Netherrealm uppercutted an enemy, his fist coated in black and violet fire. Then with a dark, flaming slash of his wakizashi. The Ms. Clyde turned into pixels. IF cut apart a Pixelvader that tried to tackle him from behind.
"That's one that ya owe me," IF said with a smirk. "Hmph, I'd say that we're even," Netherrealm replied, jumping backwards into a pillar of fire. Then kicking the last Pixelvader that tried to ambush IF. He threw a fireball at it, burning it alive.
IF frowned at him, and he shrugged. "Well, now that I have a chance to look around, this place is huge," Neptune commented as the four continued their underground trek. "We're lucky we didn't get lost running around," Compa replied.
"You came here before, right? Mind filling me in with some details?" IF asked, and Neptune explained the story so far. "Nep falls, loses memories, Histoire, Key Fragments, that's all so random," IF said. "Heh, well shoot, thanks," Neptune rubbed the back of her head with a bashful smile.
"I wasn't praising you," IF sighed. "Hey Iffy, look at this," Neptune said, her attention on something else. It's an object hanging on the wall. She picked it up and showed it to the rest of the party.
"It looks like a disc Nep," IF said. "Wait, I noticed just now, but is Nep...me?" Neptune asked. "Is there anyone else here with 'Nep' in their name?" Netherrealm asked rhetorically. Neptune stuck her tongue at him in response.
"You named me Iffy, so why not? Going back, what's this disc doing here?" IF asked once more. "Dunno, this place looks like were we first fought Goroo," Neptune replied and IF raised an eyebrow.
"Hanging on the wall? This disc?" IF asked, inspecting the disk, making sure she wasn't hallucinating. "What?! Iffy, you don't believe me? After all that we've been through..." Neptune said, betrayal laced in her voice. "You're so horrible not believing in Nep-Nep," Compa said, like a disappointed mother.
"I know your name makes you question everything, but show me some love here!" Neptune hugged Netherrealm, pointing at an annoyed IF. Netherrealm pushed Neptune off of him. "Don't touch me," He scoffed.
"That's not what my name means. Besides, we only met a short while ago," IF rubbed her forehead at Neptune's childishness. Neptune then hugged IF's waist. Looking at her with the most adorable face ever. "Okay, okay, I got it, I believe you," IF patted Neptune's head tentatively.
Netherrealm shook his head. Suddenly a glow came from the disc. The disc is shining. Neptune bounced up, and backed away from IF. IF looked at the disc with a glare. "What's going on Iffy?!" Compa asked jumping into Netherrealm's arms.
"H-How should I know?! I've never seen anything like this before, either!" IF replied sharply. A beam of light shot from the disc. Landing in front of our unlikely heroes. The light became particles, pixels almost. Forming together to create a white silhouette of a monster.
With a mighty roar, the monster was fully formed. Announcing it's coming to the world. Yet, it wasn't just one monsters. Four of them, matching the amount of party members.
Three ghosts, Clydes floated around. A Super Otaku ran at Netherrealm. He gave it a flaming slash with his wakazashi, then kicked it away with a firey foot. Compa blocked a headbutt from a Clyde. Then, Neptune slashed it in half.
The second Clyde attempted to headbutt Netherrealm from behind. He flipped into a pillar of flame. Then, a second fire plume erupted from behind the Clyde. Netherrealm came out of it with an axe kick. Cleaving it to ashes.
Netherrealm looked at the remaining Clyde and the Super Otaku. He breathed in, spitting out fire at the ground. IF held out her hand, and a demon flame came from the ground. Combining their attacks, the both ended the fight easily.
"That was a suprise. You should've told me that monsters came from the discs," Neptune chastised IF. "How should I have known?! No one knows where the monsters come fro..." IF cut off her retort with an epiphany.
"Iffy? What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Neptune asked the adventurer. "So this is where the monsters come from! This is amazing!" IF looked at the disc from every angle. Netherrealm walked towards IF to take a look at the disc himself.
"Yessy! I think this is a super discovery!" Compa cheered. "Well that asks another question. Where do these discs come from?" Netherrealm asked, IF clicked her tongue in thought.
A laugh caught everyone's attention. "I came for my Guardian, but I didn't expect to meet you here, Neptune!" A sultry, and smarmy voice said from behind Neptune. Who turned around, along with the rest of the party.
"Who's there? What's with that old, melodramatic laugh...?" Neptune asked the person. "You're the most melodramatic person I know, but that's besides the point. Show yourself right now!" Netherrealm snarked and pointed his blade at the darkness.
"Nether-chan!" A familiar voice cried out in excitement. Kyoken, with her golden snakeskin jacket with only a black sports bra on. Black trousers and steel toed shoes. An eyepatch with a golden dog on it. A bowl cut with her bangs to the side.
The other woman, is an older lady. Lavender hair, blood colored eyes, a revealing witch outfit. Black lipstick, and a thorny vine motif. "Who are you calling old?! Mocking people as usual. You've not changed a bit," the witch sneered at Neptune.
Kyoken's insane smile was directed specifically at Netherrealm. "Is this a friend of yours?" Compa asked Neptune. She shivered at the sight of Kyoken. Remembering her near death experience because Kyoken kicked a doggo at her face in the Virtua Forest.
"Of course not. I don't know any old lady wearing this much goth makeup," Neptune replied to Compa. "That's good, I was about to doubt your choice of people," Compa pat Neptune on the back. Who didn't pick up on the veiled insult.
"Yeah, being friends with Netherrealm is one thing, but if you were friends with her as well. I would've put in my resignation," IF snickered. Netherrealm growled at the insult and kicked IF's shin. Who hissed and hopped up and down on one foot. Clutching her shin.
"Soooo, who are you two?" Neptune asked the two scary looking ladies. "Daww, Nether-chan didn't tell you who I am?" Kyoken asked. "Only the bare minimum, but I wanna know straight from the source," Neptune pointed at the smiling mad woman.
"Kyoken, and I'm here for Nether-chan!" She introduced herself fully. "Kyoken? Wait! You lead the organized crime family, Skoll-Hati, in Planeptune!" IF realizing who she is.
"Now enough about that! I gotcha now, Nether-chan!" Kyoken laughed as she charged foward. The woman behind Kyoken smirked and floated. As the party got into a battle stance.
Kyoken slid under a sword slash from Neptune. Then rolled to her feet, flipping over a jab from Compa's syringe. Then she pushed off IF's head like a springboard. Jumping towards Netherrealm. Netherrealm jumped over a dark blast from the mysterious lady.
Netherrealm and Kyoken passed by eachother in the air, nearly grazing shoulders. IF, Compa, and Neptune were behind Netherrealm looking at him and Kyoken in awe. While the mysterious lady was smirking from where Kyoken once was.
The Deadly Alliance
Kyoken, Mysterious Lady
Netherrealm and Kyoken landed behind eachother. A dark smokey aura leaked off Netherrealm for a second, as he changed to his Shadow Style. A blue firey aura flashed from Kyoken as she entered a fighting stance.
Netherrealm entered the shadows. Jumping out from behind Mysterious Lady. Who avoided a roundhouse. Kyoken poked Neptune in the eyes. Then threw her to the ground. Kyoken finished off Neptune by flipping, and dropping her knee onto Neptune's stomach.
Compa was blasted to the wall by the Mysterious Lady. Knocking her unconscious almost instantly. Netherrealm appeared out of the shadows and knelt next to Compa's barely breathing body. IF was grappled by Kyoken, and the Mysterious Lady slashed IF with her staff.
IF was dropped to the ground, unmoving. Neptune groaned as she got up. "Hey! These ladies are too strong for being early stage bosses! I call cheat!" Neptune accused Kyoken and the goth MILF.
"Damn it! They dish out too much damage for us!" Netherealm growled, holding IF and Compa's unconscious bodies on his shoulders. "Hmph, you're all scum to me. Go ahead, cry and weep like the losers you are," the Mysterious Lady taunted Netherrealm and Neptune.
Kyoken giggled and gave a toothy smile at Netherrealm. "Now, then... the Key Fragment Kyoken," The Mysterious Lady held out her hand. Kyoken carelessly tossed the item to the Mysterious Lady. Who caught it easily.
"No fair! We went through a lot to get that Key Fragment! Give it back!" Neptune whined. "Silence!" The Mysterious Lady barked, punching Neptune's stomach. Sending her gasping to her knees.
Netherrealm couldn't help, as he and Kyoken were too busy fighting. "Now, the time has finally come. I'll take your power Neptune!" The Mysterious Lady declared.
"Hahahahaha! Finally! The first step to my ambition has finally begun!" The Mysterious Lady laughed as she held out her hand, it glowed a, strangely soothing lavender.
Yet, Neptune was pushed out of the way. The Mysterious Lady held Netherrealm by the throat instead of Neptune. He gasped and choked as his ears began to ring. "Netty!" Neptune cried out.
He don't know why you did it. No, he knew exactly why. Netherrealm cared about them. They were so naive and optimistic, he couldn't help but give a shit. Not wanting these innocent people to suffer.
For the first time in years, Netherrealm finally had friends. Something to protect. Instead of taking out his anger on people in a ring. He has a reason to fight now.
The Mysterious Lady dropped him quickly. "You fucking asshole! I'll burn you alive and take your skull and spine as a trophy!" The Mysterious Lady had Netherrealm, aggressive and threatening mannerisms.
"Now, your soul is mine!" The Mysterious Lady snarled as she ran after Neptune. Who squealed and the two ran around in circles. Kyoken was watching in amusement. "Is this how I sound like? Wait! Neptune! She's trying to absorb your power!" Netherrealm warned Neptune.
"No problem! I'll tiger drop her if she tries!" Neptune gave a thumbs up. The Mysterious Lady stopped her pursuit. "ARRRGH! IT'S THAT FUCKING FAILED ABORTION'S FAULT!" The Mysterious Lady screamed in, well, Netherrealm's rage technically.
"She's stolen my power! And she doesn't know how to use it! This our chance!" Netherrealm told Neptune who nodded. "We're even now, and i'm not letting this chance get away!" Neptune exclaimed as she turned into Purple Heart.
Purple Heart and the Mysterious Lady became blurs. Clashing and causing seismic waves. Kyoken laughed and tackled Netherrealm Punching his face a few times. Before Netherrealm grabbed her face, and rolled over. Now he was on top, whaling on her.
The Mysterious Lady blocked a sword swing. Before headbutting Purple Heart. Then hitting her with the butt of the staff. Knocking her into the wall. Rocks fell from the ceiling of the cave. Cracks began to form along with floor with the deadly battle continuing.
Netherrealm threw a roped kunai at Kyoken. Who quickstepped out of the way. He then rushed in front of her. His shadow put Kyoken in a full nelson. He began to pummel her stomach. Before she kicked him away. Then broke out of his shadow. Kyoken ran behind Netherrealm. Putting him in a chokehold. Before cracking his neck.
Netherrealm fell to the floor, taking a healing item to get back up. Kyoken countered his punch with a backhand. The two continued to trade blows as the caves started to fall apart. "Netty!" Compa's voice called to Netherrealm. She shoulder charged Kyoken away from him. "Compa?!" Netherrealm exclaimed, surprised that she and IF are conscious again.
Neptune disarmed the Mysterious Lady and held her katana to her throat. "I'll take that," Purple Heart said firmly as she took back the Key Fragment. "Urgh...! Neptune...!" The Mysterious Lady snarled like a demon. Yet she's starting to regain composure.
"I have to ask you, but do you know me?" Purple Heart asked as she stepped back, but keeping her sword pointed at the Lady's chest. "Of course I do! I know you like the palm of my hand!" She replied, as the rage she absorbed from Netherrealm left her.
"Then tell me, who am I?" Purple Heart asked and the Lady raised a brow. "What are you talking about? Are you dizzy or something?" The Mysterious Lady asked sarcastically. Rubble was beginning to block off exits. Kyoken had ran off, deciding to fight another day. The shaking got harsher and harsher.
"Nep-Nep lost her memory. If you know anything about Nep-Nep, can you tell us?" Compa asked as Netherrealm, and IF followed Compa to Purple Heart's side. "Hahahahaha! You? Neptune? Lose your memory? This is golden!" The Mysterious Lady mocked Purple Heart.
"I was worried when I lost sight of you, but I see that luck is on my side!" The Mysterious Lady smiled triumphantly. She looked at Netherrealm, gave a thoughtful hum. "You, boy, where did you learn those moves? Along with that dragon on your back," The Mysterious Lady asked Netherrealm.
"From my fathers," he replied. "I knew those moves and that dragon looked familiar. They are derived from those two men I killed years ago," The Mysterious Lady said as Netherrealm's heart stopped for a second. "What?" he asked, and The Mysterious Lady gave a sickly sweet smile.
"You have my interest boy, I do hope to see you again. So I can make you my pet," She waved goodbye before floating away to a tunnel. Which rocks collapsed behind her. Preventing the four from pursuing her.
Netherrealm shakily breathed in, grabbing Purple Heart and Compa's hand. "IF! Hold onto me!" He yelled to the adventurer. She grabbed onto his sleeve. Then, he dragged all of them into the shadows.
And they all dropped from a dark portal. Onto the grass of the Virtua Forest. IF groaned as she sat up. She looked at Netherrealm. Who is looking solemnly at the sky. He found the person who killed his parents.
Netherrealm's head was enclosed into two pillowy like objects. Compa held his head to her bosom. For the first time in a long time. He shed a tear. Shivering as he melted into the hug. "It's okay Netty, we'll get the bad lady," Compa promised.
Neptune, now back to her normal form. Hugged Netherrealm as well. IF walked over to the group hug. Giving a one armed hug as well.
For the first time in a long time. Netherrealm felt safe, because he realized that he has friends. 'Thank you,' He said in his head. Unwilling to admit what he fully feels.
It's fine, they probably can pick up on it.