Reiko and Khameleon
She had been hidden for a long time. Now there were even more places for her to hide. But she could hide no more. For what was happening all around her only made it even more dangerous no matter where you were.
The leaves rustled as she passed by, but many would have mistaken for the wind. But it was just her making her way through the jungle unseen. When she broke through it, she looked ahead and saw the colossal palace fortress. The domain of the very man she pledged to fight against.
Shao Kahn.
But for all the power it projected and the dread it caused Khameleon had the feeling that whatever was going on in the realms was not of his doing- for once.
But that did not mean he would not seize the opportunity to use it.
And that meant Khameleon should do just that. Use this opportunity to finally free her realm from Shao Kahn's grasp. Whatever the cost.
But no doubt she would not be the only opportunist out there now.
She took another step forward but realized her footsteps were louder than before. And she was no longer alone.
"Here you are!" a loud voice cried out. Alarmed Khameleon turned to see glaring at her with white eyes lined around black marks was the general of the very armies she pledged to fight against.
"You!" she hissed and readied herself to fight.
"Yes, it is I." Reiko said boastfully but did not make a move against her, but instead stood his ground though he did take notice of her stance against him "He's not there you know. Gone like all the others." he stated pointing to the castle Shao Kahn called home, but Khameleon did not turn to look at it. She had been eyeing for some time wondering what she would do next. But now her full attention was on the new threat before her "I have no cause to fight you." he said trying to ward her off, but no doubt sounded as if he would react if provoked.
"But I have on against you." she growled at him "For you are bound to serve with those against me."
"This is true." he conceded "But that does not mean we must fight against each other. Not when we have shared enemies of our own."
"Shao Kahn is my enemy."
"And he has many new ones now." Reiko told rather slyly as if meant more than just those newfound warriors who travelled from one realm to the next, but they were the least of Khameleon's concerns "For surely you must know there are even more warriors out now. Dangers to us all. For what do you think I am doing here now?"
Khamelon's mask twisted as her face did beneath it "The bidding of your master."
"I am his general. And in this time of turbulence one to be relied upon." he told "And if I am to complete the task assigned of me; to propel the invasion and vanquish his threats." he raised a fist to close it to show his strength "I cannot do this alone. For just as Shao Kahn's requires the strong to keep him in power and fight for him, so do I. I need those that are strong to fight beside me. More importantly, I require one who can utilize infiltration and can move unseen." His eyes passed over his fist to look at her "A purpose you would serve valiantly." he complimented her, but it only fueled rage in her.
"You think I will do the bidding of one who caused the downfall of my race?"
"The other of your kind has found service rewarding." Reiko said slyly "Why not you?" he asked with an equally malicious grin. Khameleon riled in place. "But these are dangerous times." he admitted noticing the rage seething in her "Who knows who will survive this? Who will replace those who have come before them?" He sounded like he was implying something "All out there are your enemies no less that mine. And if Reptile can serve Shao Kahn in servitude, why can you not be better and become my partner?"
Khamelon's see through face offered a vague uncertain expression based on what he said. He started off saying he serves Shao Kahn but now says he could be Shao Kahn or his better at least. He needs not servants, but allies. How long that would remain was uncertain, just as she still was.
"What are you saying?" she asked growing tired of his rambling.
Reiko finally moved stepping forward "I offer my hand in an alliance now." he said opening his fist outward as an open hand "I advise you take it. For you have hidden yourself for so long, who can you turn to for help when you truly need it?" he asked. Stiffening Khameleon froze in place. She said nothing to him, so he spoke more driving his point home "You have no true friends or allies." he said his voice on the edge of pity "But this is an opportunity for you to stop that."
Now Khamelon moved, even if it was only her eyes looking at him warily as he stood before her "You would never allow me to have my revenge." Khameleon said.
"You don't know what I'm capable of." Reiko said, once again implying more.
"I know you are exceptionally cruel," she spat "or else you would not have risen in Shao Kahns service."
"But I'm just as pragmatic." he said rationally "For even I know this cannot be accomplished by myself. Or else I would not search for one who can complement my objective."
"I am not a means to your end." she said defiantly.
"Our ends may be more in line than you seem to think."
Khameleon skeptically turned her eyes down. Reiko saw her glove change from yellow to purple to green to pink. It rose from her side and then he felt grab fingers trace atop his and then wrap around his.
"Well done." he said bringing her hand in to kiss it. Quickly she retracted her hand from him. She had half the mind to slap him.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked. In reply, Reiko only grinned evilly.
El Fuerte and Rolento
"Ai! Dios Mio!" the distress cry of the chef let out and carried all thorough the restaurant. Exemplified by the fact that there was not a single person there. Empty chairs, empty tables. Which was heart wrenching due to the armoring smell coming from the kitchen of countless contradictory flavors mixed together. "How could this be? All my heard work!" El Fuerte fretted as he ran around the restaurant flipping on the tables and hopping onto chairs with the agility of the ring. His cries echoing out as if there was an audience in attendance "With no one to best how can I improve my fighting skills or menu!" he said before bounding further across his restaurant.
As he spoke and jumped, he came into view of the window to his restaurant and of anyone who could see. And though he may not have any customers at the moment given all that was going on, it did not mean that his talents had gone unnoticed. For he was being watched by only the highest grade military equipment.
"That's it." a lowly voice said greedily through the binoculars "He's perfect."
Inside the restaurant El Fuerte spun like a cyclone to land on his feet, all without disrupting the placement of seats or tapestries. They eventually settled back into their listless places.
"Like the sun setting into night has this darkness cast a shadow upon my restaurant and culinary skills?" he asked aloud and then answered himself "NO! A true warrior does not back down in the face of adversity nor does a true chef. For the night sky only brings out brighter stars!" he declared raising his hands "But What can I do? What is there to be done?!" he asked aloud and his voice echoed once again.
"Enlist!" a voice echoed in reply to him. Turning his masked face towards the door El Fuerte looked to see a man had entered. Tall and smug brimming with bravado and confidence. Draped in a uniform he was no doubt a soldier of the highest caliber. A baton rested on his shoulder, and a scar traced his face along with his grin.
"Ah! A customer!" El Fuerte exclaimed as his turned fully to greet him fully, his eyes brightening like the stars on his mask. Perhaps things were not as bad as he thought.
"A recruiter." Rolento responded causing only confusion to come over the Luchador "I've taken notice of your skills." he said swiping the baton rigidly before tucking it below his armpit "Quite the potential you possess." he continued "Your culinary prowess is just what I need to feed my armies!"
"You think I have potential?" he asked excitedly.
"Of course!" Rolento turned his head up "Your combination of food allows for all kinds of nutrients in one meal. The perfect fuel to keep my army!"
"But I'm no soldier." El Fuerte told him.
"But you'll come no less." Rolento said "Your being drafted son. The fate of the world hands in the balance."
"The World?! Another tournament?!"
"An invasion." Rolento told "So will you answer the call and join my army?!"
El Fuerte dropped his head contemplating the offer before him "Things must be worse than I thought." he said aloud to himself. Sure, it was one thing to have few customers, but none at all. He thought another tournament had swept them away. But if he joined that for the sake of his two main passions come together, what else could he do now against a greater threat? "Perhaps by going out I can end this conflict with my skills." he was slowly coming to a conclusion building off of Rolento's offer by thinking of his own skillset "Yes, as a fighter and a Chef I cannot let this pass! I must do more! I must do better." He turned his head up towards Rolento who eagerly awaited his answer "Si!" El Fuerte said pounding his fist to the air "I will join you General!"
"Atta boy!" Rolento applauded him "That's the can-do attitude my army needs." Rolento said "Welcome aboard chef! Keep that attitude up, and I'll promote you to private." he said as a hand reached in to unleash the baton and he slashed it "Now Get Ready! We move out at once!" he said before doing an about face and unleashed his baton to point forward "Straight to the front lines!"
Running across his restaurant El Fuerte came alongside Rolento as they walked out of the door together.
"More than anything else Food bring people together." he rationed "Whatever this is, I'll end this my way!"
"That's the spirit!" Rolento cheered.
Reiko and Khameleon Fight Your Rival! English Manor
Sitting along the battlement of the castle, she gazed up at the night sky as her legs dangled off the edge and her arms propped her up. Gazing above she saw a pitch black backdrop but filled with countless twinkles of bright lights and stars. And even closer than that between the land and the sky were lights that trickled through the sky like rivers, the Aurora Borealis. Illuminating shades of green gold, yellow, tracing the mountaintops and reflected in the river flowing far beneath them. She looked upon them in pure adulation, a semblance of familiarity and belonging in her clear eyes as the lights reflected in them.
"They're like me." she said astonished as her clothes changed to match the colors above her. A grin turned her mask up as her eyes sparkled in delight.
"Enough." Reiko's bark brought her back down to the earth as he came beside her "This is no time to be idle." he said as Khameleon rolled her eyes and then flicked her head allowing her long transcendent hair to whip out and catch Reiko in the face, though he never saw it coming.
Spitting, grumbling, and cursing he wiped it all away and wasn't sure it was all gone before he could only feel his own fingers pawing at his own face. Once he was finally done, he composed himself as Khameleon hopped down to stand next to him.
"Now." he began in a strict hard voice "This is a strong fortification." he said leaning over the battlements to look down. The castle was level with the mountaintops and a bridge connected this castle to an identical one on the other side. But beneath that it was nothing but a long fall down "It can be used as a choke point against our enemies." he explained as he continued to look around, though as he did Khameleon only looked forward as he eyes locked on something opposite them "It commands a good view all around, meaning any approaching enemy will be noticed." as he said that Khameleon's eyes raised up in curiosity but never broke with whatever she was fixated upon "And its defense are strong. I imagine only someone of your talents would get in unnoticed." he mused aloud and offered a compliment "and perhaps most importantly it's-"
"It's been breached." Khameleon finished.
"What?!" he snapped at her, but she didn't flinch or stumble but instead brought a gloved hand which changed colors but only pointed ahead of them. Looking up and away from her, he saw that opposite them on the other side of the stone bridge connecting this fortress with another, were two intruders standing atop the fortress and looking to use it for their own purposes. One was fashioned in a military uniform, pressed and ready for action. The other was more plain than colorful looking more like a jester than a soldier but seemed to make up for it in his actions. "They are here." he realized pointing off to the other castle as his eyes settled dangerously on them. Looking up she saw atop it two people "Go and investigate it." he grumbled to her.
Whether she left to do his bidding or to get away from him he wasn't sure. But she left no less. Disappearing as if she wasn't here at all.
Now it was just him and he turned his gaze to the other castle top only to see now he was being starred at.
"Hold it right there!" the voice of the uniformed man called out with a pointed baton.
Reiko grumbled to himself and was ready to take action to dislodge them himself. Putting a foot to the rampart, he pushed off of it and jumped forward and down landing on the small bridge connecting the two castles.
"Hm." the uniformed man let out from the other side. As if to answer to call from his equal, he jumped into the air flipping down before landing in a low crouch on the bridge before rising back up. The two grilled each other harshly, Reiko with anger, Rolento with boast "Be warned this castle has been taken."
"Yes." Reiko agreed "By me." he said with a snarl.
"Is that your stance? Well then I shall be the one to take this from you." Rolento rationalized pointing his baton back out.
"You will find that impossible, General Rolento." Reiko growled.
"I could say the same to you General Reiko." Rolento replied as he lay the hammer on his shoulder to it travelled behind his head.
"It will not be General forever." Reiko said.
"Demoted?" Rolento concluded snidely "A failed general is no better than a common foot soldier." Rolento chided.
"I am to be Kahn!" he shouted. As the two argued none took notice of Khameleon slinking across the castle, the ever-changing clothes she wore visible even if her inside of it was not.
"To have others do your fighting? Pff. I'd expected as much from you." Rolento said "Leaders of Outworld armies. Bah! Your army wouldn't stand a chance against mine." Rolento spat "Now that Kotal guy! There's a general, one worthy of recognition." Reiko's couldn't contain a grumble at the sound of that. For him to boast so casually before Reiko was insult enough but to bring up the General of Kitana Kahn's armies was even worse. A general that Reiko himself was destined to fight. But Rolento it seemed shared the same view of him; that he would be a general for him to face off and defeat to prove himself. But he had other generals in his sights too "And don't even get me started on General Blade." he said before following it up with a sharp wolf whistle.
"I have conquered realms fool." Reiko spat "Your pitiful nation of soldiers wouldn't survive an onslaught from an army under my command."
"An army is truly only as strong as the one who leads it." Rolento passed his baton from one hand to the other before settling it in one hand to point at him "You need to be just as good a fighter as you are a commander. Whoever commands from the rear commands no real respect."
"Then I will show you more than that now!" Reiko said before he lunged at Rolento. Digging into his pocket he found a grenade and threw it. Reiko swatted it aside leading to it fly off of the bridge only to explode beside it as a surge of red fire and black smoke overtook the narrow bridge.
Then suddenly from that fire and smoke Reiko came leaping forward. Slamming his fists down atop Rolento who twirling his baton brought it up to take the force of the blow. Back on the ground Reiko returned his fists to his side as Rolento got up and the two began to duke it out.
El Fuerte and Rolento Fight Your Rival! English Manor
"Yep." Rolento declared as he snapped to attention "This spot will do nicely. Good ground, good vantage point, easy supply route, nice view. Anything you'd want in a fortress." he rattled off his list as El Fuerte stood beside him nodding to each word he said. Above them the aurora borealis shined in the night sky, illuminating everything below it. Even the castle they stood on seemed to radiate with gold because of it, highlighting its allure and catching Rolento's eye easily.
"Where do you need me General?" El Fuerte asked.
"Starting cooking!" he announced "The men can't fight on empty stomachs. And our supply lines are stretched as it is. Just cook with what you have. It's what your good at!"
"Yes sir." El Fuerte said dutifully. Truth be told they had been through so much already. These fighters new and old were strong alright. And El Fuerte could tell their appetites only reflected their burning desire and fighting prowess. Coming all this way, his mind was like a stew, brewing with ideas for new foods to concoct. But for all his ideas, he found himself distracted. By a rolling sound by his foot. Looking down he saw sitting atop the tower they found themselves on was a blue orb. One that glowed and shined like the lights in the sky above them. "What do we have here?" El Fuerte asked as he knelt down to look at it. Was it edible was his first question? Whatever it was it looked important. He reached down to take it in his hands.
"General!" he exclaimed "Look at this-"
"Security Breach!" Rolento shouted. El Fuerte quickly snapped upright. Looking over he saw Rolento still at attention and looking ahead. Following his line of sight El Fuerte saw he was staring at another part of the castle adjoined by a bridge beneath them. It was there he saw a lone armored man with black streaks running down over his eyes. But as El Fuerte was focused on what was across from them Rolento took the time out of this dangerous moment to turn and chastise him "Chef!" he snapped "How'd you let this happen?"
"Me?!" El Fuerte let out confused "I'm just the cook, not the intelligence."
"Hm. We'll have to fill in the gaps in the ranks until we get one." he said rubbing his chin before turning back to look across.
"More Fighters." El Fuerte said as he slid to Rolento's side, trying to get a good look of them himself and wondering what tastes and food they like.
"More than that." Rolento said with his arm behind his back "That's a high-ranking officer over there." he pointed off with his baton " A general."
"A general? Like you." he said astonished.
"A star below." Rolento said smugly "As I'll show now." he said turning across to him with a sneer "Hold it right there!" he commanded across to the other commander. But this one did not take orders from him. As if in defiance to his order he put a foot to the rampart and jumped off of it. "Hm." Rolento let out. "Sit this one out." Rolento said glancing over his shoulder to him but keeping his concentration on the bridge beneath them from him. Rolento then turned his head back to see the onlooker on the other side hadn't relented in his glare. Then he jumped down to greet him, leading El Fuerte on his own.
His gaze followed Rolento as he leapt into the air and over the rampart as he went down to land the bridge connecting the two castles, where he stood off against the opposing general. But Rolento was there all alone. And as his tag team partner, El Fuerte couldn't let him go it alone.
"Entering the ring! The cyclone of the Gulf of Mexico!" he proclaimed as he bounded forward to the bridge below. By the time he got there the two generals were already trading blows. He may not have been tagged in yet, but he couldn't let that continue.
El Fuerte raced to join him but came to a sudden stop when a green leotard seemed to be blown by the wind before him. It brought him to a screeching halt as he was taken aback by what was before him now.
The green leotard lingered in the air before him, at least it started green before it turned to yellow and then purple. But whatever color it was it looked like it was being worn but instead was just hanging there with no one inside of it even though it still had the shape of a person beneath it. El Fuerte raised a brow beneath his mask the peculiarity before him.
Raising his arm up he extended a finger from it further. Prodding it forward it came closer to and eventually poked at this floating piece of fabric and he felt something when he did. When poking what would be the chest, he felt something soft squish against his protruding finger. In reaction to his prodding, he saw the fabric began to ripple like water when he poked it.
"Hm?" he let out as it jiggled like jelly before him. Confused he then brought his other hand not to poke but to feel outright. Grabbing a hold of whatever soft and round object was within this clothing was grabbed ahold of completely squishing it in his hand. He was more curious now as although there was no one here it felt as if there was. A soft squeeze elicited a soft squish in his hand, but he thought he also heard a faint mumble or moan though he was unsure of where from it sounded close.
Suddenly the sleeve rose up high above him and came down with crushing authority to his head, breaking his grip and sending him stumbling away.
"AH! Dios Mio!" El Fuerte exclaimed as he stumbled away "What was that and where did it come from?" he asked as he raised his head up from under the protection of his hands. Covering his head, he looked up to see the leotard move almost in a way as if it was taking a fighting stance against him as it took on a pinkish color. With that in mind and focusing even more he saw the faintest outline a woman before him. "Bah!" he exclaimed as his hands left his hand and he came to the sudden realization "My apologies lovely unseeable Senorita. Let me make it up for you. I can offer you the sweetest taste from all over the world."
"Not interested." Khameleon refused flatly as she swiped at him. El Fuerte blocked it and then kicked forward.
He dove at her, but she sidestepped him and instead he barreled forward into Rolento and Reiko's battle. Rolento's blow was blocked as Reiko brought an arm up to block a swipe and with his free hand struck out at him. Rolento though jumped back away evading the blow, but he was merely replaced by El Fuerte whose dive just continued into Reiko hitting him in the face and knocking him back.
Stopping and steadying himself, El Fuerte stood his ground as Reiko found his footing.
"Reinforcements! Excellent move cook!" Rolento praised him "That'll be a promotion!" he declared. Just as he did, he saw something shift behind them and went back to back with El Fuerte though his stance against Khameleon was less confrontational.
Leaving El Fuerte with Reiko he didn't see the general's reaction to what he said.
"A lowly cook!" Reiko raged before he came at him. But as he did that Khameleon found herself face to face with Rolento. But he had something else on his mind.
"You!" Rolento barked as he pointed his baton to the lingering, ever changing leotard and the transcendent woman inside it. She stopped when he pointed it at her expecting an attack, but he had something else ready for her "You seem like the perfect candidate for my new special ops division of my army." Flicking her white hair Khameleon stood up putting her hands to her hips "A talent like yours cannot go to waste, especially under an inferior commander." he said bringing it back to rest on his shoulder as he continued to ramble onto her "So what do you say? Defect from his army to mine." he said waving his arm and Baton out to her as an extension.
"I'm getting too many offers I don't want." Khameleon sighed.
She charged him throwing a punch that he sidestepped around. Going forward she continued on coming to El Fuerte's back as he dueled with Reiko. Cartwheeling forward, her lands landed on his back pushing him down as she landed before him and beside Reiko. But before the two could take the masked man on together Rolento came onto his side.
"Alright cook, this is it. Eliminate the targets." he said tugging on his baton as Shao Kahn would his hammer.
Khameleon seemed to muse silently to herself at the group of fighters before them.
"Leave none alive." Reiko threatened and was ready to act on it "No quarter."
Lining up across from each other on the narrow bridge the two duos charged.
Sub Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Reiko and Khameleon
A darkness formed on the bridge between the two glimmering castles. A pit that blocked off travel from one side to the other. And from that pit rose something. Standing before the gate of the left castle Reiko and Khameleon would prevent anyone else from storming the castle.
"Another intruder." Reiko said readying himself for battle and Khamelon did the same. Rising from the pit was a red man with a great mane of hair.
"The stars aligned herald my hour." Necalli growled "The hour of battle.. the battle to consume souls of the strong." his voice wretched.
Reiko snarled "Say again beast!"
Necalli's feet finally touched the ground once he was done rising from his pool "You claim this as yours.. but you are mine."
"Ha! Come on and try" he goaded him.
"You cannot stop me." he said looking to Reiko but then turning his head over to the transcendent Saurian beside him "And you cannot hide from me" Necalli gargled at her. But that threat only caused her face to curl in anger, one that was more than visible in her eyes. She took a step forward standing off against him.
"I hide no longer." she shot back at him.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! El Fuerte and Rolento
They had to be extra vigilant for any more intruders in the base. And low and behold he saw one now.
"Eyes up soldiers." Rolento barked.
Following the command El Fuerte looked up to see the night sky still shining brightly from all the lights radiating across it, looking as if it was daytime. Instructing him further, he suddenly felt Rolento's baton placed on his head, then without applying any great force guided his head back down to look in front of him. And that's when El Fuerte saw it.
The bridge connecting the two castles, they were on one side and on the other was not two people, but one. And he looked like one unhappy customer.
Lurching on the other side of the bridge lingering before the left castle, an angry look on his face as he writhed in place. But then suddenly his head lashed around, his long hair spiraling around. But through it they saw the resentment filled eyes that glared at them.
"What does he want general?" El Fuerte asked shakily.
"Your soulssss will fill my stomach!"
"Souls?" El Fuerte questioned "That doesn't sound filling at all." Whatever Necalli wanted it was something El Fuerte was sure could be fixed by a good meal.
"No time for chow." Rolento said "It's time for action!" he said as he rushed forward at Necalli. And only a step behind him was El Fuerte.
Reiko and Khameleon Ending
The last time he saw his emperor was when he was kneeling before him, taking his charge to go out and pursue war throughout the realms. He did just that as instructed. But it wasn't for Shao Kahn's sole purpose. Whatever enemies he had; Reiko shared. But when it was all done only one could remain.
And Reiko thought it would be him.
But Shao Kahn would not take it without a fight.
A swing of his hammer knocked Reiko back skidding across the ground. Groaning, he came to his knees a pained expression across his face. His eyes rolled up to see the bottom two legs strolling towards him.
When he looked up, he saw Shao Kahn looming over him hammer in hand. Behind him the four statues of the four kings stood though they were fractured and broken from Shao Kahn already picking away at them, ready to make this lair his own. The Lair of the Four Kings was quickly becoming the Lair of the One Kahn. Shao Kahn stood over him, making it seem like he was one with the four statues that would bare his likeness.
Reiko was back on his knees, exactly where he was the last time he was before him. Only now he was in the fight for his life.
"Is this what you match treachery with?" Shao Kahn fumed at him his fingers strumming his hammer "First my daughter, then my wife and now you?" he said bitterly as resentment grew with each word and each strum of his hammer.
"No different than you to your old master." Reiko hacked blood.
"Tsch." Shao Kahn huffed "Yet I did not fail as you have."
"I have not failed yet."
"Fitting last words." Shao said as he raised his hammer "For you were a fool to take me on alone."
Reiko managed a red grin "Who says I battle alone?" he asked. That alarmed Shao and instead of swinging it down onto Reiko's head he brought it down to guard himself from a potential oncoming blow.
"Khameleon!" Reiko shot his head up and called out "To me!" he announced. Shao braced himself for a hidden attack from any side, but the only thing that happened were echoes that only got farther and dimmer as they traveled away. Just like Reiko's prospects of victory. Reiko grinded his teeth as Shao Kahn's guard dropped slightly as he stood up from his hunched position.
"Is something supposed to happen now?" he asked mockingly.
"Your defeat." Reiko said defiantly, but instead his hands gripped tightly, cursing one who did not come to aid him "Khameleon." he growled.
"Is that all?" Shao Kahn asked "Pathetic."
Outside of the base Khamelon lingered. Oh, they had a plan alright. For her to stay back as he fought Shao Kahn, and she would swoop in to save him should he need it-which they both knew he would. But she viewed him as no different from Shao Kahn. And as she waited outside for a call she would not answer, she found she was not alone.
"So, what do you say?" Ed asked to Khameleon. She looked down at the outstretched hand to her. She had been offered many as of late, too many it seemed. But the look on Ed's face coupled with Falke's beside him was almost reassuring. But Khameleon was used to being alone. Not even Reptile could be relied upon.
She looked at the hand reached towards her again. It was empty, but from what she knew of these two and what they fought against it seemed the offer to her was not.
The colors of her clothes went through several cycles before she came to a conclusion. As hard as it was to admit, Reiko may have been right. She had few- none really to rely on.
To Ed he saw her green glove raised to become yellow and then pink as it crept towards to him. Pink clad fingers reached out to his and grabbed them to become purple. On his own hand the mark of Shadaloo shined. His smile brightened, and he thought he could see her do it as well.
"Welcome to Neo Shadaloo." Ed congratulated her and Falke came over to join them.
For the first time in a long time Khameleon felt she belonged.
El Fuerte and Rolento Ending
The ball glowed bright blue in his hands. At first, he was trying to figure out what it was and when he couldn't figure that out, he tried to find out what it did.
Thankfully he just found out both of those answers.
"Senorita surely you must see the possibilities of combining both hot and cold food. Two sensations transcending craving and desire all at once." For all El Fuerte's ramblings about food she didn't seem to share the enthusiasm. For she was only interested in one type of food. Though he would hardly call what flowed in veins as edible.
Standing stuck up before him Nitara held a stern dry gaze at him as he rambled. How he came across what she searched for she didn't know, but the only thing she knew was that she wanted it.
"Fascinating, for the thousandth time." she droned as she rolled her head with the strained words "Now about that?" she brought a hand off her hip to point it to what he held in his hand. His eyes rolled down to what he held himself.
As large as a head though thankfully not one- though there was no lack of seeing those recently- was a shining blue orb. He had found it and confiscated it on Rolento's orders, though he had just as many ideas as to what it was as El Fuerte did.
'Intel says it may be important. Possibly Kamidogou.' he had said, though if it wasn't an ingredient El Fuerte wasn't interested.
But it being Nitara's he felt there was only one thing to do with it.
"Aha of course!" he said as he moved his hand out to pass it to her but instead tossed it into the air like a ball. Frightened for its well-being Nitara reached her arms out to grab it as her wings flapped out.
She froze in place when El Fuerte caught it and laughed cheerfully, not at her expense but because he was having fun. He rolled it down his right arm over his shoulders to travel down the length of his left to land in his palm. He then brought it up to his finger to balance it there solely and to spin it around as if it was a basketball.
Nitara was frozen save for the aggravated look growing in her face and the twitch in her eye.
The orb continued to spin until El Fuerte finally stopped it, bringing it to a standstill as he finally brought his arms forward presenting the ball to her.
Sighing in relief Nitara finally seemed to realize what was before her. Though at the same time she seemed like she couldn't believe it was actually here before her. Closing her arms around the orb, she finally took it in her hands and once it was securely there taking it away from El Fuerte whose hands were returned to him now empty.
"There. Finally, back where it belongs." he admitted as Nitara seemed to paw at the orb like a precious delicate baby "Now you have what's yours, perhaps you will keep in mind what I said? Perhaps even come to my restaurant?"
"Not my taste." Nitara flashed a rather toothy grin at him. El Fuerte mask scrunched up in confusion at that. In his past and even now whenever he defeated a warrior, he offered them a free meal at his restaurant. But if she didn't like his cooking, what did she like? He was ready to fight over the article mentioned but before he could the dark black wings stretched out to her side and flapped picking her up off the ground. The soft gust of wind riffled the hair on his head as more flapping brought her higher.
El Fuerte stayed where he was raising his head higher as Nitara flew off. Though she had left his company to rejoin her own fighting partner, El Fuerte would not be without his for long.
"Soldier!" Rolento snapped, and the wrestler turned around as he came towards him.
"General, you won't believe it!" he said ready to tell him not only of how he found the origin of that orb they found but the new idea of a soup that doubled as a milkshake.
"I almost couldn't! Not even with my own eyes!" Rolento said aggravated. El Fuerte was confused again. How did he know what he was planning to tell him "Fraternizing with the enemy!" Rolento fumed "That's a demotion!" he pointed his baton at him.
"But sir-" El Fuerte was ready to plead his case, but Rolento would hear none of it.
"Insubordination now huh?" Rolento returned his baton to his side "That'll be demerits on top of it." El Fuerte was ready to fight that case as well but stopped short when the ground began to shake. The two easily lost their footing. And though far away, Nitara let out a shriek as the quaking radiated into the air causing her to drop the orb and she swooped down to grab it.
Rolento dropped to his knees as El Fuerte fell to his back. But it was three counts to be out, and he wasn't done yet. Getting back to his feet he did so before Rolento, and looking around he was the first to notice.
"General look!" he pointed to the sky. Silently he did and seeing it gave him pause. The sky, the world was just as it would normally be. No far off realm was within eyesight and no mere skip would bring them to another realm now. That could only mean one thing.
"It's over." Rolento realized "And we didn't complete all our objectives!" he fretted.
"Objectives sir?"
"The conquering of the realms!"
"Everyone must have come together." El Fuerte mused. It was certainly true of the two of them. Even Reiko and Khameleon seemed to be more of convenience than comradery. But what it that changed? What if they had been brought together? And what was the best thing to bring them together? "Food!" El Fuerte exclaimed and then kicked his heels up and began running away.
"Bah!" Rolento let out as he stampeded past him "Hey, where are you going?!"
"To my restaurant!" El Fuerte said "I bet I'll have many happy customers waiting for me!"
"Hey soldier! I didn't give you leave!" Rolento called after him "If you leave now your AWOL!"
But El Fuerte didn't hear him. Not only was he too far away but his heart pounded with passion that beat into his ears. He found the journey back home easier and must shorter than the one he took to get away from it.
He was happy to see it again. But there was something he wasn't expecting. There were people, so many people that it was lining not only the street but dragging all the way to the surrounding ones. Some he had seen along his journey; some he had fought against. But there would be none of that here.
Coming to a stop, he marveled at the sight of it, but almost couldn't believe it himself even as they waited in front of his restaurant.
"Are you all waiting here for me?" he asked. Everyone in line turned their heads around to him as the eager looks on their faces told him all he needed "Well wait no more! We're open for business!" he cried out before breaking into a spring towards the front door of his restaurant.
El Fuerte raced past along the long, winding line. Passing by to attain approval of all who stood in it, despite the fact they were so crammed and cramped with the people around them in a single solid unit. As he ran, he passed by T. Hawk who stood in line stoically with his arms crossed, patiently and silently with the others. Then suddenly a slouching figure slunk up beside the line to him.
"Excuse me." Havik approached eerily, his head and body bowed low as if apologetic for what he had done and what he was about to do "I stepped out of the line to find a bathroom. May I take my spot back?" he pointed with a long boney finger to the spot before but kept his head low like his voice.
Seeing the shameful look of him T. Hawk conceded politely "Why of course- that doesn't sound so-"
"Thanks." Havik said abruptly though he didn't sound thankful as he slipped in before T. Hawk now standing fully up. As soon as he took his spot, suddenly a black shadow of a man came up to stand in front of Havik.
"Hey!" T. Hawk exclaimed behind him "What's the-"
"Cut." Havik said sharply and there was no sound of sorrow in his voice now, only mischief and malice. Suddenly the shadow of Noob Saibot that stretch across the ground rose to take form behind Havik effectively standing in front and behind Havik and cutting T. Hawk again. T. Hawk was about to protest again, but Havik beat him to the punch again "Back cut." T. hawk was about to refute this before a woman hopped into line behind the shadow, her hands criss-crossed and tucked behind her back "Back cut." Havik said swiftly now not even looking back.
Sareena popped her head out of line to look at Noob Saibot who stood two places in line before her, ahead of Havik and his very own shadow clone. Looking to change that she reared down and hopped over the line. The shadow dispersing as she burst through it and put her hands on top of Havik's shoulders and propelled herself over him to land onto and latch onto Noob, but her feet caught around Havik's shoulders, so she sought caught at both ends, holding onto Noob with her arms as her face nuzzled his as her feet were propped up on Havik's arm and her body hung between them.
"Cutsies!" she giggled girlishly as Noob rolled his eyes as she hung from his next like a pendant. His head had knocked forward from her impulsive jump. The person before him turned around having been bumped by Noobs shoulders once Sareena was added to it.
"Hey what gives?" Adon asked aggressively "You better watch it. I was Sagat's greatest pupil." he said menacing Noob who between Sareena and Adon had no space of his own "Now what's your proble-" before he could finish Noob snapped his fist out to sock him knocking him to the ground. Then he walked over him as Havik stepped forward in unison and Sareena swayed between them.
"Cut." he said darkly.
Elsewhere on line there were other confrontations.
"Look at this place." Jade ran a hand through her hair as she looked "I knew we should have come sooner."
"We shall be the first ones in." Kotal assured her. So far, their vacation had been going swimmingly.
"Well, well, well," a lively choice spoke contentiously. One that both of them recognized and they reddened because of it. Jade stirred with anger while Kotal became embarrassed. Turning around they saw a woman in green move out of line. Coming to a stop outside of it, Laura propped a hand to her hip and threw her hair back and flashed a confrontational grin at them. "I thought I'd find you here." Laura said.
Tiredly Jade raised her head for a sigh and then stepped out of line as well taking her place parallel to the line and across from Laura
"And I thought I had enough of you."
"Not enough to finish me!" Laura said taking her fighting stance.
"Then I shall finish it now." Jade stated taking her own across from her.
"And loser pays for the bill." Laura said setting the stakes.
"Very well." Jade agreed without any hesitation.
"Ladies." Kotal cut in "Please let us-" but a deathly glare from Jade and Laura silenced him and he backed away taking his place by Sean and Blanka who looked on just as warily. With him out of the way, the two ladies went back to each other.
"You don't have jurisdiction here." Laura said as she squared back up to Jade.
"I need none to defeat you." Jade replied.
They were waiting for an announcer to yell 'Fight!' But instead, they got El Fuerte who opened his doors widely and cheered "Welcome all to the grand reopening!" he cheered with wide open arms "Andele! Andele!" he said as they all began to fall back in line and began to come in one by one.
Standing by El Fuerte greeted them all in, some were welcomed back while others were welcomed for the first time. One of them was a stiff looking Native American who despite being greeted enthusiastically by El Fuerte stopped afterwards.
"This is your restaurant." Nightwolf stated as he looked to him.
"Oh course, it is." El Fuerte said proudly.
"Yet you left it when the crisis broke out." Nightwolf asked and once again El Fuerte responded in the affirmative "But you have returned here now that all is done."
"A true culinary artist never lets his skills sour."
"A good motif to live by. You have done well." Nightwolf complimented him bringing a hand up to his shoulder "You are helping bring these people together. So, I offer my thanks." he said.
"I'm only following my passions." El Fuerte said humbly.
"It does more than you know." Nightwolf assured him as he looked inside seeing everyone come together.
Jade and Laura were attempting to one up each other at any opportunity, whether it was who could eat more or who could finish quicker. Too concentrated on each other to see the worried faces of those who came with them. Kotal sat beside Jade, with Sean and Blanka behind Laura each one dreading what would happen next. Further behind them, Kai had been backed into a corner by Yamato Nadeshiko who was pressing him to be her perfect tag team partner. The fact that it was for a women's organization didn't seem to bother her, but it did prevent him from continuing his soul searching. Not taking no for an answer Yamato pressed him further, pushing up against him and backing him into the wall, a suggestive look all over her face.
"Come on! I'll wrestle for you it!" she declared not taking 'No.' for an answer.
On the other side Sareena clung to Noob Saibot in fear as he looked on in shock as Quan Chi sat next to them, twisting his body coming closer, no doubt trying to find out why his two servants where here and not in the Netherrealm. The two of them didn't realize that despite the similarities it wasn't Quan Chi, but Necro merely coming closer to ask what they ordered for it smelled very good, all done in rhyme of course. Sitting beside them Havik watched on amused even as his hands did mischief behind his back.
Further down the table from them Cassie and Jacqui were being challenged by Makoto from anything from fighting to eating. They were amused by it and a bit grateful as it took the heat off of Yang and Yun who were unsuccessfully trying to hit on them. And with the two's concentration on them, they didn't see Havik slipping more salt onto their plates.
At another table in the corner, Kenshi and Cyrax celebrated with Ermac sandwiched between them and very much feeling like his old self. Their next course of duty was to return Cyrax to his natural self. Sitting glumly beside them to celebrate their victory in her own way was C. Viper. With three growing cups of drinks Ermac made them levitate for the three of them to drink from without use of their hands. Leaning over the table starting a conversation with them, was Eagle who would've made a good bouncer for this place but was ready to enjoy the company of others. At another table no one sat but instead danced atop. Zangief crossed his arms and kicked his legs out as Bo Rai Cho carried a keg and drank from it.
Beneath them Cammy and Decapre were being smothered by Sindel much to Mileena and Kitana's discomfort, Chun Li was reunited with Li Fen by way of Li Mei. The little girl telling her adoptive mother all about her rescue.
"Bringing people together like this," Nightwolf told after he took everything in "it prevents violence from spreading."
"If it's trying to prevent something." an alluring voice interjected. Both Nightwolf and El Fuerte looked over to see a newcomer to their conversation. Rose appeared now hovering over the ground. Her appearance also helped explain Makoto's. She came over to their side to join them. Then she leaned onto the wall and dangerously close to the stiff Nightwolf "We've both had our journeys fill, haven't we?" she asked as she flicked her fingers bringing up a tarot card, this one showing Nightwolf on it.
"So, it would seem." he answered back up to find his space though she didn't seem to let him have any more as she leaned in further to make up for lost ground "But some of our journeys are not over."
"Perhaps not." she agreed backing up off of him and he breathed a little easier now "For you have had your own to look after, haven't you?"
Acknowledging what she said silently Nightwolf looked inside to see Decapre, a scarred, lonely thing he found amongst the chaos. One he pledged he would help.
But he seemed to find some good company for her. Sitting with her across the table and eyeing her through masks of their own was Kitana Kahn and Princess Mileena. Mileena's look was more feral, while Kitana's was more concerned as she looked from one to the other. The third of the Outworld group seemed to have no trouble with her.
"I love it!" Queen Sindel cheered heartily, holding onto Decapre with one arm as the other swirled a glass of wine "We shall adopt you!" she announced drunkenly "And you shall become my new daughter!" At the sound of that Mileena and Kitana's face dropped. Beside Decapre, Cammy's face was just as shocked.
"That one was some trouble." he admitted "but it worked out." he said looking back to Rose who nodded to him, but this time noticing something different about her. A card in one hand, yet in the other a silver crown that she twirled around her finger. Alarmed at the sight of Kronika's crown Nightwolf exclaimed "Where did you get that?!"
Brining a hand up Rose twirled it further "Worried it's the void for you?" she asked, and Nightwolf became visibly more worried "Perhaps I'll tell you the story over a drink." she offered, but he wasn't ready for that.
"Like I said." he cleared his throat "Some of our journeys aren't over."
"But that doesn't mean we can't stop here and now." she proposed getting closer to him again, and he became a bit more uncomfortable. "Come on. I'd love to read the fortune of a Nightwolf."
"I do not think I have the time."
"Times' the only thing I have now." she said as she circled the crown along her finger. Backed into a corner, Nightwolf blustered a response to that. But in his blustering Rose noticed he had a trinket of his own. "Did you get that for me?!" Rose let out and looked to his waist. Nightwolf blushed a bit but looking down he saw all she was looking at was the Blanka-chan dangling on his waist.
"That was a something I gained along my travels." Nightwolf said "If it brings you happiness, you can have it."
"How thoughtful." she said "What else can you give me?" she asked coming closer again.
"I cannot. I must get back-" but as he tried to back away, she slithered an arm up through his and combined them like a knot.
"Come on!" she came closer "One drink." she begged him playfully.
"I have just the thing!" El Fuerte said offering to red filled cups to them though a bright blue berry floated within it. The Nightwolf and the fortune teller eyed it suspiciously.
"What is it?" she asked skeptically.
"Vodka and ketchup. I call it blood clot." he said getting the idea from a vampire he encountered. Needless to say, after just a drop of it Rose and Nightwolf spat it back out.