Chapter 4: Battle In The Bay
In the city of San Francisco, on the premisis of an exquisite mansion on the outskirts of the city, a man prepared himself for a day of training himself in the ways of martial arts. He was a blonde haired man with a nicely tone physique, he tightened the black belt that wrapped around the top part of the red gi he was wearing and then adjusted his dark brown gloves to make them fit more snugly around his hands. He was the US Martial Arts champion Ken Masters.
"Another day of training my students, now I'm glad to have a couple of students to pass on my style to, but I wish I would meet other fighters that would push me to my limits, I feel so stagnant," grumbled Ken to himself.
"You shall get your wish soon, my student!" boomed a voice from seemingly out of nowhere. Ken jumped in shock at the sound of the voice.
"No way, it can't be! Master Gouken?" wondered Ken as he looked around the room he was in frantically. At that moment, a spectral form appeared before Ken, he was built much like Ken only slightly taller and more muscular. The form was bald and had a thick but neat gray beard adorning his chin, he was also clad in a dark blue gi as he let loose a smile at Ken, it was his deceased master, Gouken.
"Ken, you have indeed matured into a great warrior and have exceeded my expectations for you. I'm glad you have taken it upon yourself as well to take on student to pass on the teachings of Anstatsuken to since I know Ryu will most likely keep on fighting until the end of his days," remarked Gouken.
"Thank you sensei, I must ask however, what brings you here to visit me?" inquired Ken.
"Well, I know you feel like there's not many challenges out there that await you besides your matches with Ryu, but I'm here to tell you that many challenges await you on the quest you will be taking soon," answered Gouken.
"I'm going on a quest huh, sounds interesting, tell me more about this quest I'm supposed to go on sensei," stated Ken, his interest clearly piqued.
"As you are aware of, our world fused with another world, and since evils from both worlds have combined forces, it's up to good folks from both worlds to join forces to combat this evil, you are one of the ones that will fighting this evil," informed Gouken.
"I'm supposed to save the world, that's some heavy stuff there sensei, but who else is there?" asked Ken.
"There wil be six total, four of them are coming to find you now, two from the other world, and two you already know, I must depart now, but remember Ken, never let the fire that drives your fist burn out, the world now depends on it," advised Gouken.
"Yes sensei, you can count on me," affirmed Ken.
"I know I can, farewell my student," said Gouken before disappearing, leaving Ken in the room by himself, he grabbed a towel and his water bottle and just stood there for a moment to soak in what he had just saw.
"Saving the world, sounds like fun, plus if it brings new challenges, I welcome it. I better get outside though, can't leave Sean and Mel waiting for too long," mused Ken to himself as he walked outside to the vast yard of his mansion. In the meantime, Link, Zelda, Epona, Chun-Li, and Alex had just arrived in San Francisco and immediately Zelda held her nose as an unpleasant odor wafted by her.
"Phew, what stinks around here?" asked Zelda.
"I assume it's either a homeless man nearby, or the smell of someone cooking all the fish they catch on the wharf," answered Alex.
"Thinking about fish makes me want to go fishing right now, but we have no time for that," commented Link.
"That is true, we must go get Ken so we can continue on our quest to save Tokeau," added Chun-Li.
With that, the quartet along with Epona started trekking across the streets of San Francisco, as they walked along, Link and Zelda gazed about at all the automobiles, buses, and cable cars in the road, and all the people walking on the sidewalks, and the numerous shops selling varying curio to eager customers.
"Wow, I'm amazed that people in your world operate those giant hunks metal to get around," gasped Zelda.
"You mean cars, yeah, it's pretty much a necessity for travelling long distances in our world," remarked Chun-Li.
"Your world is vast and interesting, but I actually like some the sights I see here," stated Link.
"That's good, I think we need to ask for directions as to where Ken is at right now," suggested Alex.
"Agreed," said Link and Zelda in unison. At that moment they heard the sound of a music box playing and ran over to see a baldheaded man in a blue shirt and brown shorts asking for money while playing his music box with a group of chickens dancing around him.
"Guru-Guru, what are you doing here?" inquired Link.
"I found myself placed here after the worlds fused, and since they don't, since they don't, since they don't accept rupees here as form of payment, I must perform for this world's form, for this world's form, for this world's form of currency so I can eat," answered Guru-Guru. Upon hearing that, Alex pulled his wallet out and handed Guru-Guru a ten dollar bill.
"Here, go buy yourself a burger and fries," said Alex.
"Thank you kind stranger!" exclaimed Guru-Guru as he ran off towards the nearest burger joint, his chickens following him.
"How nice of you Alex," commented Zelda.
"It was nothing, the people of your world have a lot of adapting to do, might as well help them out," replied Alex.
"True, the same could be said for the people of your world as well, with our worlds merged, we have a whole new set of customs to learn," commented Link.
"That we do, and we must keep them safe as well," added Chun-Li.
As the quartet continued to look for clues on Ken's whereauts, back at the Masters Mansion, Ken walked out to a dojo in his backyard, as he entered the doors of the dojo, he saw three people waiting for him, one was a blonde woman sitting on a bench sipping on some water, she had on a white top and blue jeans, it was Ken's wife Eliza. One was a young adolescent with spiky blonde hair tied up in a white headband, he work a blue colored gi similar to Ken's red one, it was Ken's son Mel. The last person was a dark skinned male similar in build to Ken, his dark hair was done up in small dreadlocks and he was clad in a yellow gi, it was Ken's first student, Sean Matsuda.
"Good morning Master Ken," chimed Sean as he saw his master enter the dojo.
"Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting, are we all ready to begin training today?" asked Ken.
"Yeah Dad, me and Sean are all warmed and ready to roll," answered Mel.
"So, what's up honey, it's normally not like you to be late?" inquired Eliza.
"You're gonna think I'm crazy, but I had a vision of my master telling me I was supposed to help save the world from some evil," answered Ken.
"That's not crazy talk, since our world fused with that other world, there have been some bizarre things going on, wouldn't surprise me if the world needs a savior now," commented Sean.
"Either way, it was quite intriguing, but I'm not going to worry about that right now, let's get to training, we've been held up for too long," ordered Ken to Sean and Mel.
"Hai!" responded Sean and Mel in unison as the two got into a fighting ring with Ken as Eliza watched them begin their training regimen. In the meantime, Link and company had come across a nearby pier where they saw numerous folks gathering and making merry with one another.
"This place is bustling with quite a lot of activity," stated Link.
"This is Pier 39, lots of things to do here, some cool shops, an arcade, and lots of great places to eat, it's one of the most popular tourist spots in this city," informed Alex.
"A lot of musicians peform just outside the entrance too in an effort try to earn money to help them break into the business," added Chun-Li
"You have to admire their tenacity," remarked Zelda.
As the group headed closer to the pier, the sound of a band could be heard ever louder, as Link listened, the music sounded familiar to him and as he approached a crowd nearby, he saw that the band playing were a bunch of Zoras.
"What's with the trippy makeup?" whispered Alex to Link.
"That's not make up, those are Zoras, they're fish people that live in Hyrule, they spend most of their lives in the water, but since they have lungs as well as gills, they can set foot on land for a good period of time as well," replied Link.
"What an intriguing race," stated Chun-Li.
"Thank you for coming to listen to us people of this owrld, we are the Indigo-Gos, one of the most popular bands of our world," said the lead Zora, a feminine looking light blue skinned Zora in a purple dress.
"I'm Evan, the keyboard player and writer of most of the songs," said a pale skinned Zora with a rather large jaw.
"I'm Tijo, the drummer whose beats reverberate across the waves," piped up a stout Zora sitting a stool with drumsticks in his hands.
"The names' Japas, the bodacious bassist!" said a Zora whose scales draped over his eyes.
"My name is Mikau, the great guitarist and the greatest warrior of the Zora tribe," said a tattooed Zora to the female Zora's right.
"And I'm your lead singer Lulu, and now we will perform our greatest hit for you all, 'The Ballad of the Wind Fish' hit it guys!" exclaimed Lulu.
As the Indigo-Gos started to play, a loud scream was heard as a group of people ran away from something in fear, Link and company whirled in the direction the people were running from to see red and blue one eyed spider like creatures as well as bipedal dinosauric monsters with swords and shields running rampant towards the pier.
"Dynalfos and Tekites!" exclaimed Zelda.
"I take it they're more monsters from your world," said Chun-Li.
"Yes, quickly, we must protect the people here!" ordered Link as him and Zelda charged forward on Epona towards the legion of Dynalfos and Tekites, Alex and Chun-Li quickly followed suit.
One of Dynalfos lunged at a person ready to strike with its sword, however Zelda nailed the reptilian creature with a magical blast stunning it and as Epona went galloping by, Link drove his sword through the Dynalfos causing it to vanish in a puff of smoke. A Tekite tried to leap on Link's head but Alex leapt into the air and nailed the Tekite with an Air Knee Raid crushing the Tekite and making the bug vanish as well. A pair of Dynalfos surrounded Chun-Li and hissed voraciously. Thinking instinctively, Chun-Li flipped upside down and spun around with both legs out kicking both Dynalfos into submission with her Spinning Bird Kick. While the group was wrapped up in fighting dynalfos and Tekites, another squad of Dynalfos attempted to sneak up on the heroes.
"You guys look out!" shouted Mikau as he fired forth the fins on his forearms like dual boomerangs. As the Dynalfos staggered about stunned, Link, Zelda, Chun-Li, and Alex took care of the Dynalfos, making them all go up in smoke. All the people that they attack breathed sighs of relief.
"Thanks for helping us out back there," said Link to Mikau.
"Anytime, always gotta watchs our fans backs," remarked Mikau.
"Good to know, we'd love to stay and listen to your songs, but we must find the one called Ken Masters as soon as possible," remarked Zelda.
"You're looking for Ken Masters, his mansion is about fifteen minutes due west," said a man from within the crowd pointing off in the direction where Ken's mansion lay.
"Thank you good sir!" called out Link as him and Zelda galloped away on Epona. Alex and Chun-Li found a couple of bicycles lying on the ground and picked them up and began riding on them to keep up with Epona. Back at Ken's mansion, Ken watched as Sean and Mel sparred with one another he studied their forms ready to correct them on whatever mistakes he would see. Mel threw out a high kick to Sean's head, San dodged the blow and retaliated with a sweep, Mel leapt over Sean's leg at the last second and started to build chi for a Hadoken, but before he could get it out Sean nailed Mel with a one-two punch into his Dragon Smash attack, flooring Mel.
"Enough!" called out Ken. Sean and Mel immediately stopped sparring and Sean went to help Mel up to his feet.
"Damn it, I wasn't quick enough," grumbled Mel.
"Well you gotta remember, I've been training with Master Ken longer than you have," commented Sean.
"True, but you still gave Sean a good fight Mel, just don't rely too much on chi based attacks until you can build your chi faster," advised Ken.
"Sure thing Dad," replied Mel.
Suddenly, the door to the dojo burst open as a legion of Dynalfos and Tekites growled loudly at eyeballed Ken and his group with malicous intent in their eyes.
"What the hell are those things?" inquired Mel.
"They look like monsters from that other world," mused Sean.
"Monsters or not, if they try to mess with us, than they're making a big mistake, Eliza, stand back, let's take it to them you guys!" ordered Ken.
"Yes sensei!" affirmed Sean and Mel the three men rushed into battle against the Dynalfos and Tekite militia. Mel saw a Dynalfos swing at him with his sword, Mel ducked under the strike and swept the Dynalfos off of his feet, hen stomped on the reptiles throat and made it vanish in a puff of smoke. As a Tekite leapt toward Mel, the young man put his palms together and shot forth a blue ball of energy.
"Hadoken!" shouted Mel as the projectile sent the Tekite up in flames. A Dynalfos tried to sneak up on Mel, but Sean rushed forward and tackled the lizard to the ground with his Sean Tackle and delivered two hard punches to the Dynalfos' face.
"Thanks for the save Sean," called out Mel.
"Anytime man," replied Sean.
A small group of Dynalfos tried to surround Ken, the red clad warrior just smirked in cocky manner before lifting up into the air with one of his special moves.
"Tatsumakisenpukyaku!" yelled Ken.
Ken spun around with his let jutting out kicking down all the Dynalfos that surrounded him. While the Dynalfos lay dazed, Ken quickly finished them all off with martial arts prowess.
"You're gonna have to do moe than just look ugly to defeat me!" taunted Ken.
"AAAAAHHHH! Help me!" screamed Eliza as a Dynalfos started to drag her outside. Ken, Sean, and Mel ran after the Dynalfos, who pointed his sword towards Eliza's throat and started to laugh.
"Crap, we can't get close without risking Eliza's life, what to do," grumbled Ken to himself.
"Kikoken!" hollered Chun-Li's voice as a blue colored projectile nailed the Dynalfos right in the back sending him crashing to the ground. From out of nowhere, Link descended down and thrust his sword right into the Dynalfos' chest making it blank out of existence. At that moment, Link, Zelda, Chun-Li, and Alex, all rushed to Ken's side.
"Hey, you doing all right?" asked Link.
"Yeah, thanks for helping out my wife man," answered Ken.
"No problem, but I suggest we save the formalities for after we get rid of these beasts," suggested Link.
"I'm with you on that one friend," replied Ken as the five along with Sean and Mel took their battle stances again and started to attack the remaining Dynalfos and Tekites. Within minutes, with the might of the seven ifighters, the monsters were extinguished one by one, eventually one Dynalfos remained, out of desperation, he leapt at the heroes ready to slash.
"Note smart, I'll teach you not to jump at us!" commented Ken.
At thatm moment, Ken's fist lit ablaze, Link and Zelda gazed in awe at this.
"Shoryuken!" shouted Ken.
The red clad fighter rose into the air with his fist of fire and nailed the Dynalfos igniting the reptile and as he Dynalfos hit the ground, it disappeared like all its bretheren did, in a puff of smoke.
"Come back when you actually learn to fight!" called out Ken.
"You seem full of confidence," remarked Zelda.
"Well of course, I'm one of the best martial artists in the world, plus I got some good backup right now," responed Ken.
"Well, it's good to see that you're doing good Ken," said Chun-Li as she hugged her friend tightly.
"Good to see you too" said Ken during their hug, he then turned to Alex and they shook hands. He then looked at Link and Zelda, and walked over to shake their hands.
"I assume you guys from that other world," stated Ken.
"Yes, I am Link, this is Zelda, it's a pleasure to meet you Ken Masters," replied Link.
"The pleasure's all mine, something tells you guys didn't just come to visit me," remarked Ken.
"You are correct, we actually need you to help save Tokeau," informed Alex.
"I figured that, but what's Tokeau, the name of the fused world or something?" questioned Ken.
"Precisely, and yes, you are one of the chosen ones to help us save this world from the tyranny of Ganondorf and Urien," answered Link.
"So my vision of Master Gouken was true, wow this is quite a shock," gasped Ken.
"Wait, are you saying that you have to leave us to go on a quest now, I don't like the sound of this Ken," piped Eliza with concern in her voice.
"I can understand your concern Eliza, but the world needs me, besides, I have Link, Zelda, Alex, and Chun-Li watching my back, and I'll watch their's too," replied Ken confidently.
""Not to mention we'll have Ryu to help us as well," chimed Zelda.
"Ryu's coming with us too?" asked Ken.
"Yes, he's the last of the chosen ones we need to obtain in order to succeed on our quest," answered Link.
"Ok, if Ryu's gonna be with you, then I'm not as worried, but you be careful out there, I want you to come back alive Ken, Mel needs his father," ordered Eliza.
"Not to worry, I'll be all right dear. Mel, Sean, hold the fort down while I'm gone, and don't slack off on your training, I expect you to still train as hard as ever," stated Ken.
"You got it Master Ken, I'll make sure of that," replied Sean.
"Yeah, I won't let you down Dad," added Mel.
"I'm sure you won't, take care you guys, I'll be back soon," said Ken as he tapped fists with Sean and hugged his son, he then turned to Eliza and embraced her.
"Be safe out there Ken, I love you," said Eliza.
"I love you too Eliza," replied Ken as he kissed his wife, quickly grabbed some supplies, and then joined his companions.
"So, any idea where Ryu would be?" asked Zelda.
"Ryu always travels around the world, but our best would be our old sensei's dojo in Japan, that's most likely where he is if he's not travelling right now," answered Ken.
"Then that's where we'll look, Sahasrala!" called out Link.
Upon hearing his name, Sahasrala's spirit materialized in front of Link and company.
"Ah, I see Ken has joined our cause, that's good," stated Sahasrala.
"We need you to take us to Japan Sahasrala, we believe Ryu may be over there," informed Link.
"Ah yes, I sense a strong force over there, I believe that may be Ryu as well, let us be on our way, do we have everything we need from here?" asked Sahasrala.
"Yes, let's get going before Ganondorf and Urien's minions reach Ryu," answered Ken.
"Very well, may the sages be with you all," remarked Sahasrala as he teleported Link, Zelda, Epona, Ken, Chun-Li, and Alex away in a beam of blue light. Eliza, Sean, and Mel waved to the heroes as they teleported away.
"Good luck to you all!" called out Eliza, Sean, and Mel in unison at the heroes faded from sight and teleported off towards Japan to find Ryu.
Author's Note: Yeah, I'm done with school for the summer, and ready to get back into my writing groove. So Ken has now joined the fray and is ready to kick some ass. Next chapter is when Ryu finally makes his appearance in the fic, I'm off to go plan that out now, but until then, please read and review. I wish you good luck!