Disclaimer: I don't own the King of Fighters, though I wish I did…
A/N: Greetings; thank you for stopping by and I hope you like it. This is the first of this story's team endings, and this one also shows the official end of the tournament. Because of this chapter's subjects, I'm partially dedicating this chapter to Princess Rose Bernstein; thank you for all your support, and this one has you in mind. This story, of course, is still for everyone. In any case, I really hope you like it. And here … we … go:
The King of Fighters XV
K' Team and Adelheid
"Where the h- are we?" K' asked out of irritation rather than worry.
Having won their semi-finals match, K', Maxima, and Kula Diamond were on the way to Rose Stadium for the finals when they were suddenly, instantly transported … 'here'. They found themselves in a large domed room that looked like it was made of stone, but clearly wasn't. All over the walls were odd sigils and patterns inscribed into them… Hand on his temple, Maxima began rapidly searching through all the digital information he could.
Maxima, with scanner beams coming from his eyes and running over their surroundings, answered his partner, "I'm calibrating right now… But I think it's safe to say we're trapped."
Speaking into her wrist-band communicator, Kula called out, "Diana… Foxy… Can you hear me? We need your help… I can't get any reception."
Maxima finally took his hand off his head and added, "Well, that makes sense. All I'm getting is static. I can't pick up or send out a signal from here either; not even a satellite signal can get into this place."
Kula's hair turned blue as her powers activated and warned, "Be on alert. I'm feeling a really familiar heat signature…"
"You should; we have you right where we want you…"
All three looked around, and saw two old enemies emerging from the dark. One was a tall slightly-androgynous woman with cauliflower shaped blond hair, and the other was a young-looking girl with short black hair. These two were unmistakably Shroom and Rimelo of Those From the Past.
"That's right; we're still here." Shroom said, "And guess what? It's finally time for us to go at it. I bet you're glad."
The whole K' team jumped into the fighting position. Suddenly, the patterns on the walls started glowing on and off like a pulse…
"Just shut up and fight…" K' crossly said.
Shroom feigned offense to the quick retort, "Now, now, you're still too eager, K'. I haven't even told you why you were chosen or why we're doing any of…"
Quickly, K' sped forward and hit Shroom dead-on with 'Minutes Spike', a flying punt kick to the face, landed with a 'Narrow Spike', and burned the nearby Rimelo with 'Crow Bites'. Both women rolled through after being knocked back while K' and Maxima rushed to their teammate's side…
Forceful and irritated, K' asserted, "Frankly, bi-, I don't give a sh-! I'm just here to roast you!"
Maxima lightly commented, "Way to keep your composure, partner."
After wiping her mouth, Shroom exclaimed, "You bastard! So, you don't want to wait? Fine; it's your funeral…"
BOOM! THUD! On a higher floor, Botan was listening to the tremendous sounds of battle coming from beneath her…
With satisfaction of perceived success, Botan relished, "It sounds like Shroom and Rimelo have already started the fun. It's only a matter of time before…" Instantly, she sensed someone coming behind her along with hearing soft footsteps and addressed them, "So, you managed to find your way here. Look, I don't know who you are or whether you're here by chance or choice … so I'll give you an ultimatum. Leave now, and I'll forget you were here. But stay and I promise you I'll…"
Botan had turned mid-sentence, but stopped and let out a gasp of shock when she saw who it was. Recognizing the stranger stepping out of the shadows, her eyes landed right on his signature blond hair and ruby-red eyes…
"Adelheid Bernstein?" Botan exclaimed, stunned, "You're … you're not supposed to be here?"
Adel replied, composed and serious, "Don't sound so surprised. And to answer your ultimatum, I'm not going anywhere; do you know how hard I worked to track your group down, especially you … Botan?"
Botan said impatiently, "Alright. You found us; lucky you. Now, what do you want?"
Adel's tone deepened as he answered, "What do you think? I want you to release my sister."
Botan teasingly retorted as she waved her finger back and forth, "Mmm… No can do, Big Daddy. Little Sister is just a little too vital to our situation right now. The precious Rose needs to stay."
Adel intensely threatened, "I'm sorry; it sounds like you thought that was a request. I'll be clear… Give me back my sister or I'll tear you in half."
"Adel?"
"Rose…" Adel reacted as looked in the direction of the voice.
Right there, Adel saw Rose coming forward from the side…
Adel quickly grabbed her hand, saying, "I'm glad you're safe. Come on, Rose; we need to get you out of here."
Adel quickly tried to lead his younger sister away, but was met with resistance against him. Sensing an attack coming from behind him, Adel was forced to release Rose as he quickly leapt out of the way, and noticed the noise and wind that followed could only come from a sword swipe. He turned back to his sister and then saw a rapier with rose-shaped handle and a vine of thorns shaped hand guard … in Rose's hand!
Rose calmly said, "I'm not going anywhere, Adelheid…"
BANG! BOOM! Soon, the entire situation became clear to Adel. Rose stepped forward further into the light to face him, and revealed she was wearing a black-and-red fencer's uniform sans the helmet. A brief flash of light in Adel's eyes caught his immediate attention, and upon much more thorough investigation, he realized that the flash was actually the glint off of many thin strings connected to Rose's body! Adel trained his eyesight along the lines until he saw the other ends connected to Botan's hands. Upon their eyes meeting, Botan gave Adel a taunting wink, signaling she knew he'd figured things out. Adel quickly remembered Amaterasu's warning as he laid the whole scenario out in front of himself.
Adel spoke softly as he tried to reach her, "Rose, please listen to me. I know you're in there; you need to snap out of it."
Rose giggled innocently and reacted, "What are you talking about, brother? I'm all here."
Adel tentatively persisted, "Rose, you need to fight this… I need to get you out of here."
Her anger peeking through, Rose retorted, "Forget it, Adel. You're not taking me away from my friends."
Adel continued trying to connect to his sister, "I know this isn't you. Whatever these people have planned for you; it won't be good. You need to break free, Rose, and quickly."
Rose asserted out of irritation, "There you go, not listening to me again. This is why I'm never leaving them for you."
Trying to give her an anchor for her thoughts, Adel spoke with understanding, "Think, Rose. Concentrate: how did you get here? Who are these people? What are they after? Did they even tell you anything?"
Rose's visage broke for an instant, but she went right into fighting stance, saying, "Stop talking nonsense. You don't think I'm choosing to face you. Then, I'll prove to you that this is all my doing."
Adel, trying to ease her, said, reassuringly, "Alright, Rose. Take out your anger on me. I'm here; I'm listening."
THUD! BANG! The possessed Rose went right after Adel like she was … well, possessed. She slashed at him, while Adel dodged for his life…
"Did you think I forgot?" Rose angrily said as she continued to attack, "I remember exactly how you talk to me … how you yell at me, even when you have no excuse!"
Calm despite being under duress, Adel offered, "You're right. I was wrong, and I'm sorry…"
At that moment, Rose broke Adel's guard and landed a slash right across her brother's abdomen. Blood dotted her rapier's blade. The opening in his shirt now sat atop the gash caused by the slice. Soon, the green of his shirt deepened from the blood that seeped into it. Not wasting time, Rose fired an energy projectile, much like 'Kicken', along the ground from her blade at her brother, but Adel managed to roll out of the way… CRASH! BOOM! Adel reeling, Rose came after him again.
Deriding as she was slashing, Rose exclaimed, "That's another thing: all this talk about respect and compassion… it's insulting to me and you! We are better, Adel; people should fear us above everything."
"But that's not living, Rose." Adel retorted in a stern but caring voice, "A whole life where others just hate you and try to bring you down… you can't go on like that. And I don't want you to go through that."
Again, Rose's attack hit home. With a well-placed stroke, she sliced his cheek, the force sending the blood streaming over his nose and down his other cheek! The very next slice aimed at his neck, Adel caught the blade in his hands, the edge cutting into his palms. BOOM! The room rattled from that last impact…
Rose retorted with less anger and more pain as she pushed on the blade, "It worked just fine for our father. And don't act like you care, either."
The blade inching closer to his neck, Adel nonetheless locked eyes with younger sister and said, his voice remaining steadfast but considerate, "I do care, Rose… Just look where that life led Rugal: dead at the bottom of the ocean, buried in a twisted heap without anyone to even care. That's why I'm tough on you and myself; that's why I try so hard to be better even in spite of myself. It's for you, so you don't end up like him or, if I'm not careful, me. I act this way, so you'll know how to act when you need to."
With those words and his motivations made known, Adel's appeal reached Rose, temporarily breaking her pseudo-possession. She blinked hard twice as if she were waking up and needing to adjust to what she was seeing. A moment later, her eyes opened even wider as her body remained locked in attack position…
Scared and desperate, Rose whispered almost to the point of just mouthing the words, "Adel … help me … please…"
Adel made one more helpful appeal to her character, and said just so only she could hear, "You're strong, Rose. You can get out. Just think: she thinks she can just string you along like some puppet. How dare she? Who does she think she is? You'll show her just who you are and what a big mistake she made messing with you."
With a twist of her blade, Rose forced Adel back… CRASH! BANG! The room shook a little more from that collision. Rose began preparing an attack, channeling a great amount of energy into her rapier…
"Empress…" Rose called out the attack, "Wave!"
Rose turned and fired a wave of energy from the arc of her sword swipe … at Botan! The energy wave connected, carried her backward, and slammed her into the wall. Looking at herself closely, Rose perceived the strings connected to her body, used her power to grab hold of them, and with a forceful slice, cut herself free!
FOOSH! It was too clear that a fierce battle had taken place, if only by looking at the fighters. Rimelo laid flat in near unconsciousness from being defeated first. Kula had been brought to her knees while trying to regain herself, and Maxima could barely keep himself up. K', his most recent attack delivered, nearly buckled from fatigue but stood tall in fighting position, while Shroom fell hard to the ground after absorbing a 'Chain Drive' and a 'Crimson Star Road' one after the other. Shroom soon lifted herself up to one knee…
Coughing up a small amount of blood and smoke, Shroom thought aloud, "This … can't be right. He actually … beat us? It's time to cut our losses."
When Shroom turned towards Rimelo, K' instantly figured out what was going on, claiming, "No, you don't!"
Anger and urgency quickly got the best of K', causing him to prepare something … volatile. He unbuckled the straps on the back of his red glove and charged headlong at the back-turned Shroom!
Bereft with distress, Rose rushed to Adel's side, rapidly commenting, "Oh, Adel; this looks so bad. You're losing a lot of blood. I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me, big brother…"
Adel remained calm despite having to hold his midsection and tried to reassure her, "It's alright, Rose; I'll be fine. Right now, we need to get you out of here."
"Okay, but… there's just one thing I need to say."
Rose turned to the seated, slumped-over Botan, and approached. She stopped in front of her former manipulator, pointed of her rapier right at Botan's head, and delivered…
"Remember this day and cry, you arrogant witch." Rose threatened in chilling fashion, "Cry tears of joy that you escaped with your life."
With that, Rose took a simple step back. Now, Botan hadn't really heard anything; her thoughts and vision were still ringing from the attack. However, at that moment, she felt someone step on the strings still attached to her fingers, and lashed them out in a blind attempt to trap whoever it was… Completely ensnared, Rose was immediately immobilized as the strings cinched around her! The strings pinned her arms to her chest while three of the strings bound her neck like a garrote. She tried to get free, but the twine only tightened the more she struggled. She soon tried clawing at them but they were too small and sharp to get a grip on. The binding around her throat inherently made it hard for her to breathe and impossible to speak, but became even more dangerous when the sharp strings started to break her skin…
"Rose!" Adel called out in shock.
Using the wall to lift herself, Botan rose and said, "Stay back or I'll cut her head off… Uh? What in the …"
Botan stopped mid-thought when she sensed a huge power spike coming from floors down…
At the last moments, K' ripped off his power-limiting glove, and, dragging his ignited hand along the ground before attacking, went for a scorching 'Heat Drive'… Rimelo woke up to the sight of K' raging toward Shroom, and using her super-speed, raced up and shoved Shroom aside at the last second…
The attack was catastrophic. K' blasted right through his target and set off a massive inferno behind him in the attack's wake! The flames violently erupted from the attack's trail to the size of an 18-wheeler tractor truck! The fire burned so hot it nearly burned Shroom who was two feet away. The light of the combustion was blinding. The sound of the ignition was near-deafening. The force of the attack was so strong that it blasted out the wall in front of K'.
Left behind from the cataclysm was just fallout. The inferno soon died down after a few moments to reveal the waste that had been caused. K's path of attack had carved a huge trench in the ground similar to a dry river bed. The deep black smoke that resulted from so much fire billowed through the newly-opened hole, but the smell of fire still permeated the air. Even K' did not escape unharmed: the horrifically powerful flames had burned off his suit all the way up his arm and past his shoulder! Now, he had to clutch his wrist as he was struggling to rein in the fire under control again, a task made much harder without his glove.
Her body still a light, Rimelo finally fell to the ground like a small meteor, and like a meteor, the now-weakened ground cratered under her as she landed, the flames extinguishing mostly on impact. Rimelo's invulnerability kept her from being incinerated like a normal human, but her body was still covered in dark patches of burned skin including one around her entire neck and up one cheek. If the attack wasn't enough evidence already, her eyes were the clear indicator: half-closed and dim, locked in the vacant stare of death…
"Rimelo!" Shroom shouted fruitlessly, surprisingly distraught.
Botan heard the impact, felt the residual heat and the room shake from the attack, and commented, "What in the world was that? It was huge…" That's when she sensed one last person below, letting out quickly, "No way. That means… Sorry, Princess, but it's time to go. Time for you to sleep."
With a wave of Botan's hand, a string seeming to run straight through Rose's temples snapped. Rose instantaneously went unconscious and slumped to the ground. Botan soon opened a hole in the roof, and scooped up the unconscious Rose…
Adel angrily protested while manipulated to inactivity, "Stop! Don't you take her anywhere! If I have to chase you, I'll slaughter you when I've hunted you down."
Botan retorted, "Oh, I'm screwed either way. I'll take my chances running; come and get me."
With that final taunt, Botan teleported out of the roof opening. Adel could only run under the hole and stare out it in exasperation…
Still struggling, the untamed fire of K's hand began to consume him, even as he clutched his wrist trying to keep the fire at bay. Using the opportunity, Shroom scooped up Rimelo's body and sped out of the impromptu exit while Maxima and Kula attended to their teammate.
Remembering her Anti-K capabilities, Maxima quickly instructed, "Kula, you have to suppress the fire. Offset it with your ice, quickly."
Kula quickly showered K's hand under a frost-filled beam, asking, "Okay. What do we do now? How long do I have to hold it back?"
"Long enough to get his glove back on." Maxima answered, "Hang on, partner; where is that glove?"
"Here it is." a familiar female voice said as the red glove was handed to Maxima.
The voice undoubtedly belonged to Diana; she had just arrived alongside Foxy, both with their weapons drawn. Maxima couldn't help but look up at them in shock, while Kula simply looked at her 'mothers' with a wide smile…
Maxima reacted amazed, "Foxy? Diana? How did you find us? We couldn't even send you a signal for radar or GPS…"
As Diana knelt next to K', Foxy clarified, "Our dear Kula led us here. Her signal isn't by sound or satellite; it's thermal. We got a bead on her distinct chill and headed here. But then we picked up a blast of heat in the area, and we knew it could only be one thing…"
Diana admonished the preoccupied K' with more concern than derogation, "Now, what made you think taking that off was a good idea? Foolish boy… You better get the glove back on fast. Get ready to back out, Kula dear."
A moment later, Kula ceased the suppression, and Maxima deftly and rapidly clasped the glove back on K's hand. His flame regulated once more, K' finally slumped to the ground from the exhaustion of the fight, his final attack, and having to hold his flames back…
As she and Foxy surveyed the damage done, Diana said, "What a mess you made. I sure hope you landed that reckless attack.
Maxima quickly reassured, "Oh, don't worry… He got 'em."
Out of the most recent battleground and on a perch overlooking it a ways away, Botan and Shroom were left reeling from their recent encounters. Botan still had to hold onto her midsection from Rose's attack, even with the princess unconscious and bound at her feet. Shroom was in much more dire straits. She stayed crumbled on her knees clutching Rimelo's body close to her own. Shroom's eyes were glazed over as she slowly rocked back and forth, obviously devastated…
"Well…" Botan lamented to herself, "That couldn't have gone any worse."
"Botan…? Shroom…?" a familiar voice called.
Shroom barely moved and didn't even look up at the familiar face. Botan, however, was privy to the big shock of this particular person's arrival. She instantly snapped her attention to the voice, and let out a huge gasp at this person's identity.
Botan reacted in astonishment, "Impossible… But … But how? We thought you were dead!"
"Almost, but obviously I survive. I only just got back here." The figure then saw the situation with Shroom, "Oh, Rimelo… Is she…?"
Shroom slowly nodded in pain, and Botan added, "Yes, she had a bad run-in with K'."
"I see… I have been gone a long time; it's best you get me caught up. Fill me in on everything's that's happened."
End Chapter
A/N: There you have it. I know the ending's cryptic, but that sets up the next entry in the series. Next time, we'll delve into two more teams' endings, and their settling of a recent feud. Thank you for reading, I really hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you come back to read more. Please R&R, and, as always, Rant, Rave, and Review.