Go for Broke
By RichieD.
(A/N: And the madness continues. King of Fighters SNKPlaymores', grin and bear it. Just be happy they're back in the U.S., otherwise how could I have written this story? Wait; is that a good or bad thing? Ah the mysterious questions of the universe. Enjoy. )
The Area Apartment Building
6:00pm
"Clam serine thoughts. Purge all of mind of distractions and let the energy flow through you. Concentrate, now slowly extends your hands and cup them together. Focus all your energy to there, slowly. There you go."
Now RELEASE!
"RICH!"
FOOOOM!
*****
You gotta love the way destiny works, what you think could be just an ordinary life can always change at the tip of a hat. For worse or for better, for one boy it was a little brown noising that has landed him to be the successor to the mystic arts. He is the apprentice of Tessa, a practicer of sorcerer-ology ….if only he could get the hang of these spells.
Rich Downer
Age: 16 Fighting Style: Swordsmanship/Mystic Arts
*****
"Cough, cough. Dang it Shorty! Don't bust in on me when am practicing an incantation! Most of this stuff is fatal y'know?" a boy wearing a gray checkered shit, back jump suit pants and black sneakers, yelled out from the dust.
Shorty coughed a few time, clearing away the smoke from the defunct spell. Trying not to inhale it, just in case. "Well you should lock you door when you doing that and…" it was then she caught a good look at him her expression going wide-eyed.
Then bust out laughing. So
hysterically in fact that she had to lean on the door frame to keep from
doubling over. "What? What?" he asked then realized his head felt funny and
reached up to feel his face. It felt scaly and hard not to mention the fact
that there were horns on his noise "Aw crap, not again! Erol!" A small ghost
appeared out of thin air holding an age-old bag. It reached into it and pulled
out some sort of dust, sprinkling on his face. A second later, the scaly head
fizzled back into its normal size.
"Thanks." He said relived as his face return to normal. The ghost nodded then vanished back to thin air. "Geez, am never gonna get used to that." He then turned his attention to Shorty "And this doesn't leave the room, understand?"
Shorty had finally regain her senses and stood upright, a few more chuckles still escaping her lips " Relax dragon boy besides not like I can tell anybody, remember. Anyway I just came by to see if you found anybody to fight with us in the Cit-burbs tournament. Last time I talked to you say you found a few takers."
"Yeah I did didn't I?" Rich said nervously as he started to straighten up the room using a magnet spell he learned recently just for dust though, anything more powerful and it would create a black hole. "Well I got a little busy creating spells for the test and…"
"Rich?" Shorty said in a deathly voice "You didn't go off and forgot it about…again?"
"Eh heh, well let just say
we have more competition now due to my neglect. But hey, more fighters, the
harder the challenge eh?" however Rich knew that wasn't going to help and
braced himself.
"Not with just two fighters, you dope!" Shorty yelled " The registration deadline is next week Rich! Next week! No way we'll find someone time before then. Ugh if I didn't have my business to run!" the adrenaline starting build up again, she took a few breaths and calmed herself, flopping down on one of the seats sighing. Then something in her mind clicked "Unless my first choice."
Rich accidentally clenched his hand holding the spell upon hearing this, sending the dust spiraling back to the ground. "OOOOH NO! Not him, I rather eat a bunch of nails then team up with that little punk! Besides he might have hooked up with someone else for all you know!"
"Won't know unless I ask. Besides its you own fault for not checking back on this." She said as she turned toward the door "Now c'mon. Rather both of you are in the same room then in the ring before a fight.
"But my spells and the mess." Rich said pointing around.
"Listen, either I get a another partner and enter this thing or you spare me every day till the next Millennium Fight. Spell test or not."
Rich groaned, if its one thing he hated was sparing with Shorty as she never held back, practice or for real.
"Yes, Mien Heir!"
*****
The Area Apartments, Apartment C-7
6:15pm
Knock, knock.
"That's the door. I need to get it"
"But I haven't gotten started braiding your hair"
"I'll take a rain check, now let me go get it."
The boy hopped out of the lap of his sister and for the door, almost at a frantic pace as the knocking continued
"Whoever this is I own you big time."
The door opened to revel a boy no higher then the waist wearing a blue short sleeve hodded jersey, jean shorts and white sneaker. Around his hairline was a red headband. The boy recognized his visitor instantly and smiled "Short-Short!"
"I told you to stop calling me that. Casey Jones."
The boy frowned "Point taken, now…YOU!"
"Don't mind me, I was forced to come here." Rich said casually as he leaned against his doorway.
"Ah once again showing how easily whipped you are. First the little nerd girl (next chapter-ed) and now this, your setting yourself a personal record on your manhood. " The boy smirked
There was a small burst of wind felt on the boy's cheek. Next thing he knew a small dent was near the door fame. A wisp of smoke showing that it had just been imprinted.
"The Heck?" The boy said in surprise as he saw it. "Where'd that come from?"
Shorty just grimaced at Rich who kept his eyes close to avoid her graze. "New kind of termite I think, the landlord said to keep a watch out for them. But back to the reason am here, you know the big Cit-burbs tournament coming up a week from now right. Well since the rules imply that it be a 3-person team…."
The boy raised an eyebrow "Let me guess, you couldn't find a 3rd man in time and are asking little old me to compete with you. Well am flattered but how do you know am not already spoken for?"
The girl winched upon hearing that, afraid of the answer to her next question "Well, am just going off a hunch here but…you aren't are you?"
The boy just stood there with his eyes closed for a minute almost mimicking the pose Rich was doing. Then let out a yell and punched the same spot where the dent was made making it even wider. After which, he rub his hand and opened his eyes "Me and most of the folks I asked had creative differences. Got into a few fights and well…am stronger for it but no closer to entering." He then grinned at her "Ironically I was thinking about asking you."
Shorty let out a squealed, grabbed the boy and swung him around in a hug while nearby Rich let out a silent groan.
After the little celebration, Shorty set him down. "Alright first thing Monday after school, we hit the main office and sign up. Then we get some training in afterward. Sound like a plan?"
"Err, yeah Shorty. That's all well and good but who our other man? I mean-" WHAP! "OW!"
"Hello teammate." Rich said smoothly after smacking him in the back of the head.
The boy responded by tackling him to the ground, but Rich had a levitation cast ready and threw him into the other side of the hallway before the boy knew what hit him. The boy got to his feet a little surprised at what happened but was on guard very quickly. He was about to charge Rich when Shorty got between them.
"Enough, both of you! Ugh, I knew this was going to happen. No sooner then the team is formed, your little rivalry already kicking into full swing. If you guys keep this up, we won't even get past round one."
The boy blinked a few time, looked at Shorty then at Rich then Shorty again "Wait, wait, wait, wait. Your telling me that Rich is a partner in this? ARE YOU KIDDING?!" he cried out turning it into a laugh "Last time I check he couldn't fight his way through a child's playpen. He'll just bring us down."
"Like you say "Last time you checked". " Rich shot back "But I guess you couldn't considering you were too busy getting your butt kick by folks littler then you."
"Better then being a pull toy by your lady friends."
" At least I have girls who are friends. As opposed to who you use to make excuses to who your little "supposed" girl pal is. Oh wait that would be your SISTER!"
" YOU SON OF A…!" The boy almost lunged at Rich but Shorty caught him by the scruff of his collar just as he was inches from reaching him.
"Alright, I see there's only one way to settle this."
*****
The Area Apartment Rooftops, 6:36pm
"You guys know the rules.
Knockout by K.O."
Rich gave Shorty a weird look "Aren't they the same thing."
"Whatever, I just hope this little skirmish gets the urge to kill each other out of your systems before we fight as a team."
"Heh, I guess I could use a little exercise and give an example of what I'll do at the fight." The boy called over already showing his cockiness. "Ready to show your worthlessness Rich?"
Rich however had ignored the comment, and once again begin concentrating as he had done before. Drawing in all power in himself. "Tessa, I know your gonna kill me for this. But I can't hide it forever and you know it. So forgive me for what am about to do." Suddenly there was a light feeling in his body, the power in him surge. Nothing maximum but just enough to make him feel ready. "Ha thanks witch babe, I won't disappoint."
A bright light suddenly appeared at his side forming into the shape of something slender yet very pointed, when the light subsided what it was…
"An umbrella?" Shorty said confused, "Thats what you've sunk all your funds into your sword classes for. To fight with a umbrella?"
The boy however, had say nothing. Too dumbfounded by the little light show though his mind still functioned "H-H-How did he…?"
"Just watch me. You'll understand later. " Rich told her as grabbed his weapon from the air and he got ready "Give the word."
"O…kay, FIGHT!"
The boy snapped to attention as soon as her heard the signal.
Only to get smacked across the head as Rich had already reached him.
Bounced across the roof surface, the boy senses were distorted, as he didn't know up or down. Eventually he found himself as he landed face first. From such a sudden attack, the boy recovery was slow but he pulled himself to his knees. Cursing himself for dropping his guard. And if that wasn't bad enough.
"What, that's it. One hit and your out. Sheeh, I knew you were a big talker but a pushover as well."
Hearing that the boy punched the ground, bringing himself up much quicker. The anger in his eyes told volumes.
"Luck-y shot!"
*****
Attitude, while good for the image, can be a very nasty weakness. Show too little and there's a good chance you'll become a doormat all you life. Too much, however, and you're prone to show your arrogance. For this particular person the 2nd one is somewhat of a habit to him and he having a hard time trying to break it. With the exception of his sister and a few close friends, anyone else is just not worth the time. Yet if you really push his buttons, you better have the skills or a damn good doctor ready.
Case Sanrigchez
Age:15 Fighting Style: Melee
*****
Case shot forward like a blast from a shotgun. Aiming not a fist or a kick, but his head for Rich's
stomach. The former ducked back as his flew over him. Rich turn and found his first attempt to block was in vain as Case's sneaker found it target. Seems he had landed vertically and stopped with hands to the ground in front of Rich.
But Case didn't let up and kept attacking. Switching from fists to feet in perfect harmony, at least until Rich somehow blocked a kick and uppercuted him with his umbrella. Then followed it up with a wave of his hand, forming three non-sharp icicles. One that hit Case's midsection, the other his head, and the last catching him on his way down. Case once again hit the ground but rolled back to his feet.
"So, your fighting with magic tricks? Couldn't learn real fighting skill, so took the easy way out."
Rich narrowed his eyes "You have blind eyes buddy, am not the one getting sent ground. And you just made a serious mistake mocking my art. My teach says people who do that should be turned into toads, though that might be more of insult to them then a punishment if it were you." Rich then rear his weapon back "Besides you want skills? Dodge this, GALE ROAR!"
He the swung his umbrella in front on him forming a wave of energy from the air, Case brought his arms up in a block bracing himself as the energy hit him head on. It knocked him back and did a little damage but that was about it. "Thats it, if that was suppose to be an attack." But he stopped when a ghost pop up in front to him quickly grabbing his arms while two others grabbed his legs. "WHAT IS THIS?!" Case cried out.
"A successful distraction. Encore time, GALE ROAR!" the attack's effects were more heavy this time as Case was left without any defenses. After the attack had passed, the ghosts set him down on his feet though he near collapsed once they let go. His will overcame fatigue however and he managed to stand.
"Any comments?" a smirking Rich asked
"A cheap shot, heh. Not bad, now am really gonna lay it on ya." He once again ran forward prompting Rich to guard. But at the last minute jumped to the side then explored from the ground. Hitting Rich in the face with a wide kick causing him to spin like a top. Case soon landed on his feet, a dark expression dotting his face before he came back at the spinning Rich fist at the ready.
"RUSH CRAVER!" and he striked at Rich in every which direction as he kept spinning. Hitting random places on his body, no matter where as long as it hit flesh. Finally he sweep kicked Rich, sending him into the air. Case then jump after him, above him, then smacked him a hard on in the chest. To say that Rich looked like a wreaked airplane as he came crashing toward the ground would be an understatement.
"Tish, never stood a chance. But then again you know my policy when people pissed me off." Case huffed after landing. He then turned toward Shorty "You might wanna get something to drink, it gonna be awhile before he gets up."
"SINKER!" a pillar of light flew from the ground, enveloping Case in the light and materializing him into the ground. Next thing he knew he was standing in front of a very furious Rich and the business end of his umbrella, which was…glowing? "Uh-Oh."
"AND SHOT!" An explosion of power erupted from out if nowhere almost taking Case's head off if he hadn't moved in time though the blast knocked him off his feet. When he recovered, he noticed the roof had been engraved, a neat little line running from where Case had just been to the side of the roof, a bit of the concrete falling off the side to a long fall to the ground.
"And that is my policy when people piss me off." Rich said firmly as he shook the smoke from the umbrella. "Now that we've seen most of our special techniques. What said we continue a little more hand to hand?" Case gulped after seeing the ground beside him but his bravo and determination returned, "Bust it!" he yelled and charge at Rich. His opponent did the same and the two went at it with everything they had.
*****
"Now this is what I call a team!" Shorty said happily as he slapped the two boys on the back emitting a groan from both as they walked down the hallways to their apartments. "My little plan worked. I was able to see what both of you had in terms of skill and find what you need to work on. And hopefully by now, you learned to get along. Right? I mean your bout ended in a tie so nether of you are better then the other, Right?"
Both Rich and Case looked toward each other with "you kidding" expression. But not wanting to sour her mood gave out a few "Sure, yeah, best of friends" and so forth.
"Alright, I can already see us in the finals now." She split off from the two and faced them "Alright guys, rest up this weekend while you can. Like I say, it going to be nothing but training to improve those flaws next week and your going to need all the stuffing you can get when I beat it out of ya. See you at the registration office Monday." And with that she took off down the hall and the rounded the corner till she was out of sight, skipping all the while.
Rich and Case watched her go in disbelief then turn toward one another once again frowning bitterly, the same thoughts on both their minds.
"Great, I gotta work with two whack jobs."
