It was a beautiful spring day. The grass was as green as ever, the sky was clear and blue as the boundless sea. A quaint little orphanage filled with singing and laughing children was the only sound to be heard for miles on. It was once an old chapel, but nonetheless it was a quaint little structure, made of red brick, with a clock and a bell tower. Inside the children played and cheered. Not one of them ever had a sad face, but if they did it wasn't for very long.
That is except for one boy. This boy sat in front of the window. He sat there everyday, watching... waiting… for his hero to come back. That day was no different. Leslie was heartbroken to see him sitting there. He wouldn't play… he wouldn't laugh. He would only sit…and stare.
"Come on now" Said Leslie, "don't you want to have fun with the other kids." 'How could she ever understand' the boy thought, 'I'm the oldest one here. What fun is it to hang out with little kids? Besides all I want is for King to come back. Only he could ever understand me.' "No, that's alright" He said to her. She smiled softly and left him to himself. It had been close to a month and a half since King left for the tournament and just that long since he been in that spot. He'd only move if ever needed to eat or use the bathroom, but otherwise there he stayed. It was near lunchtime and he had started to feel hungry, when he saw a figure coming towards the orphanage. He was tall, muscular and dressed in a blue dress shirt, a red tie, white slacks with white suspenders, and … a jaguar mask?
"HE'S HERE!!! KING'S HOME, EVERYBODY!!!" All of the children turned to the window. It was true! King was home!
'Its good to be home.' thought King, as he stepped toward the small chapel. The bells began to sound loudly as though announcing his arrival to the world. As he marched proudly to the orphanage a swarm of happy children surrounded him. They all hugged him and laughed and welcomed their surrogate father. As he stood there looking down at them, patting them all on the head. And greeting each by their name.
Then the boy that he missed the most ran up to greet him. "King! I'm so glad you're here!" "I too am glad to be home." he looks about the children scanning their individual faces and looks back to his boy. " Where is your sister? I wanted to say hello to her as well, but she seems to be missing." With that question the children seemed to grow a bid sullen. The boy especially. "Didn't they tell you? While you were away, she was adopted." Kings heart sank at the sound of this. "She wanted to say goodbye first," the boy continued, "but they insisted on taking her home with them."
King felt the tears in his eyes well up but he held them back. "I'm happy for her. She finally has a family of her own." He looked ahead of him and motioned for the orphanage. "Come on kids. Let's go in now its time for lunch." At once all of the kids ran back into the orphanage…all but the boy. "Are you OK King?" King looked up at him, "Ill be fine. I just need some time to think." The boy understood and ran in to catch up with the others.
King wasn't OK. He wanted to see the girl once again. He wanted the chance to say goodbye. He wished that he hadn't gone to the tournament. But he knew that the girl had a family now and that she finally had the chance to have a mother and father of her own. Sure he missed her, but he wouldn't allow himself to go on moping about the one thing that he built the orphanage for in the first place. The only thing that made him sad was never being there to say goodbye.
"King!"
He looked up to see his boy.
"Come on! We're having stew! You want some?"
King smiled. "Sure thing kid"
With that he walked into the chapel to join the rest of the kids for lunch.
Two years had passed. With the money from the tournament King had rebuilt the orphanage into a log cabin house. He refurbished it with comfortable beds, soft chairs and couches, and a huge playroom filled with toys, 3 televisions, and 2 video game consoles for each television. He also had enough money to keep the kids very well fed.
He was watching the children play video games one night when he heard a knock at the door. 'I wonder who that could be?' he thought in a sarcastic tone. When he opened the door Armor King charged in. "..Come in" King said as he saw the dark one pass him. "You have missed a lot my friend" said Armor King. "What is it?" King asked in a more serious tone.
"Kazuya had tried to kill his father." King looked at him in bewilderment. "And that's not all. From what I've heard Haihachi is still alive and Kazuya is holding another Tournament of the Iron Fist."
King remembered Kazuya. He still remembered seeing his cold dark eyes staring into him. He shuddered at the thought.
Armor King looks at him holding another invitation in his hand. "You have once again been invited to go. Do you wish to join me?" King takes the paper and looks down at it. 'The last time I went I missed the adoption of one of my favorite children. Dare I do it again?' He ponders hard and long about it, but a hand on his shoulder breaks his concentration.
It was that of his boy, who was now 15 and still not adopted. He now had very little chance of being adopted now that he was past 13 years old, so he took it upon himself to help the staff with the other children. "Don't worry King. We can handle it."
With a sudden rush of relief coming over him he accepted the invite. "Good" said Armor King, "Pack your bags. We'll be leaving in two days."
The tournament seemed to get harder the second time around. All of his former opponents must have been training much harder. One of his hardest opponents was a cybernetic being by the name of Jack.
As King neared the ring he saw Jack lumber towards him. "What in the world is that thing?" He asked Armor. "That is Jack. A cyborg built for military purposes. They must be testing its skill out in the Tourney to see if its worth it's double AA's." King looks to Armor King. "And they allow him to fight?" Armor looks back. "If they allow a Raptor and a Kangaroo, then I'm not surprised." King gives a further confused look but figures that he's better off not knowing.
"Ready to commence battle mode. Prepare yourself human."
King looks at he walking trash compactor "Shall I count off?"
"As you wish."
King gets into his battle pose. "Ready?" The robot stand firm. "FIGHT!"
Jack lifts into the air. "What the...that thing can fly?" King asks in confusion. The large robot then lands on top of him crushing him under his weight. "Urrg, get off me!" he pushes the cyborg off of him, and jumps back to his feet. Then he grabs him and hoists him over his head. "My gosh you're heavy!" He throws him as best he can and charges towards him at full speed. The robot then suddenly starts to spark and electrocutes King the second he touches him.
"You are outdone human. My superior technological strength and cunning 300% more efficient." King slowly rises up from the ground. "I'm not down yet, Mr. Roboto. I'm not giving up until I can fight no more." "As you wish human." The cyborg then slams him on his left shoulder with a heavy swipe of its fist, then the right, and finally brings his fist up to pound the top of his head. However, King steps over to the right to evade his final blow and kicks it in its side. The borg crumples to the side of impact and king grabs it around the waist to flip it over. He lets out a deep groan and lifts it into the air and drops down to perform a piledriver.
The cyborg starts to get up but is met with a swift convict kick in the jaw and a leg sweep. The mechanical foe falls to the ground and King backs up to prepare for retaliation. It sparks a bit, then finally announces, "Transfer error... Mission is a failure... You…win."
King leaps into the air and lands in a crouching position. His arms before him and his hands like claws, he growls in celebration. However, little did he know his victory would be sided by tragedy.
A man runs to the side of the ring and whispers into Armor Kings ear. A look of disappointment and sadness washes over his face. King looks over in confusion. "What is it friend?" Armor looks over to him. "There is trouble at the orphanage. One of the children...they are in the hospital."
One couldn't possibly understand the pain King felt within his heart. The humiliation, the worry, the regret…no one could relate to the pain he was feeling right now. As he sat in the cool hospital room he held the small child's hand in his. One of the helpers at the orphanage stood beside him. "…He ...just…we didn't know…King I'm sorry." King said nothing he sat perfectly still, he only sat there staring at the little body lying on the bed.
The quiet in the room was cold and unsettling. The sound of metallic clanking started to approach their room. The door opened revealing the dark warrior himself. As h entered the room he looked down at King, then turned to the man with him. "I think it would be best if you left the room for a while." The helper nodded and headed out the door.
Armor King stood by Kings side. "They say he slipped out during dinner. He ran into the street without looking." Armor King looked upon his comrade. "I'm sorry. The pain must be horrible." King looked to the floor. "You have no idea." He whispered as he held back his tears. "I should have stayed here with him. I could have prevented this." All of a sudden the machines started to beep frantically. King's head shot up, "What…what's happening? What's going on." The doctors charged into the room. "Please sir you must leave." King stood up, "NO! TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!" Armor King placed his hand on Kings shoulder but King flung it off. "Come on, let these people do their work." Armor King said. With one last glare at the doctors, and a sigh of regret, King followed Armor King outside of the room.
They sat out in the lobby, awaiting the doctor's word on the small boy. Kings boy sat before him in silence, while Armor King stood at his side. When the doctor came in King nearly leaped out of his seat. "What's the word? How is he doing?" The doctor removed his spectacles and wiped eyes with his thumb and forefingers. "There is no easy way for me to tell you this, sir, so Ill have to be blunt." He placed his glasses back upon his face gently, then crossed his arms. "The boy didn't make it."
King's heart felt as though it had been ripped out of his chest and stepped on. He collapsed back into his chair. "…I'm sorry." Said the doctor, "We did all we could to revive him." King put his hands on his head. He began to weep loudly. His boy runs over to his side, "King I…" King pushed him away violently. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!! YOU DID THIS!!!" King grabbed him up by his collar and shook him. "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING HIM!!!" he roared. The boy shook with fright.
Slowly his grip faded and he let go of the boy. He started to cry again, "Its not your fault." He whispered. He then turned to the Armor King. "Its all my fault. I wasn't here to prevent this…and now…" he ripped his mask off and threw it at Armor King. "Keep it." He cried, "I'm not worthy of the mask." He turned toward the door. "I won't be needing it anyway. I QUIT WRESTLING!" With that he ran out the door.
"KING!" cried his boy as he ran out behind him. "WAIT!!!" Armor King looked down at the mask he so wanted to have back in his possession. "You are not finished yet, King." He whispered. "You will not end it here."
A year had passed, and King was never found. He wandered the streets, a homeless, nameless nobody. Using the money he begged for on the streets to buy booze. He had to kill the pain. He chose to drown it slowly.
One night, in a drunken stupor he fell upon some garbage cans behind a local bar. He didn't bother to get back up. He lay there, quietly moaning and crying about his own disgust in himself. Suddenly the mask fell down in front of him. He looked up and saw Armor King standing before him. "Get up, you filthy worm!" he growled. King turned his head away. "Just let me die here. I don't want to go anywhere." Armor King kneeled before him. "Look at me." He demanded, "Look me in my good eye." When King looked up at him, Armor slapped him hard across the face. "LOOK AT YOURSELF!!! YOU REEK! YOU STUMBLE AROUND LOOKING TO GET DRUNK! WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE YOU LEADING???" King looked back down in shame.
"You have kids waiting for you at home. Have you given up on them as well?"
"They deserve better than me." He replied.
Armor King got up. "You are so selfish. You gave up on your children, because you felt sorry for yourself, not because you think they deserve better." He turned away from King and started back down the alley. "If you truly cared for them, you be there for them this holiday." And with that he left King there to think on his words. The mask lay before him if he changed his mind.
It was Christmas time at the orphanage and the snow was falling gently to the ground. Leslie was putting up the tree and several of the children gathered around her begging to be the one who put the star on the top. "Please, Leslie, I wanna do it." "You did it last year. Its my turn." "No me!" She laughed as the children went around her. "How about this Ill give you each a star to hang on the tree. Everyone gets their own star." All the kids clapped and cheered at this decision.
They never noticed the man with the orange yellow jaguar mask staring in awe as the children decorated the tree. "They don't need me here. They're happier without me." He said as he looked through the cabin window. He left his gifts for them on the steps of the porch then turned to leave back into the night he came from. It was then he heard giggling and turned to see where it came from. The children who were decorating the tree were outside and running towards him.
They jumped up and down with delight and all cheered at the sight of their beloved King. He smiled warmly as he exhaled clouds of steam. Leslie and his boy (now a young man) came out. "Welcome home, King" he said. King smiled and they all went back into the cabin for some warm apple cider.
A young man is practicing outside of the cabin, totally unaware of any dangers approaching. Slowly a chilling wind kicks up and the clouds above grow dark and menacing. His mother comes out. It is Jun Kazama.
"Jin, I want you to leave."
He turns to her and notices she is dressed in her battle uniform. "Mother? What's going on?"
"There is no time for that now, just go. Run while you still can."
"No! Tell me what is happening!" he demands.
Suddenly an evil creature appears before them. Its eyes were a deep crimson and his skin, green as over ripened avocado. His clothing was like that of an ancient South American tribe. He was a most fearsome site.
"Jun Kazama?" He asks. Jun bows her head. "That is me. I am ready." Jin stands in front of her. "Get out of here demon! You leave my mother alone." The monster looks down upon him. "Do not get yourself killed boy. You are barely worth the effort." Jin clenches his fists. "ILL SHOW YOU!"
He charged full speed towards the creature, bringing his fist back behind him. Jun watches in terror. "JIN NO!" Too late. He swings back and socks him in the gut, but it has no effect on it. It frowns, "hmm…pathetic. I want nothing further to do with you." It grabs him up by his neck and throws him into the wall of the cabin, knocking him unconscious.
Jun shakes with anger and fear. "JIN!" The creature looks down upon her. "No need for concern. He is merely out cold." It stands in a battle pose. "Are you prepared?" Jun looks at the monster before her. She nods, "Yes, I am ready." The being grins. "Very well then."
'Jin, I'm sorry. Please remember, my son…I love you very much.'
Jin awakens later to see that the monster and his mother have both vanished. "Mother? …MOTHER!!!!" He runs out of the yard and stares up into the unforgiving sky. "…mother…I will avenge you."
King and Armor King were sitting at the table. They both sat there in silence over the recent news they have been given. King held his cup of long since cooled coffee, not intending on drinking it, but holding it anyway.
He had to break the silence. "She was such a gentle soul." Armor King looked over to him. "She was so in tune to nature and the goodness of the Earth itself." King continued. He looked over to Armor King in disbelief. "What form of evil could ever bring harm to one so pure?" Armor King looked away. "What ever it is…" he answered, "we must destroy it." King nodded. As they got up from the table, Kings surrogate son met them. He was now 24 years old and took over many of the responsibilities of the orphanage.
"King? Armor King? Where are you going?" He was almost tall enough to now look them in the eye. "We're on a personal mission. One of great danger." The young man stepped forward "Please take me with you. I want to help." Armor King approached him. "No, this is our doing. You must stay here and take care of the children. They need you." The young man had a look of worry on his face. He didn't like the thought of letting them go, but he felt he had no other choice.
"I understand." He said. King placed his hand on his shoulder. "You're growing up to be a good man. I'll always be proud of you, my son." For some reason his words sounded too much like a goodbye. He did not take comfort in them. But he was thankful nonetheless. "Thank you King." He said. "And God be with you." King smiled as he and Armor King went off to find the demon.
It didn't take long for King to feel its presence. It loomed over them like a heavy rain drowning all life with a flood of terror. "Armor, I can sense it approaching in that direction." Armor King stepped before him. "Then lets go." He turned to King. "For Jun." "Yes, for Jun." As Armor King started forward he felt a sudden slam on the back of his head, sending him unconscious. King stepped away from his friend, unclenching his hands. "It was for your own good." He said as headed straight for the evil being.
King ran across a long stretch of field. It was shadowed over with dark menacing clouds and a cold wind blowing the grass so it was nearly matted to the ground. There stood the tall green skinned creature, which took the life of Jun. He stood there waiting for King to approach. "Another great warrior to satisfy my thirst." It said as he came near. "You have a soul with an amazing power." King frowned. "You have taken the lives of too many innocent people you demon. I have come here to end this madness."
The creature turns toward him completely. "You are very foolish to think you can't take me on alone." King stands in his battle ready position. "Are we gonna fight or what?" The creature smirked, "Very well, let us proceed."
Armor King slowly started to awaken. He then remembers the demon and frantically looks about him for King. "…King?" He then realized where he was. "…THE FOOL!" He runs to the direction King told him it was. A huge explosion arises over the horizon. "…no!"
He arrives to see King laying in a deep hole in the ground. He is battered and bloody from the fight, almost completely lifeless. Armor runs to his side. "You idiot…you stupid fool. What have you done?" King smiles weakly. "He couldn't steal my soul. My Lord wouldn't allow it." Armor holds him in his arms. "Why did you do it? Why?" King coughs spitting up mouthfuls of blood. "What good is it to have both of us die? If one of us is to live…it should be the stronger…" King winces in pain. His body was covered with burns and he was losing much blood. "Armor King…tell the kids… I love them…and tell my son…I'm...sorry…"
Armor King bares his teeth, "DON'T SAY THAT! DON'T YOU SAY GOODBYE!" King looks up at him with gentleness in his glossy eyes. " I'm sorry my friend…please…for..give…m..me…." A tear of regret fell from his eye, which now looked through him and his head fell limp. He gave his last breath and passed away. Armor King looked down at the body of his friend. He shook violently and tears streamed down his face for the first time in his life. He lifted his head to the sky and roared in a pain beyond physical. " NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"INFIDEL!!! WHO IS THIS DESICRATOR?"
Authors note: Sorry it took me so long to write this. College has been running me ragged. Also this has to be the longest chapter (used quite a bit of the stuff online on this chapter). The next shall be the final chapter in the history of King. I'll try my best to make it a good one! ^-^ Thank you for your support! Your praises keep me motivated.
btw: For those of you who know the story please dont say anything. Its a secret ^_-