Ed and Falke
She stirred and flinched in the darkness. The black abyss surrounded her on all sides. She had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. But she felt like she was drifting weightlessly through water that wasn't there.
A low droning sound permeated through what had been until then silence. The edge of the world began to swerve around to form into a giant toothy mouth and from there an even a greater face. But not just any face.
M. Bisons face, twisted and distorted, but was no doubt him. As large as a bus and growing larger by the second until finally the eyes as large as she was set upon her.
"Falke.." his booming endless voice droned at her, and she felt she wasn't the woman she had grown up to be but the small scarred little girl over again, lost and cornered with nowhere to go. He spoke her name again and opened his mouth to swallow her whole. But even though she felt like that small little girl, she was a woman grown now and that would require more from the dictator. His mouth stretched till it's limit but could not swallow her, so his jaw dislocated becoming even more unnatural as it opened wider and got closer to her, ready to suck her down in one bite. She thought she let out a scream, but it just echoed down his never-ending throat.
And the suddenly she opened her eyes, and he was gone.
Falke shot up from the ground looking around to where she was. The darkness was gone, replaced with bright sunlight. The drifting darkness was switched grass was green and the only sound to be heard was the sound of running water and wind through the grass. She looked disheveled and distressed, as she came to the realization of what she had just witnessed was nothing.
"You're awake." a man's voice said, confirming her realization. Turning over she saw Ed was sitting up just as he was, a more content look on his face, but the way he spoke made it seem like he had just woken up from a nightmare himself. And she could only imagine which one it was. "Another dream?" Ed asked.
"Another nightmare." she answered calming down a bit.
"I figured as much." he surmised. "Well.." Ed said taking his eyes off her to turn then upwards "You may have woken up to another."
"What do you mean?" she asked unsure of what he meant.
"Haven't had those kinds of dreams in a while" he said aloud voicing his own thoughts "Maybe having it means... now something really bad going to happen." he said as he raised his fist up and the mark that was on it glowed brightly. The mark of what he left behind.
Shadaloo.
That mark on his hand with what was happening above his head in the sky, gave him a truly foreboding expression and feeling about what was going on.
"You think Bisons on the move?" Falke asked.
"him.." he answered "and someone just as bad, maybe even worse."
"How can, you be sure?" she asked still unsure of what he meant.
Ed said nothing, but merely shifting his hand to hide the Shadaloo mark on it and extending a finger pointed it up. She didn't get it at first since he had been looking up this entire time but taking a hint from him, she did so herself. Looking up now she saw despite everything being how she last saw it before she dreamed it had changed drastically and unnaturally.
The sky looked like it was broken apart. Showing between its fractured pieces other places that she couldn't even begin to describe filled with people she never would have believed existed. Yet they were all there now.
"The Black Moons?" she said alerted as she sprang to her feet "Bison?"
"Him or someone just as bad." Ed repeated calmer but no less concerned as he rose to his feet "I can fell it." Ed said, and a purple glow surrounded his fists. "You know what we have to do right?" he asked looking to her, but she looked to him waiting for his answer "With all of this happening, there may be people out there who need our help. Maybe even more now."
"So," she turned over to him staff in hand "let's go save them."
And build Neo-Shadaloo in the process.
Skarlet and Nitara
Shao Kahn only released her as a last resort, to be set against his most hated enemies and rivals. And she would fulfill every mission dutifully. It was he who had gifted her the power of blood magic infusing it with sorcery to give her the strength of any fighter she defeats. She owed him everything and would serve him dutifully. And for serving dutifully she hoped one day he would serve her.
But she would have to prove her worth first.
"Ahhh" Skarlet released a refreshing breath from her mouth as she sat cross legged on a rock in the middle of a barren wasteland "There is truly nothing like the taste of a great warrior." she said as she looked at the glass before her filled to the brim with a red liquid.
But it was not wine she drank but blood.
"Ohoho!" a man's overconfident voice chuckled beside her after her last statement. At the sound of it, Skarlet rolled her eyes turning them slightly to see the pink clad man standing there. He stood proudly next to her, untouched and unblemished save for a small cut on his cheek which he had mistaken for a hickie. "And there's none greater than Dan Hibiki's!" he declared proudly and shot her a thumbs up, even as there was another noticeable bloody cut on his hand which his closed fist could not hide. Skarlet again, rolled her eyes at him.
"If only I had that here." she said glumly as she rolled the glass starring disappointedly at its contents.
"It is always good to keep a reserve supply, wouldn't you agree?" another voice called out. Not Dan's in reply to her this time, but another womans, her voice husky and low but the sound of it seemed to be coming from above them. Skarlet's eyes rolled over as she sipped as Dan looked around cluelessly. But no matter where he looked, he saw nothing.
A flap was heard like that of a great flag in the wind. Looking around further Dan still did not see anything, but Skarlet had already set her eyes past him on what was coming. And right where she was expecting something to happen, at that moment a woman descended to the ground, wearing high boots and long sleeves though barley anything in between to connect them, exposing much of her body. Her left eye however remained concealed behind a band which held her hair back. But her lips just as red as that band could not contain the pointed fangs that poked out from it. Yet the most noticeable thing about her were the two great bat wings she used to flutter down to the ground.
"Of course, having been infused with blood magic and not born with it are two different things." Nitara told piously as her wings scrunched up to take their place behind her back. Dan looked on mesmerized by her entrance, but Skarlet wasn't as amused.
"Yet we rely on it all the same." Skarlet told taking another sip.
"Hm." Nitara let out, a flash of fangs poking out of her mouth as she did.
"Care for a drink?" Skarlet offered courteously from her seat.
"I think I'll just help myself." Nitara said as she stepped forward.
The twos voice were barbs at each other, at least that's how Dan saw it. So being the good guy that he was, he decided to end this literal blood feud.
"Now ladies," Dan began putting his hands up "there's no reason to fight over me-Ow!" he began but then shrieked as Nitara jabbed him in his bare shoulder with her sharp nail, opening it to allow blood to flow from it "Cut your fingernails!" he whined, but she merely wiped her thumb across his newly opened wound and then licked her thumb clean, popping it into her mouth to get every last drop.
"The thing about blood is" Nitara began popping her thumb from her mouth to speak again, gaining Skarlet's attention as she sipped from her cup "everything tastes different. Edenian blood is different than Earthrealm blood. Tarkatan is different from Osh Tekk."
"Don't even get me started on Kytinn." Skarlet with a blood red smile. Since that kind of blood was blue, Dan thought it was blueberry flavored.
"The blood of the young is so much tastier." Nitara continued on.
"Yet the blood of the old is more sustaining." Skarlet pointed out. All the while Dan Hibki's eyes dashed between the two as they played off each other in ever more disturbing comparisons.
"So, it begs the question" Nitara asked "what to do when all of this blood comes together?"
Skarlet downed the rest of her drink and casually discarded the cup as it shattered on the ground "It's simple." she said as she kicked her legs up and walked towards Nitara passing Dan as she did so. Yet when she did, she jabbed at him with the smallest of her blood needles.
"Ow!" he let out and moved a hand to cover the wound. But before he could Skarlet's hand got there first. "Oh thanks." he was halfway through saying before she took her hand off and licked it clean of his blood.
"Go out and drain the fighters of their blood, strengthening ourselves in the process." Skarlet declared as Nitara took a closer step to Dan who took notice.
"Now ladies there's no need to-" Dan said but was cut off from a scratch by Nitara which opened up his leg. Skarlet then stomped down into his foot.
"I thought you'd say that." Nitara said as Dan hopped one foot while holding the other, no longer standing between the two as they now faced each other "It seems Shao Kahn has waited for the perfect time to release you."
"As he always does." Skarlet confirmed confidently, flicking her red hair around as she did, with it looking like blood trickling down from her head as she did. "You as well it seems."
"Yes." Nitara agreed "But I fight for more than just the Kahns orders. There is also a chance to improve my realm."
"All the realms are Shao Kahns," Skarlet reminded her sharply as she took another step forward "and they will be once this is over." Nitara hid a grumble behind her face. She didn't refute Skarlet's claims for she had made a plan before, using Cyrax as her pawn. Perhaps she could do the same now, whether through Skarlet or anyone else.
"Then let us go." Her wings flapped, and she took to the sky. Skarlet sank into the ground turning into a puddle of blood and flowing across the ground followed behind her.
Dan, however, was left behind in all of that.
"Damn." he cursed "Two babes who just couldn't handle the master!" he said finally setting his foot back on the ground and flexing his arms confidently, though he was covered in scratches and scars. But it begs the questions of what to do now. If they had left to face strong warriors, and he was the strongest one alive, who was there for him to face? He wondered what to do now that he was all alone.
Fortunately, he wouldn't be for long.
He heard footsteps approach from behind and turning around to see rounding on of the larger rocks a rather plain man, dressed in a black and blue suit with white dots on him.
"Who are you!?" Dan asked alarmed.
"I am Mokap!" the man declared "The greatest fighting stunt double in the world."
"I am Dan Hibiki. The greatest fighter in the world!"
"Dan Hibiki?" Mokap repeated "I think I was a body double for him in a movie once." he scratched his head, rubbing one of the white balls as he did.
"Then let's see how you square up." Dan said doing just that "To the real thing!"
"Very well." Mokap said taking his stance "As a stunt double, I'm capable of capturing any move set!"
Ed and Falke Fight Your Rival! The Pit
The path thinned out before them, yet it was no clearer to him. Shang's Tsung's name was associated with treachery. So, an island owned by him was seeping in it. And held for the Mortal Kombat Tournament no less. To Ed it was the perfect place to go. If there was anyone to find worth saving, he knew it would be here. And Falke couldn't agree more.
Even if it was abandoned at the moment.
He stood at the mouth of the cave. His gaze was ahead of him, narrowing on the even narrow sliver of a bridge that connected to the other side. And on that other side, was someone who needed help.
And beneath it was a long fall to a sharp end.
But just as he was watching ahead, he was being watched from behind. Footsteps echoed in the shadows of the cave, but a voice reached him first.
"Ed." Falke said worriedly as she came up behind him, but his eyes remained ahead out of this cave they stood in and towards the open world outside. She came to a stop "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I have to." Ed said determined as he looked ahead at the long, thin bridge.
"It's not the purpose I disagree with." Falke spoke, her eyes drifted off past Ed for only a moment to look beyond him and the bridge ahead "I mean the person you mean to speak to."
Ed's eyes drifted down now, and his hand raised. He starred down at his open palm which starred right back at him. The mark of Shadaloo glowed brightly within his hand, starring back at him. Ed concentrated his gaze on it "I have to give her a chance." he said before he closed his hand into a fish snuffing out the light "No one else would."
"Oh." Falke let out beneath her breath. There were other people out there like the two of them, who only needed help and to be shown the way. If Ed thought this was someone worth saving than she was for it, no matter who it was. A smile came over her face.
"Besides." Ed said before he turned over his shoulder to look back at her "If anything goes wrong, I know you'll be right behind me."
"Of course." she nodded.
With her approval Ed turned his gaze ahead again. He took in a deep breath and took a step forward. When the other followed, he had exited the cave and stepped out into the light.
The sun shined here, yet all it showed him was the gray remnants of the island. Sharp jagged peaks reached around on all sides, and everything was the ashy color of gray. He continued his walk forward as the walls of the cave were no longer there and even the slightest extensions of his arms out to his sides would have them hovering over the edge of the bridge.
He was as high up as he could he, and the fall down would only lead to certain death. Though a thought crossed his mind that some terrible creature lived down there as well. But whatever thoughts he had or sights he could take in would have to wait for something was manifesting on the other side of the bridge.
Starting low onto the ground flowing across from it were small streams of red; blood. The blood trickled along the ground as if it was water, yet it had no stream or course moving almost as if it was commanded to do so. The small streams began to slink together to meet up into one spot forming a large red puddle on the ground. It began to grow larger and even bubble, until it began to rise.
A red mat of hair rose up from the puddle, followed by a pale face and then another red mask to conceal the rest of it. The head continued to rise bringing bare shoulders with and the rest of the body followed.
Once her body was fully risen from the puddle, she threw her hair back, splashing any extra drops and letting her hair fall with it forming from the last sprinkles of blood. The blood that was once there evaporated completely once her full form was shown. Then as her feet hit the ground, she eased her head forward and set her eyes on the blue uniformed man ahead of her.
A soft breath escaped through her mask muffling it.
"Skarlet." Ed called to her.
"Ed." she said his name back.
"So, you really are here."
"I am." she responded to him, her voice soft and distant, hidden behind her mask "But the question remains, why are you? And here of all places?"
"This is the perfect place for me to be." Ed told "For me to find you."
"For me?" she questioned, a slight twitch of her face and raise of her eyebrow showed curiosity and uncertainty.
"Yes." he confirmed.
"What could you possibly want with me?" she asked innocently, unsure of his true intentions.
"To help you." he told. Skarlet went chillingly silent when he said that. A glint in her eyes showed a hesitation in her words that she never voiced. "You were used for Shao Kahns purposes, no different than I was with Bison." he said, telling both of their shared struggles. As victims and weapons of another's regimes. For extra emphasis he raised his hand to show her the glowing Shadaloo mark on his palm. "But it doesn't have to be this way." he said "If you joined me, we could right those wrongs against us. And to anyone like us."
"Like us?" Skarlet asked skeptically "There are few like us, let alone like me." she turned her head away to hide behind her hair and mask further.
"Don't be so sure." Ed said causing Skarlet to turn her head back to him and she saw his outstretched hand. Slowly Skarlet mimicked Ed, bringing her arm up and spreading her palm with it. She stalled for a moment but finally brought it together and their palms touched, she saw the Shadaloo glow on his hand disappear behind hers. "Psycho Power and Blood Magik." Ed told as their hands touched "Maybe not so different after all." he said with a reassuring smile.
"Yesss." Skarlet hissed in agreement and Ed felt he had finally reached her, proving that they were two people with not only shared experiences but a shared purpose. But as Ed smiled and looked to her Skarlet's eyes focused on their two hands touching "Imagine what power such blood would give me."
Ed's face went to confusion "Huh?" he let out. Then suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his hand, and he retracted it back only to find it was cut open with blood running down his open palm.
Holding onto his hand by his wrist, he turned up to Skarlet. Blood was flowing all over her hand as well, but it was not her own blood but his.
Whatever soft features in her face were gone now, replaced by a mad look in her eyes as she looks to her hand and the blood that was on there. Bringing her other pale hand up she to tear her mask away to reveal ruby red lips. With the mask no longer in the way she brought her red stained hand up to her mouth and ran her tongue across her palm licking up the blood thar remained there.
"Such taste to this." she said setting her eyes dangerously back on him and her voice matched her true intentions "A power I have never had before..." she paused as Ed took his hand away from his wrist registering her intentions " but I will now!" she declared as she jumped forward at him. Clenching his fist tighter than he ever had before, Ed unleashed a strong punch that would have knocked Skarlet off of the bridge had she not evaporated into blood splattering about from the blow. He pulled his arm, back to him as the blood reformed into Skarlet once again.
Yet when she manifested before him, she returned with a blade of blood in each hand.
"Ed!" he heard Falke cry from behind him. Glancing back for only a second, he saw her running towards him and then she leapt into the air jumping over him and landing in front, putting herself between him and Skarlet. "I knew you couldn't be trusted."
"It doesn't matter what you think." Skarlet spoke down, pointing a blade at her "I have no interest in you."
Falke lunged forward jutting her staff at her. Skarlet dodged one and then brought her hand up to swipe away another. Ed watched as they fought before him, but he knew he couldn't let her fight alone. He took a step forward but was blindsided by a sudden force and was thrown off of the bridge.
He thought for a moment he was a goner, ready to fall to the sharp rocks below, but whatever force that collided with him still had ahold of him and was taking him through the air. He heard a great flapping sound and felt the thrust of air above and beside him as he was propelled through the air, hanging only by his shoulders. He landed on another bridge far off from the one he just stood on. The first thing he did was look over, and he saw Falke fighting against Skarlet. Yet even closer to him was someone else.
He heard the flapping of wings and a contemptuous chuckle, and he saw before him two great gargoyle like wings. And between the two connecting them was a woman who landed back on her feet.
"I shouldn't be surprised to see you with her." he said as he got back up " No one fights alone these days it seems."
"You and that girl are no different." Nitara shot back "Both bred to be Bisons pawns."
"But why help her? When she just as easily stands against you? We could help you more." he rationalized.
"To save my realm from Outworld I have no choice but to become stronger."
"So do I." Ed declared. His fist began to glow purple as it surged with the power that was his to control.
Nitara reared her head back and when she shot it forward spit blood up at him. But Ed lunged forward at that same moment, his power forcing itself through hers and his fist collided with her face.
She was flung back across the bridge and with her out of the way he looked back to Falke and Skarlet.
Rearing down he jumped over, clearing the immense distance between the two and landing down on it, this time putting himself between Falke and Skarlet.
Both were in the middle of an attack when his sudden appearance cut both short. Falke was relieved by his return and let out a sigh of relief. Skarlet, however, was amused, herd when a chuckle escaped her mask as he stood standoffishly against her.
"Come back to me?" she let out a chuckle "Silly boy." Skarlet pursed her lips beneath her mask and her sultry voice dripped through her mask. A flapping was heard, and Nitara landed beside Skarlet. Falke picked herself up and they readied for a fight.
If they couldn't be helped and they didn't want to help, then they were enemies.
Skarlet and Nitara Fight Your Rival! The Pit
The two of them talked constantly to each other, Nitara found that out rather easily. Perching herself up at the highest point in the cave she shrouded herself in darkness and waited. Below them the two that Skarlet brought up had not only talked but prattled onto each other about every little thing. It seemed what Skarlet said was true, they never do leave each other's side.
Ed kept his eyes forward as did Falke, but while his were on the thin path ahead, hers was on him. Worry evident in her face and voice even if she tried to hide it.
The two of them had come to Shang Tsung's island to try to find any lost souls who needed to be found. Nitara and Skarlet came here thinking that, with everything going on it would draw all kinds of strong fighters as if it was Mortal Kombat anew. It seems they were right.
"Besides." Ed said before he turned over his shoulder to look back at her "If anything goes wrong, I know you'll be right behind me."
In the darkness Nitara rolled her eyes at the soap opera level cheesiness. To Nitara that seemed like it would be the final word on the matter. The next thing she saw from her perch was Ed move away from Falke leaving the cave to walk along the tightrope bridge that hung over the pit. She flashed a toothy grin. With him gone, Falke was all alone. She continued to watch him go and that's when Nitara stretched her wings.
"Aww" a voice cooed down from above alarming Falke "You would leave him on his own like that?" she turned her head up and around to hear the distinct sounds of flapping, though the wings they made them sounded far larger than any bird. And much closer.
Falke turned around as Nitara touched her feet against the ground.
"But for him to go to her, I suppose that leaves you all to me."
"For you?" Falke repeated. A sense of dread growing in her as she turned her head over her shoulder to see Ed. He was standing perfectly still but raising his hand up before him.
Falke turned back just in time as Nitara shot her wings forward, stabbing them at Falke. She ducked under them and then raised her staff.
Nitara spat blood at her, but Falke ducked under it and looking back she saw Ed was lumbering back, away from Skarlet and though she couldn't see his hands they appeared to be joined as if he was in pain.
"Nein!" she cried out. She turned back as Nitara swiped at her again but dodging her attack, she jutted her staff forward hitting Nitara in the stomach reeling her over. She shot a purple blast of psycho energy out of it shooting her away from it and deeper into the cave.
With her gone, shot back into the cave she set her eyes back on Ed and ran towards him.
"ED!" she cried out as she came closer and jumped over him putting herself before Skarlet. "I knew you couldn't be trusted." she raised her staff. In reply Skarlet pointed a bloody blade at her. Not blood from a cut, but because it was made from it.
"It doesn't matter what you think. I have no interest in you."
Falke lunged forward jutting her staff at her. Skarlet dodged one and then brought her hand up to swipe away another. Then she slashed her blood sword at Falke who ducked beneath it. Shooting back up she twirled her staff at Skarlet who countered or blocked her attacks.
A sudden gust of wind overtook her from behind. She remained in place but when she looked back Ed noticeably was not. Turning her head further she saw him being carried away by Nitara to another bridge. A sudden fist to her face sent her stumbling back and she braced herself managing to barley block as another came at her. She snapped her wrists sending the blow away. But Skarlet leapt into the air and came down on her bearing her swords. Falke raised her arms with staff in them to block the oncoming assault. She managed to do so, the swords bearing down onto her weapon as Skarlet's face was right behind them. The two glared at each other over their weapons.
"You let him get away from me." Skarlet said as her blades scrapped against the staff, anger growing in her voice.
Bearing down at her Falke held her ground but was slowly losing it as Skarlet bore down on her.
"He's not yours!" she shouted and then pushed back at Skarlet sending her stumbling away. Pointing her staff out and forward shot another blast of Psycho Energy which Skarlet countered by shooting a blood ball at her. The two blasts collided and repelling the other ruptured between them. With that attack done, Falke was ready for Skarlet.
Strangely afterword's she did not press her attack or any but regarded Falke, the stare in her eyes was different now. Not with contempt but intrigue.
"Ahh." he let out as if she came to a great realization "so you have it too." she stated and an evil unnerving huckle escaped the mask "Then I shall have you both."
Falke readied herself before suddenly Ed landed down hard right before her. He picked up his fists ready to continue the fight. Yet this development did not deter, but elate Skarlet.
"Come back to me? Silly boy." she said taking her stance. But just as Ed rejoined with Falke so did Nitara as she landed beside Skarlet.
Oh, what a feast they were about to have.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Ed and Falke
Falke remained focused ahead, not just on her footing for the bridge only had room for one, but ahead to make sure that Skarlet and Nitara were truly gone. She was on the lookout for any small streams of blood or any sudden gusts of wind. Focused and dedicated as she was, she was also listening for any signs of them. Turning her head and gaze with it, she came to look over at the other thin bridge she could see Skarlet and Nitara in another battle; this time against one person. So hopefully it meant they would not be back for the two of them. But she heard something else now, something much closer to her.
"Damn." a man's voice cursed. There was only man here who could have said that. Her hardened stare lightened when she turned around to see Ed. He was kneeling down onto the bridge, one fist planted in the ground to keep him steady but the other was opened before his face. Slowly she approached him, coming over his shoulder to see his open hand. That was the hand that Skarlet had cut, but despite that cut and the blood that poured out from it the mark of Shadaloo still shined brightly over it, like the scar wasn't even there.
"Ed?" she called out to him.
"Damn." he cursed again and this time he clenched his hand snuffing out the mark and the cut with it "You were right, we shouldn't have bothered with them." he said aloud, his voice coming through a clenched jaw as his fist tightened even tighter "It's my fault..." he said weakly "I have to be stronger."
"But you are stronger." Falke said to him. Her voice breaking through to him he looked up to her and saw that she was leaning over him. Whatever she said it seemed to almost have a broken him out of whatever grief and regret he had. He wasn't looking down to himself in pity and self judgement now up to her, grateful for her help "And there's still more out there for us to be stronger for." she said taking a hand off her staff and offering it to him.
The dismal looked remained on his face the entire time, but it opened up into a smile "You're right." he said taking it and then got up to his feet "Then we shouldn't stay here. There's nothing for us here."
"Right." Falke agreed "Let-"
"AAAAHH" a great voiced hissed silencing Falke and alarming both of them "EEEHH" the voice continued to travel across the ground and sounded like it was getting closer to them. Turning their heads, they saw another person had taken its place on the thin bridge. Travelling low to the ground as if it could watch its step more closely expect that its eyes were on them.
"Youuu." Necalli's voice carried like a threatening mist that engulfed them "You bear his power..."
"His power?" Falke questioned. But both knew his meaning.
"Bison." his brow furrowed.
"YEsss." Necalli answered big voice starting loud before thinning out. He came to a stop and his head poked up, his neck rising into the air like he was trying to catch a scent on the wind but knew what he wanted was right before him. "He will be mine... you will be mine."
As he spoke his threats, a burning sensation was coming over Ed. One that rose up in him and lead to shout out to Necalli.
"No!" Ed shouted out defiantly and his body began to glow purple though this only seemed to excite Necalli more. He lashed his head out shaking his long hair as he became wilder. But that only made Ed all the more determined to stop him "You won't have anything from us!"
Falke then came up beside him bearing her staff "This one doesn't need our help. He needs to be defeated."
Necalli hissed to them, and Ed shouted again "What we have isn't yours! This is my life to live!"
"Then it is yours to DIE!"
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Skarlet and Nitara
Her hand was covered in red, dripping off of one finger to fall onto the next. An oozy liquid that ran down her hand as if it was still contained inside of veins. She eyed it previously as it ran from her hand, until it reached the ends of her palm or her fingertips to fall to the ground.
But she would not let it.
Bringing her hand to her open mouth, she slurped up the bloody remnants of the last battle. The blood began to flow back into her body, cleansing her hand of the red blood stain, revealing her pale white skin again. Tearing her mouth away she let out a gasp before taking in a deep breath, as her hand lingered before her. The only thing connecting her palm to her was a string of saliva mixed with blood.
But before Skarlet could dive in for another serving another hand reached out to take her lightly by the palm and pull her hand away.
"You're hogging it all." Nitara hissed leaning forward as the palm stopped before her mouth. Slinking out from her mouth between her sharp fangs, like a snake from beneath a rock was her tongue which ram across Skarlet's palm, licking up whatever little blood was left. But it wasn't left for her.
As her tongue reached the bottom of her fingers Skarlet tore her hand away from Nitara. Her mouth gaping and tongue hanging out, her eyes rolled up to Skarlet who held her once blood soaked hand away from her defensively.
"It is not for you." she spoke down to her.
Nitara stood back up and her wings widened her stance overtaking Skarlet in a shadow, but she did not flinch in fear from it but remained standoffish.
"The souls of warriors." a deep voice rumbled aloud. The two bloody warriors took their attention off of each other to look ahead down the length of the bridge. They would not see Ed or Falke for that battle was over, and this was not the same bridge they fought on, but the one next to it and the one Nitara flew Ed to. But despite the fact it was originally just them standing on it, a new creature had emerged. Red like both of them and rising from the ground as Skarlet would rise from her bloody pool.
"The soulsss of the strongest warriors givess me strength..." Necalli growled as he came into full view on the other side of the bridge "nourishmeeentt."
Standing together, the two warriors' eyes him strangely. Turning her head up it was Skarlet who answered him.
"Souls are one thing. Their blood is another for that is true power" she refuted pointedly.
"And taste." Nitara added with a toothy grin.
"Eh." Necalli twitched as he took a deeper look of them. His hair flicked as his head did beneath it. "They serve..the god of blood?" he seemed almost confused by that, and it made him angry and even hungrier.
"Goddess," Skarlet stated as she stepped forward "as you will see now."
Spreading her wings Nitara rose above Skarlet and began to fly over her as they advanced on Necalli. He hissed angrily at them, like an animal letting out a intimidation display. But when they got too close, he lashed out at them.
Ed and Falke Ending
"So.." Falke let out a heavy breath "do you really think this will make a difference?" she asked looking into Ed's hands and what he held there.
"It has to." Ed said looking down to it as well "Otherwise so many people wouldn't be trying to get their hands on it." In his hands set squarely in them was a square blue gem. The Kamidogou of the Orderrealhm. Gazing at that, Falke then looked up to the sky to see it was not as it originally was when they first left.
Instead of being broken, with world's plastered on top of other worlds it was instead singular, bright, and very, very blue.
"It was named well." she commented "it seems the threat is over."
"That one maybe." Ed agreed keeping his eyes on his hands and what was in them "But not the others." he said with determination, the same he showed when they first started this journey. Just like he knew this gem was important, he knew it would remain important.
Looking back to him Falke nodded "So what's to be done with this then?" she asked. But her answer did not come from Ed, but from another voice.
"You can hand it over." a voice called out. Snapping their heads up they saw a young woman approaching them, young, pretty, decked out in military gear. A smirk was across her face as she twirled a gun around her finger.
"Hand it over?" Ed repeated "It wasn't easy to find."
"Oh they're easy to find." Cassie commented "Just not to keep ahold of." she quipped as Ed and Falke eyed her more dangerously now. Moreso now that they saw she was not alone.
"Even with the world all saved, when all's said and done, we still have a mission." Jacqui said as she came to come to Cassie's side, pumping her gauntlet like a shotgun "And it won't be done till we have that. So why don't you just hand it over."
"You may have been busy looking for these things." Ed told "But we've been busy with more than that." he said. Their purpose was greater than even these Kamidogous.
"Expanding the ranks of Neo-Shadaloo." Falke declared and right as they had two figures jumped down at both of their sides. Beside Ed was a woman draped in yellow who appeared flipping across the ground before spiraling to her feet.
"Eh," Cassie shrugged "5.5." she scored her, though Tanya was having none of it.
Beside Falke arriving with less movement but even less noticed was the faint outline of a figure. It looked like something was there at first, but they weren't sure. Not until she shed her natural camouflage to reveal herself to them. Khameleon eyed the two silently, but they knew more than her stare was deadly.
Needless to say, the sudden appearance of these two had changed the battlefield considerably.
"What kinda harem shit is this?" Cassie quipped but her smirk had disappeared completely, and Jacqui eyed the four warily as they lined up against them. Ed held the Kamidogou in one hand while the other glowed purple, ready to fight them off with not only his full power, but the full might of Neo-Shadaloo.
"Ohh this might be a problem." Jacqui said as the four fighters prepared to take on the two. It certainly didn't look well for the Special Forces at this time.
"Nothing a little girl power can't help!" an overly optimistic voice shouted out.
"Huh?" the two special forces agents let out together and looked to the other, making sure they had heard it, and they weren't going crazy after so many fights and travelling. It turns out they weren't for two figures leapt over them, landing in front of them with their backs facing them and their eyes ahead to their four opponents.
"Sakura?" Jacqui said in disbelief when she saw her. Then she turned her head over to the other young woman "Ibuki." she said coming more to the realization that they were there.
"Oh god, you're here now." Cassie sighed.
"Of course, we are!" Ibuki snapped around to them stomping her foot "My missions not over either you know!" she leaned back over to them.
"But why here?" Jacqui asked.
"We're here to help out!" Sakura flashed a thumbs up and a smile.
"Girl power all the way!" Ibuki hopped up and down.
Taken aback by the statement, Cassie and Jacqui were soon relieved by it. From across the way, watching these four the members of Neo-Shadaloo became perplexed themselves.
Taking notice of that and the evening of the playing field a confident change came over Cassie and Jacqui who took a confident step forward.
"Well," Cassie began.
"Glad to have you." Jacqui finished.
"So, what's the mission now?" Sakura asked turning around again as did Ibuki. Walking up behind them Cassie and Jacqui filled in the gaps between them.
"Same as last time." Jacqui said looking ahead as the four not stood together.
"Grab that." Cassie pointed to Ed's hands.
"No problem." Sakura declared taking her fighting stance "There's no way, Team Girl Powers gonna lose this!"
"It's an even fight now." Jacqui said doing the same beside her.
"Are we really married to that name?" Cassie asked unsure of it.
"And after this?" Sakura asked taking off from her last statement.
"Let's go find cute boys!" Ibuki said excitedly.
"I already got a cute boy." Jacqui said.
"One ass kicking at a time girls." Cassie said as she set her eyes across to the others.
The four on each side readied for a fight and then charged each other. Only one group would prevail in kombat, and claim their prize.
Skarlet and Nitara Ending
She raised her hands before her, disbelief evident in her face. But then her pale, red masked face began to shine purple. Then in a flicker it was mixed with a dark red, not blood but energy surging form her left hand. She raised it higher to look at it. Entranced by it, it seemed as if her hand was on fire. She wiggled her fingers beneath it but was not burned by it. In fact, they felt surging with something, with power. Skarlet was not frightened but she was elated. Quickly she rose her right hand to increase to glow of purple over it.
"What is this?" he asked in a whisper. She quickly turned her head to her other hand to see the similar occurrence differing only in shade "Could it be?" she asked her voice getting higher. She brought her hands closer, contrasting the two energies and colors. As they came together Skarlet felt something surge through her, through her veins, muscles and entire body. And she couldn't help when her eyes went wide expressing the awe she felt now.
But her companion looked on in alarm.
"What is it? What's wrong with you?" Nitara asked. But Skarlet was too focused on her hands to answer.
One hand surged red, the other purple. "The Satsui no Hado is mine! All mine!" her voice rose with each word and ended with hideous maniacal laugh voice deepening and maddening by the second "Now all will bend to my will. To show me their strength or die!" she shouted fanatically, her voice growing ugliger by the moment. As her words grew the power surging around her grew brighter. And across her chest a distinctive Kanji shined, emboldening itself and her words.
It stood for heaven and was that of the Satsui no Hado.
Taking a step away from her Nitara did something with her own hands, cradling something so it would not be harmed by whatever compulsive maddening change that came over Skarlet. She watched on skeptically as power flowed around Skarlet and she was being drowned in it but did not want anyone to come save her.
But with that display, someone was bound to show up.
"So, this is it?" a deep voice grumbled behind her. Turning her head Nitara saw the wise old master Gouken appeared. Master of the Martial arts, containing knowledge of countless fighting styles. Including the one they saw raging now "You two have come far and fought many like so many else. Yet it seems she has taken in the blood of those opponents. Akuma, Ryu and others. It allowed to harness their powers for her own."
"Blood magik is a strange thing." Nitara said.
"Yes." Gouken agreed "Yet she has no will to fight against the dark urge inside her. She's too weak to confront it, to fight against it. Instead, she gives in."
"Weak!" Skarlet spoke up at the sound of it, her eyes blank but her grin so wide it was almost breaking through her mask "I shall show you weak old man. Then I shall purge you from this world." she broke her hands apart and took a great step forward to challenge him, her pointed shoes stabbing into the ground as she stepped and her power breaking it. It alarmed Nitara who stepped away, but Gouken had seen this power before and was not deterred by it.
"You may try." he welcomed her challenge, keeping his eyes on her but not forgetting about the other one "You better leave girl." he advised, but Nitara had already turned her back on him.
"You don't have to tell me." she said "Whatever becomes of her isn't my concern, not anymore." she said "She's fulfilled her purpose to me." she said as she caressed a bright blue orb preciously in her hands.