Chapter 3: A Connection In China
In a dark alleyway, a dirty looking hooligan was running down the streets of rural China. Sweat beads dripped forth from every pore on his body. The red and blue lights of a police car swirled around behind him as the loud sirens pierced the night sky. Hot on his trail was a Chinese policewoman wearing a blue and gold qipao with white boots and her hair done up in two ox horns, it wsa Chun-Li, one of the heroes that Link was assigned to find.
"Halt in the name of the law!" hollered Chun-Li at the hoodlum, who didn't listen. As Chun-Li continued to give chase to the criminal, he turned left around a corner going into what appeared to be a dead end. Chun-Li followed suit and as she rounded the corner, the criminal was nowhere to be found.
"Where the hell is he, there's no dumpsters or anything like that he could hide in, he couldn't have just vanished into thin air," mused Chun-Li.
"Ah Chun-Li, you've matured into quite the formidable warrior," rasped an elderly sounding voice from behind Chun-Li. The Chinese brunette whirled around and saw an old wrinkled Chinese man clothed all in purple with a thick white beard draping down his chest. The old man had an ethereal glow surrounding him as he smirked at Chun-Li.
"Master Gen, it can't be, you're dead," gasped Chun-Li.
"Death cannot stop me from sending you a message. Surely you are aware of the strange goings on in the world right now," replied Gen.
"You mean with the world fusing with another world and everything, yeah I'm aware of that," commented Chun-Li.
"Yes, you will be going on a mission to protect this newly fused world, it will be an arduous task, but I know you can handle it," remarked Gen.
"I'm supposed to protect the world, why would I be chosen for that?" asked Chun-Li.
"The details escape me as well, but you will be teaming with some people to accomplish this, you'll know a few of them, but two of them are from the other world, you'll know when you see them," answered Gen.
"Are you sure you're telling me the truth and I'm not hallucinating?" inquired Chun-Li.
"I'm dead serious, literally, I'm serious and I'm dead too! But that's beside the point, just be ready to do battle with those that threaten the safety of the fused world," advised Gen, before fading away. Shortly after Gen faded from sight, a loud ringing sound startled Chun-Li, she then found herself lying in bed as her alarm clock went off. Upon silencing the clock, Chun-Li let out a groan as a young Chinese girl in pigtails, a pink shirt, and pink pants walked into Chun-Li's room.
"Mama what's wrong? Did you not sleep well?" asked the girl.
"Ah Kiyomi, I had a bizarre dream where Master Gen told me I was to go on a mission to save the world, it felt so real," responded Chun-Li as she sat up and looked at the girl.
"Wow, must have been one crazy dream, shall I get everyone ready for practice right now? inquired Kiyomi.
"Yes, I'll be out shortly," answered Chun-Li.
As Kiyomi walked out of the room and went to gather all the kids for their training regimen, Chun-Li walked into her bathroom for a shower, she looked in the mirror and splashed some water on her face and gazed deeply into the mirror.
"I know I would do anything to protect those I care for, especially those kids. But am I really destined to be a protector to the entire world, that seems like a heavy pill to swallow," mused Chun-Li as she continued to get herself ready for a busy day of training kids in martial arts. In the meantime, Link, Zelda, Alex, and Epona all arrived in China due to Sahasrala transporting them there with the sages power. Link gazed in awe at the landscape, and simply at the multitude of people that were milling about on the streets.
"I have never seen so many people in one place, this makes Castle Town look desolate," gasped Link.
"Well you gotta look at it like this, there are nearly seven billion people in our world, nearly two billion of them live in just this country," commented Alex.
"Seven billion people in your world, my word, that's more than I can imagine," said Zelda.
"I take it your world doesn't have a lot of people in it," stated Alex.
"A few million maybe, but that's about it," remarked Link.
"With this large amount of people, it's going to take a while to find Chun-Li, I hope she's nearby," chimed in Zelda.
"I'm sure we'll be led to her one way or another," responded Link.
"Let's start looking here then," suggested Alex.
Link and Zelda nodded in agreement as the three along with Epona traversed the walkways of the Chinese marketplace. Link and Zelda were still amazed at the sheer volume of people crowding the streets. They gazed in wonder at the men piloting rickshaws running up and down the road, and cooks lopping off the heads of chickens about to be cooked.
"Men doing the duties of horses, chickens being cooked out in the open, are all places in your world like this?" questioned Link.
"No, this is the only place I know of that has a rickshaw service, but many other places to do kill and cook your food in front of you," replied Alex.
"That's quite disturbing if you ask me," piped Zelda.
"Maybe to you, but you'll get used to our world's customs eventually," stated Alex.
"I'm sure of that too," replied Link.
As the group of adventurers continued traversing down the Chinese marketplace, back at Chun-Li's abode, Chun-Li walked out into her front yard to see Kiyomi and a bunch of kids waiting for Chun-Li to show up. The kids all bowed to Chun-Li as a show of respect and in return Chun-Li bowed back to the kids.
"Miss Chun-Li, we're ready for whatever you're ready to teach us," said one young boy in an eager tone.
"That's the enthusiasm I like to hear, let's begin warming up before we get to the big lesson today," ordered Chun-Li.
With that, the kids began their warm up stretches to help themselves be more proficient in what they would be learning. Back at the marketplace, Link, Zelda, and Alex were still looking for clues as to where Chun-Li's whereabouts could be, as they continued to walk. From out of nowhere, a loud scream echoed through the winds, catching everyone's attention.
"Ok, who just got robbed?" asked Alex.
"Nobody, there's monsters roaming the streets, I don't need them to impale me," cried out one man who was running as far from the monsters as possible.
"Monster's what did they look like?" inquired Link.
At that moment, brown skinned pig like monsters with blue pants on and a few of them carrying long spears came rampaging through the marketplace along with blue and orange feathered birds that resembled vultures. The birds let out a shrill caw as they flew after the townspeople.
"Kargarocs and Moblins, great, I'e always hated dealing with these guys," groaned Link.
"Let's send these menaces back to wherever they came from then!" suggested Alex.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," responded Link.
A Kargaroc descended down on Alex in an attempt to peck him, the buff blonde sidestepped the foul flying creature and grabbed the Kargaroc by it's neck and snapped it causing the Kargaroc to disappear in a puff of smoke. Another Kargaroc swooped down at Zelda who merely threw out a magic blast at the bird causing that Kargaroc to go up in smoke as well. Two Moblins charged Link and thrusted their spears at him, Link rolled to one side and leapt up with a spinning slash to the backside of one of the Moblins knocking him to the ground. While the Moblind was still grounded, Link leapt into the air and drove his sord through the Moblin making the pig like creature go up in smoke. As the other Moblin prepared to swing his spear at Link, Zelda hit him from behind with a Din's Fire causing him to run around with his butt on fire. While the Moblin hopped around trying to extinguish the flames, Link rushed at the Moblin and delivered a quick sword combo to the Moblin knocking him out for the count. Another Moblin tried to sneak up behind Link, but Alex grabbed the beast from behind and slammed him on the ground with a suplex, when Link saw this, he jumped up and delivered his Ending Blow to the Moblin making it dissipate. Soon after the militia of Moblins and Kargarocs were defeated. the three went around asking the townspeople if they were all right.
"You all okay, did those monsters hurt any of you?" asked Zelda.
"No we're all okay, thank you all whomever you are," replied one of the villagers.
"Anytime my good man, say maybe you can help us out," remarked Link.
"How so?" asked the man.
"We're looking for the residence of Chun-Li, do you know where she stays?" inquired Alex.
"Ah Chun-Li, yes, she's just a few minutes west from here, she should be training some of the kids in the village right now," answered the man.
"Thank you sir, you've been most helpful," said Zelda.
"We should be thanking you for getting rid of those monsters for us,' replied the man.
"It was nothing, again thank you, and take care of yourself," said Link.
"Hey wait, there's not enough room on Epona for me to fit, how am I gonna keep up with you and Zelda if I can't be on horseback.
"I can give you a ride on my rickshaw," piped up another man from the crowd.
"That'll work, thank you sir," said Alex politely.
"You're welcome," replied the rickshaw operator as he picked up the rickshaw that Alex boarded and began to run alongside Link and Zelda on Epona. Back at Chun-Li's abode, the Chinese brunette walked along the rows of the kids watching them practice katas with each other.
"Great, you're all exhibiting excellent form here, I'm proud to see you all taking your lessons to heart," commented Chun-Li to her students.
At that moment, a Moblin's roar was heard as another group of Moblins burst through the gates of Chun-Li's home and started laughing haughtily, a flock of Kargarocs accompanied the Moblins and they stared intensely at Chun-Li and her students who looked at the Moblins and Kargarocs in shock.
"What are these things?" asked one boy.
"They like some strange mutated pigs," answered a young girl.
"What do they want with us?" asked another girl.
"Those spears should tell us something, they want to hurt us," answered a teenage boy.
"Fat chance we're gonna let them just stomp all over us! So what if they're big and scary, we have to fight them," commented Kiyomi.
"Kiyomi's right my students, we must stand and fight, and besides, nobody messes up my home!" exclaimed Chun-Li.
The Moblins let out a mighty war cry as hey charged at Chun-Li and her students. One Moblin swung his heavy spear at one of the young students, that girl dodged the spear and hit the Moblin with a palm strike to the stomach and a male student came up from behind and swept the Moblin off of his feet. A Kargaroc swooped down at Kiyomi and tried to peck at her head, Kiyomi leapt back and then lunged forward kicking the Kargaroc in the beak sending the feathered foe crashing to the ground. While the bird lay stunned, Kiyomi stepped on the Kargaroc's neck crushing its throat and making it disappear in a puff of smoke. As another student fought a Moblin, she wound up tripping and falling on her backside, The Moblin let out an abrasive laugh as he raised his spear for a finishing blow, however, before he could strike, he was riddled by numerous kicks from behind.
"Hyakuretsu Kyaku!" shouted Chun-Li as she sent the Moblin crashing to the ground. While the Moblin lay stunned Chun-Li leapt up into the air and came down with a powerful split kick making that Moblin vanish in smoke. At that moment a Kargaroc dove down at Chun-Li, the Chinese woman looked upwards and fired her palms forward.
"Kikoken!" hollered Chun-Li.
A blue ball of energy shot forth from Chun-Li's palms and nailed the Kargaroc making it land on the ground with a loud thud. The young female sudent quickly dispatched of the Kargaroc while it lay incapacitated on the floor. At that moment, a Moblin ran up behind Chun-Li ready to drive his spear through her.
"Mama look out!" cried out Kiyomi.
Chun-Li whirled around to see the Moblin prepare to thrust his spear forward, but before he could connect, a blast from Din's Fire nailed the Moblin in the butt causing the pig creature to leap up and down in pain. Soon afterwards, Link and Zelda rode in on Epona and Link slashed at the Moblin making him fall to the ground. The rickshaw carrying Alex soon arrived and Alex leapt out of the rickshaw and stomped on the Moblin's ribs, making the pig monster completely vanish.
"Hey are you ok?" questioned Zelda.
"Just fine, as long as these kids don't get hurt," answered Chun-Li.
"You got it, we'll have these beasts beaten quickly!" affirmed Link.
Link and Zelda leapt off of Epona and quickly joined Chun-Li, Alex, and all the kids in eliminating the Moblins and Kargarocs that were trespassing on Chun-Li's property. With fluid teamwork, all the Moblins and Kargarocs were defeated within a matter of minutes, after taking a moment to rest, Chun-Li walked over to Link and tapped him on the shoulder, Link turned around and fixed his gaze on Chun-Li.
"Hey, I just wanted to say, thanks for the help," said Chun-Li.
"Oh it was nothing, you needed help, so we helped you, and I must say, you fight well. I've never seen anyone move so beautiully fluid. Your style is truly graceful," replied Link.
"Why, thank you," said Chun-Li blushing a little from Link's compliment.
"Now we need your help," chimed in Alex.
"What do you need Alex, and who are these people?" asked Chun-Li.
"This is Link and Zelda, they're from the world that fused with ours. They need our help in saving Tokeau from two evil men looking to conquer it," answered Alex.
"Ok, but what is Tokeau?" inquired Chun-Li.
"It's the name the sages of our world gave to the fused world," answered Zelda.
"Yes, and we need you to assist us in keeping safe from the sinister clutches of Ganondorf and Urien," added Link.
"Did you just say Urien?" asked Chun-Li.
"Yeah, they did, I know how you feel towards him," stated Alex.
"You're telling me that the no good bastard that kidnapped my adopted daughter so many years ago is causing trouble again. Ok, count me in, I want to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone anymore!" exclaimed Chun-Li.
"So Mama, who is gonna look after us?" inquired Kiyomi.
"I'll call Yun and Yang and have them look after all of you. I'm confident you'll be safe with them," answered Chun-Li.
At that moment, Chun-Li walked inside her house, Link and the others followed suit. Chun-Li immediately got on her cell phone and dialed up a number, after hearing a couple rings, a young man's voice could be heard over the phone.
"What's up Chun-Li," said the voice.
"Yun, I need a favor from you and Yang," informed Chun-Li.
"Sure, what is it?" asked Yun.
"I need you to watch over Kiyomi and all the other kids I've been training, I need to take care of some business and I don't know when I'll be back," said Chun-Li.
"Ok, we'll start packing now and be there as soon as possible," replied Yun.
"Xie xie! I owe you guys one, take care," cheered Chun-Li.
"You too, bye," responed Yun before hanging up. In the meantime, Link, Zelda, and Alex we're looking at the pictures in Chun-Li's house when Link saw one that caught his attention. It was a picture of Chun-Li with Ryu and Ken.
"You know these two?" asked Link.
"Yes, why?" asked Chun-Li.
"We also need these two and so we need to get to them ASAP!" answered Link.
"Well I have no idea where Ryu would be since he's always travelling. Ken on the other hand should be in the United States in San Francisco, that's where he lives," informed Chun-Li.
"I think our bestt bet is to go get Ken next and after we get him, we'll go track down Ryu," suggested Alex.
"I agree with you on that, so we must get to this place you call San Francisco," piped up Zelda.
"Mama you be careful out there," called out Kiyomi.
"I will be, and you listen to Yun and Yang and make sure you keep practicing your moves, I love you, Kiyomi," replied Chun-Li.
"I love you too Mama," responded Kiyomi as she hugged her adoptive mother tightly before going outside to wait for Yun and Yang.
"Sahasrala, we need to get to San Francisco!" called out Link.
Immediately, Sahasrala's spirit materialized before the heroes. He took a good look at Chun-Li before turning to face Link and then he began to speak.
"Ah, yes, I've sensed the energy of Ken, the Flaming Dragon in that region, I'll transport you to his location,. And when I find out where Ryu is at, I shall inform you," spoke Sahasrala.
"Wow, so Master Gen was sending me a message in my dream, I'm actually on a journey to save mankind, this is oing to be one crazy adventure," thought Chun-Li to herself.
"Is everyone ready to depart?" inquired Sahasrala.
"As if you had to ask, of course we are," answered Alex.
"Good, be careful out there, and good luck in retrieving Ken," called out Sahasrala as a blue light Link, Zelda, Chun-Li, Alex, and Epona and they soon vanished, speeding off towards San Francisco to find Ken Masters and have him join their cause. Outside, the little kids stared skyward waving goodbye.
"Be careful out there Master Chun-Li!" called out all the kids.
Author's Note: Yeah I know, it's been a while since an update. With work and school bogging me down, it's been difficult trying to find time to write, plus I'm going cosplaying later this month. Anyways with my school semester almost done, I should have more time on my hands, so hopefully the next update will be a lot sooner. Next chapter, Ken makes his appearance, so I'm off to go work on the chapter, so until then, please read and review. Buy medicine before you go!