizable about the red bandana across his forehead. Ryu! That's Ryu! Suddenly, Ken came into the shop.

"Hey Chun Li, have you found anything you liked?" Ken asked. Chun Li turned her attention to Ken and then looked back.

"There was someone here I knew," she looked around the store.

"You saw someone you know?" he asked. Chun Li was puzzled. "Come on, let's get going. Your dad and Fei Long are waiting for us." The two left the store.

Later that night, Chun Li, her father, and Fei Long was in a reserved guest area waiting for a show to start. "Where the heck is Ken? He's supposed to meet us here."

"I'm sure he'll be back soon, sweetheart," Dorai said. "He probably got caught in the crowd. No need to worry."

"Hey look, the show is about to start!" Fei Long said. Music began and everyone looked upon the princess castle in its grandeur. Another 15 minutes went by and Ken still had not met with the rest of the group. The show is almost over, where is he? Chun Li thought. All the Disney princesses and their princes had come out at the end of the show and they waved and blew kisses to the crowd. Mickey finally came out and he had a microphone in his hand.

In his high pitched happy voice he said, "Hello everyone, our show is almost over but there is one bit of magic we have saved for this last bit. I have another prince here who is looking for his lost princess in the crowd! Prince Ken, come to the mic." Ken emerged from the castle and he was dressed in an outfit a prince would wear. Chun Li's mouth dropped.

"Fei Long! Is that Ken?! What in the world is he doing up there!?" Chun Li said in complete shock.

"Thank you, Mickey! Somewhere out in this crowd is my princess. I have been waiting for her all my life. She is beautiful, she brightens my darkest days, I love her for who she is and the person I have become because of her presence in my life. I want to take the next step in life with her."

"Hey Ken! Whaddya say we get this lucky lady up here on this stage? How about it everybody!?" Mickey asked the crowd. The crowd cheered and hollered for the mystery girl to get up on the stage.

"Go on, Chun Li. Get up there!" Dorai pushed her to the stage stairs. Chun Li walked up the stage where Ken was and he held out his hand for hers. The crowd watching clapped their hands.

"Here she is, everyone!" Ken began and then he turned to look Chun Li in the eyes. "Chun Li…we have known each other for some time now and you mean the world to me. You are everything I could ever want and everything I could ever dream about. I want to share this life with you. So…" Ken got down on one knee, "will you do me the greatest honor…of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes! Of course I will!" Chun Li bent down and she hugged and kissed Ken. She was overjoyed and ecstatic. As she was hugging him a thought came into her mind. She recalled being proposed to, in Victoria Park, but the memory faded away by her happiness of Ken's proposal. Dorai and Fei Long joined them on the stage and congratulated them.

Back in the commons room…

Menat was focusing all her energy on Chun Li. Her hands were placed on her head and she suddenly felt something that jolted her away from Chun Li.

"No!" Menat yelled. "Chun Li is letting herself go deeper into her dream. This is exactly what Bison wants."

"Oh, bollocks!" Cammy was angered at her inability to help her best friend. "She's a sitting duck."

Eliza held onto Ken tightly, "Ken, I'm so afraid for Chun Li and Ryu." She buried her head in his chest and cried.

Gen clenched his fists, he was very upset. He looked around, he felt a strong presence in the air. Bison! That son of a bitch is close by. He walked out of the room and down a dim lit hall. Where are you? As Gen continued trying to get closer to the sensed presence, he came to a dead end in the hall. The presence that felt ominous to him changed into something warm, something that was familiar. It was then that a figure stood before him. Gen's eyes opened wide and he was unable to speak. A tear fell from his eye…

To be continued…