Lightning struck into the ground, sending sparks everywhere. The short flashes of lightning were the only instances where the two warriors were visible. One was clad in a simple white ki, his hair kept under control by a red headband. The other towered over the fighter in white, wearing a red military suit and a flowing black cape.

"Well. You saved me a lot of trouble, boy. I was having a hell of a time finding you." the man in red said tauntingly. The smaller fighter gave his opponent a confused look.

"You were... searching for me?"

"Yes, Ryu. I want you to join me. Whether it be by your free will... or otherwise..."

"I would never join you, Bison! I would rather die than serve evil!"

Bison laughed heartily. "We shall see, boy. You will be swayed to see my side of things."

Ryu shook his head. First Akuma wants me to be evil, and now Bison... I'm one popular guy... I hope I am strong enough to defeat him... That fortuneteller didn't seem to think so...

Several days ago...

"Ryu... you must listen to me."

Rose had appeared behind Ryu, setting the fighter ill at ease. Sakura turned and pointed a shaking finger.

"I don't know who you are, ya dumb bimbo, but you stay away from Ryu! He's mine!"

Sakura began to advance on the mysterious Rose, when Ryu's hand shot out and pushed her back. He shook his head at her and turned his attention to Rose.

"What do you want with me?"

"You plan on fighting that man."

Ryu took a step back, obviously startled.

"H...how did you know?"

Rose smiled. "Nothing is hidden from me, Ryu. You must know that you cannot face him yet. You aren't ready."

"What do you mean! Ryu is the strongest!"

Another glare from Ryu instantly shut Sakura up.

"It doesn't matter if I am ready. Everywhere I travel, his henchmen are spreading misery and evil. He must be stopped now."

Rose sighed. "That much is true. But if you fight him now, you will be consumed by the darkness that you so fear."

Ryu turned around abruptly. "Nothing may be hidden from you, but you know nothing of the darkness. I can handle the darkness."

"Ryu! You mustn't!... Do not go to Thailand!..."

Ryu walked off, leaving Sakura and Rose watching his fading back. Sakura sighed. "He's gone again..."

Rose gave her a cross look. "You had best stay out of this yourself, young lady. Ryu may not be ready, but at least he can defend himself. You will only be harmed."

Sakura stuck her tongue out at the mystic.

Ryu shook his head, bringing himself back to the here and now. Regardless of whether I am ready or not, I must defeat him. I just didn't think he would be so... imposing. I can feel his power from here...

Bison smirked. "Enough of this stalling, boy. Will you join me willingly or not?"

Ryu spit at the ground in front of the tyrant. "I told you, I'll never be a pawn for evil!"

Bison let out an exaggerated sigh. "Very well. You hero types do enjoy doing things the hard way, don't you?"

Before Ryu could even assume his stance, Bison had disappeared from sight. He quickly reformed behind the young fighter and slammed his fist down onto Ryu's collarbone. The blow was extremely powerful, and brought Ryu to his knees. One of Bison's boots shot out and lifted the boy off of the ground. Ryu rolled on impact and came up in his battle stance. Bison flew forward, pressing his advantage.

Bison's fist came out so fast that Ryu barely managed to block the attack. Even though he had managed to block the hit, his entire arm stung and there was a faint blue aura that burned where it lingered. The second of distraction was all Bison needed to throw an uppercut up into Ryu's jaw. Ryu was lifted up into the air, and then slammed down hard into the floor. It took him a little longer to get up this time.

How... how is he so strong?... Where does he get his power from?..

Bison smiled. "My power comes from my psycho energy. I could give it to you, Ryu. You could become as strong as I."

He... he read my mind!

Bison rolled his eyes as he began to approach his prey. "Yes, I read your mind. I can see that your resolve is slipping, boy. Now is your chance to gain the power that you seek. Join me, and be powerful forever!"

"Never!" Ryu's word ripped through the air as if it were a flash of lightning itself. He steadied himself on one knee and thrusted up into the air, his fist filled with energy as he lifted off the ground. His energy lit fist smashed into Bison's face, lifted the dictator off of the ground. Ryu hung in the air for a second, his arm still raised high. "Shoryuken!" he yelled as he came down.

Bison stood up, wiping a spot of blood off his lip. "Impressive, Ryu. No one has ever managed to draw blood from me." His eyes lit up with the blue tint of psycho energy. "Now I must have you!"

Bison ran forward as Ryu pulled back his hands to his hips. A blue light began to glow as he gathered his ki into his palms. The Hadoken, the fabled technique. Focus one's life force into the hand, and strike with a mighty blow. Ryu felt the rush of the energy and threw his hands forward, sending his attack at the approaching villain. Bison laughed, and with a wave of his arm, produced a similar attack back at him with little effort. Bison's psycho shot ripped through Ryu's hadoken and smashed into Ryu's chest. The young hero smashed into the ground, smoke rising from where the energy had hit him.

"He...he beat...my hadoken..."

"And now you are mine." Bison's hands lit up with blue light as he towered over the fallen hero. "Welcome to the gang, buddy..." Bison taunted as he brought his hands over Ryu's fallen form.

Sakura had spent the past half hour trying to explain to Klyde why Ryu was like a million kazillion times more powerful and cool than Dan. Klyde refused to believe any of it.

"You know, you sound exactly like my gay friend Bryan..." he grumbled as they kept walking.

Sakura gave him a lopsided look. "A little taller than you, short hair, wears a white gi?"

Klyde turned and grinned. "You've heard of him?"

Sakura smiled. "Heard of him? I kicked his ass!"

Klyde gave her a look of disbelief. "No friggin way. You beat Bryan?"

"Yea. He was ogling Ryu, so I kicked him around a bit."

Klyde slapped his forehead. "Small world... wait a minute. That means you were hanging around Ryu?"

Sakura grinned proudly. "Of course! I'm his number one student! How do you think I got so strong?"

Klyde shrugged. "Dumb luck?"

Sakura shook her head. She turned back around to keep walking and bumped into a passerby. She fell to the floor and got ready for her loud bitching act when she saw whom she had bumped into. He was dressed in a white tuxedo, had long flowing blond hair, and a cheesy grin.

"Oh my god! Ken! How have you been!"

Ken looked down and gave the girl a lopsided grin. "Hey, you're Ryu's little statutory dessert, right?"

Sakura went red in the face. "I'm... I'm just his student..."

Ken nodded sagely. "That's what all martial arts masters say. That's usually what I do."

Sakura got up and swung a slap at Ken. Ken dodged to the side and laughed. "Now it's definite. Ryu would never had taught you such a slow attack. You guys must have been real busy doing something else."

Sakura crossed her arms, her face still blushing. "Now I remember why I idolize Ryu..."

Ken continued to laugh, and finally noticed Klyde for the first time. "Oh. And who do we have here?" he turned back to Sakura. "You cheating on Ryu, kid?"

Klyde opened his mouth to say something when suddenly Ken's face went as white as his tux. Sakura's expression changed from one of embarrassment to one of concern.

"What's wrong, Ken?"

"It's...it's Ryu... Something happened..."

Now Sakura was frantic. "Ryu! What happened to Ryu?"

Ken shook his head. "I ... I don't know. His life force just... it just disappeared! Now it's been replaced by something else. It's similar... but... but it's different too..."

Sakura's face dropped. It looked like tears were forming in her eyes. "I knew it... I knew he shouldn't have went..."

Ken grabbed Sakura by the front of her outfit and pulled her close to him. "Where! Where shouldn't he have gone?"

Sakura looked like she was about to burst in tears. Small sobs were escaping her as she talked. "He.. he went to Thailand... he said he was going to fight a great evil..."

Ken's eyes went wide as he dropped Sakura. "He... he went... He went to fight Shadowloo..."

Ken broke off into a sprint. Sakura jumped up and took off after him. "I'm coming with you!"

Klyde stood still for a moment, processing the information he had just received. Ryu was beaten by Shadowloo... Shadowloo... everywhere I go, I hear about Shadowloo... and if Ryu went that way, I bet Bryan went there too... I should go check it out... Thailand, huh?... Time to catch a plane!

Klyde gave himself a quick thumbs up and ran off to the airport.

AN- There it is , people! Time for the big showdown to begin! How exciting! Stay tuned!