6 Days Ago, America The grave was fresh, the dirt lightly seeded over with fresh grass. Flowers, pictures, and other paraphernalia adorned the ground around the tombstone. The death had happened months ago, but still the gifts came. Still the fans grieved. Many hearts had been touched by his career, as short and odd as it had been. His movies, his fighting career, and even his meager contributions towards saving the world so long ago were now the tales of legend. Johnny Cage was a man who may have never have had his head screwed on one hundred percent straight, but he was a good man to have in bad times. To some, he was even a great man. To this stranger who stood before his grave, however, he was something else entirely. The figure stood at the foot of the grave, and stared at the tombstone silently. A flash of lightening lit the dark sky and rain started to trickle down, peppering the figure's trenchcoat and hat in water. Still he did not move, and held out a single, purple flower. "Self inflicted death, while trying to train to return to Ultra." The figure shook his head. "How... typical." Lightening struck again, as if in response to the figure's insult to the fighting hero. "It's a shame really. A true shame." Again, lightening flashed the sky. The rain came down in a torrent now. The figure tossed the purple flower to the ground silently. Another strike of lightening lit the figure's face slightly, and a dark smirk was visible as the flower touched the base of the tombstone. Then there was darkness, and the figure was gone. Only after the figure had left did the flower begin to glow. ***** Five Days Ago, Ultra Bar & Grill The Ultra bar and grill was renowned for its entertainment value. Aside from one of a kind drinks, platters, and specials, it had a state of the art karaoke machine, always the latest in Dance Dance Revolution, and a variety of activities for the young adult and up. Plus, there was always the chance that a genuine Ultra celebrity would take the stand and belt out a few tunes for the sake of a good, fun time. Tonight, so far, was not such a night. "EVERYBODY.... NEEDS... SOMEBODY!" The young Ultra Otaku belted the badly spoken English phrases into the microphone, as everyone present in the bar did the best they could to tune him out as much as possible. "Oh my. He's not very good is he?" A certain purple haired mazoku, hidden behind the hood of his cloak, eyed the otaku with a sad smile on his face. "No. And I'm going to make you pay if you made me listen to him for nothing." Dark Schneider sat casually in his booth, with Xelloss sitting across from him. He leaned back against the leather material and mentally checked off a few punishments. "I wonder how one kills your kind..." "Now, now, Darshu... I have a proposition for you." Xelloss returned his attention to the dark sorcerer. "It involves you, working for a certain mazoku that would be me!" Xelloss smiled proudly. "... and why would I be so foolishly stupid?" Darshu asked after digesting Xelloss' statement. Xelloss winked at Darshu, and held his finger up to his dimple. "That is... a good question!" Darshu nearly facefaulted into the table, but managed to stay upright by sheer willpower alone. "You see..." Xelloss began. ***** "And the reward for everyone is their very own world to do with as they would!" Xelloss concluded, then sat back in his side of the booth. "What do you say?" "Destroy the Earth? Feh... this is not worth my time." Darshu shook his head, then spoke up as the place suddenly erupted into cheers around them for some reason. "You're too unreliable. I can't trust anything you've told me, and even if I can, you'll probably turn on me the second we've accomplished your goal." "But Darshu! Surely with the others on your side, you wouldn't--" Xelloss began his counter argument, then something on stage caught his eye. "...Oh my." Darshu eyed the Mazoku curiously. "What?" ~/o When I suit up yeah I know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the Dan in a pink gi for you When I street fight yeah you know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the Dan who taunts like mad at you ~/o Darshu flinched visibly and turned to face the genuine pink clad Ultra fighter on the stage. "Oh... no." ~/o If I'm flexing yes I shout out OYAJI Oh OYAJI will be the word I taunt at you And if I win fights yeah I know I'm gonna jump I'm gonna jump up and shout YAHOOIE at you ~/o ~/o But I would taunt 500 times And I would taunt 500 more Just to be the Dan who taunted 1000 times To piss you off once more ~/o ~/o When I'm fighting yes I know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the Dan who signs his pic for you And when you're reading the autograph that I threw I'll thumb my nose and taunt OOSHA at you ~/o ~/o But I would roll 500 miles And I would roll 500 more Just to be the Dan who rolled 1000 miles To taunt you at your door ~/o ~/o When I battle yeah I know I'm gonna use I gonna use my Saikyo style to fight you And if I lose fights yeah you know I'm gonna be I'll be the Dan who's weeping manly tears for you ~/o ~/o I'll be the Dan who's weeping manly tears for you ~/o ~/o But I would taunt 500 times And I would taunt 500 more Just to be the Dan who taunted 1000 times While you bled on the floor! ~/o "..." Xelloss stared at the now openly weeping fighter who accepted the cheers and bouquets from the crowd. "..." Dark Schneider added as the crowd began to chant the name of their formerly Godhead powered hero. "...I'm in." Xelloss sweatdropped heavily. "Anooo? I thought you didn't trust me..." "I don't. But you're right, with the others you've assembled, we should be able to hold you to your word. But most of all... I want to have a world where that pink... joke never existed." Dark Schneider's voice was resolved, and his eyes still watched as Dan's manly tears grew in size and stature. "Wai! Team Xelloss grows by another!! Keep it quiet for now... but they'll know soon enough what's going on!" Xelloss held his fingers out in a victory sign. "I have to go tend to some things... I'll see you in a few days Darshu-kun!" Xelloss vanished, and Dark Schneider quietly pondered if he had made a mistake. "Maybe..." Then his eyes returned to Dan. "No. This will be... PERFECT." He finished the rest of his drink and walked out of the bar. Dan paused in his celebration, and looked thoughtful for a moment. His eyes stopped on the empty booth. "I sense a disturbance I have not felt since..." The pink wonder paused again, trying to place the sensation he had just felt. "...The time I mastered the art of Spicy Saikyo style!" Temporarily abandoning his fans, Dan ran to the men's room. ***** 2 Hours Before Ultra Reboot, UltraDome "We have a busy night before us. I've already spoken to Alberto, and the others are due to join us soon." Yaga stared out at the empty seats that would shortly begin to fill as the rabid Ultra fans filed into the stadium for the biggest Ultra Reboot ever. "All of us will be pulling triple duty by being in the tournament, title matches, and insuring that each other win the title matches." "Heh. Piece of cake. Maybe we'll take it all home tonight, and really make them hate us." Mr. Satan stood beside his friend, a grin on his face. "Indeed. Tonight will be a golden accomplishment even if we only achieve moderate success. The crowd will despise us, the other fighters will band against us, and a surefire ratings providing war will go into full swing, only to climax at the next UltraRage." Yaga scratched his chin thoughtfully. "We... won't have to help Alberto defeat that B-ko women, will we?" Mr. Satan looked at his friend apprehensively. "...No. Thankfully, Alberto himself realizes that the aid we can provide is only technical." Yaga allowed himself another smile as Mr. Satan let out a sigh of relief. "Our careers will be guaranteed complete immortality after this season of Ultra, my friend. I'm glad you joined me." "It's nothing. I appreciate the offer you've given me." Mr. Satan stroked his mustache to soothe an itch. "I just wi--" "Hello gentlemen!" Xelloss sat upon the ringpost and waved at them with a cheerful smile. "I just got done speaking with your associates, and now I'm here to make you the very offer that they extended to me!" "You!" Mr. Satan assumed a fighting pose defensively. "Eh? Xelloss, isn't it? I thought you were banished from Ultra long ago." Mr. Yaga eyed the mazoku curiously. "What do you want?" "Your service, for a limited time, to accomplish a goal. The reward? Your very own world to shape and mold. All I ask is you fight under my leadership and that I get to destroy this flimsy little world." Xelloss smiled as if he were merely asking to borrow a cup of sugar. "You could have a world apiece, and travel between the two if you wish. Perhaps you could come up with a world where you were both champions of a real sport, instead of just the third and second string characters Ultra's forced you into playing." Mr. Satan AND Yaga both bristled at his remark. Yaga walked up to the demon, who hopped down from the turnbuckle and eyed the mortal curiously. "I decline your offer." Yaga kept his eyes focused on Xelloss as he made his decision. "Wai! Team Xelloss gro-- wait. You... decline?" Xelloss' smile faded, and a confused expression grew on his face. "This is an opportunity to restore your glory, make yourself a true legend in your own world. Why would you--?" "By destroying all that I've worked for in this day and age? By erasing the hard annals of my industry? To forget about anyone who truly paid their dues and earned their way to where they stand, and simply stand in their place?" Yaga snorted. "You shouldn't believe everything you see on television my friend. This industry, its history, it is my lifeblood. My day may be nearing the end of its golden era, but I hold the industry, or even Ultra little misgivings." "You mean..." Xelloss still couldn't quite comprehend the change in Yaga's demeanor. "I run rampant over the show for one reason. To get the crowds to hate me, just enough, so that they WANT to see me fight and be defeated. For them to hate me so much, for me to matter to their collective consciousness so greatly, is for them to love me while being unaware. The paths to greatness are many in this industry." Yaga shook his head. "Teaming with you would not only destroy all that I've worked for, but dishonor my industry. I want NOTHING to do with you, demon." "..." Xelloss stood in shock as Yaga stalked out of the ring and up the ramp. When Mr. Satan began to walk past him and follow his friend, however, he did manage to regain his wits. "What about you? Do you feel the same?" Mr. Satan stopped and shook his head. "Of course, you fool. Yaga and I are like brothers." He turned to leave again... "But you're not JUST a brother." Xelloss' eyes took on an evil glint. "Are you?" Mr. Satan stopped again, and slowly turned and made eye contact with Xelloss. "What are you...?" "You're also a Father, and I hear that's something mortals don't take too lightly." Xelloss' eyes hid no intentions from Mr. Satan as he made sure to emphasize the F word. "Don't worry, I won't bother your domestic pleasantries at the moment, but even if I don't... when I win and this reality is destroyed your precious daughter will die right along with you, won't she? With your own world... you could save her. I have nothing against her... she can be spared." Xelloss stepped backward toward the ringpost as the first Ultra fan began to enter the dome. "Her fate... is in your hands." He vanished in a swirl of darkness, as Mr. Satan stared with a hollow look in his eyes toward the last spot where the Mazoku stood. "Videl..." ***** One Hour Before Ultra Reboot, Nabiki's Office "So we're decided then?" Nabiki asked her trusted advisor. "It would appear so." Tarou nodded. "That fool was going to use his status to dominate the entire card tonight." "It's... fortunate that we had that secondary plan in place. I owe you one, Tarou." Nabiki smiled at him. "I was just proving that I had what it takes. You know how I am about a challenge." A slight tint of red colored Tarou's cheeks as Nabiki smiled at him. Suddenly, the door burst open, and a panting Yaga entered the office in a hurry. "Ms. Tendou... I have to..." "Yaga! Just the man I wanted to see. Please, sit." Nabiki straightened the papers in her hand and sat up in her chair. Tarou's face quickly returned to normal and assumed an all business expression. "Ms. Tendou?" Yaga sat, his breath quickly catching up to him despite his mad sprint to the office after his meeting with Xelloss. "I just wanted to inform you, for one night only, your booking status has been revoked." Nabiki smiled. "...You're firing me?" Yaga's thoughts jumbled together as this new piece of information entered his brain. "No, this is a one night only replacement. I found your card... unacceptable." Nabiki gave Yaga a cold stare. "You're here to book entertaining matches, not to give yourself and your colleagues the limelight. Thankfully, Tarou had a backup plan that was heavily hyped on our website. It seems to have scored well, and the results are quite... interesting." "... You're replacing my experience with the incompetence of the Internet?" Yaga's eyebrow raised. "No, with the incompetence of the fans. Look, I don't need you to screw up this pay per view for us, and I think this is a solid card. The fans want it, after all. You'll be back to normal status next week, I promise. You can even be more evil than usual if you wish." Nabiki shrugged. "This is severely interfering with my ability to craft ongoing angles which will--" "Are you quitting?" "...No." "Good. End of discussion. Now, why did you burst in here without an appointment?" Nabiki put the papers down and looked at her interim booker curiously. Yaga's brain suddenly jump tracks as his purpose for coming here resurfaced in his brain. "I.. actually came to alert both of you." Tarou snorted. "Alert us? Of what? Haohmaru found our loud speaker storage area?" "Xelloss propositioned me in the ring." Yaga stated calmly, ignoring the younger Chinese boy. "The hell?!" Tarou eyebrows raised in partial surprise. "I thought Lina had killed him or something." "Sadly... no. If I recall, she merely sent him home. She didn't expect to see him for quite a while though... what did he want?" Nabiki rubbed her forehead softly, trying to ignore the telltale signs of a headache forming behind her eyeballs. "He wanted to enlist my aid in some sort of team, that would combat somehow, and be rewarded greatly. I didn't listen to his offer very carefully, I'm afraid. I would *never* even consider working with that monster." Yaga crossed his arms firmly. "Well, thanks for letting us know. Tarou, let's have security extra tight tonight. And just in case, make sure none of the fighters leave the stadium tonight until after the show is over. We may need to have a meeting to warn them about this." Nabiki sighed. "Understood, Ms. Tendou." Tarou nodded and quickly head out the door. Yaga stood. "I'll alert anyone I see not to leave as well, Ms. Tendou." "You did the right thing, Yaga. For once." Nabiki nodded. "Good luck tonight, by the way." "Ah... thank you." Mr. Yaga headed out to go to his dressing room and prepare for tonight's tournament. The world may be on the line, but it was still Ultra, and that meant it was almost time for... ***** { M A G I C A L T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G } { C R O S S O V E R F I G H T I N G } { F E D E R A T I O N } { .-----------. } { | U-L-T-R-A | } { `-----------' } { http://www.mtcffultra.com } | | | --+-- ---. ._ | | | | | / |_\ \__/ \___ | | \ | \ +-- Ultra |- REBOOT: +-- v5.0 | \ |-< |_/ .__ | \ \__| .__ | \ | | Episode 87 A Furious Oaks Production Written by Chris "ColdFury" Finch Ultra created and edited by Twoflower Many people talk about how loud the Ultradome is. They attempt to describe it, they attempt to convey the depth and texture of sound waves so loud that they rumble your bones to their core, and when English failed to provide any words accurate enough, they coined new ones to attempt to fill the gap. But you don't really know how LOUD the Ultradome is until you're in it, in the depth of all the cheering, of all the massive, thunderous clapping, of all the sheer energy being released into screams. Right now, Hiroshi knew how loud the Ultradome was. And he loved every second of it. "Are... you... ready... for some... Ultra... VIOLENCE?!!" Hiroshi chanted into his microphone. "NO! WE'RE NOT! GIVE US TEN MINUTES!" The crowd responded enmasse. Hiroshi didn't falter though, this new development was expected. "Are you sure then? I can always take the Ultraviolence elsewhere...?" "WE'RE READY!!!" The crowd decided. "Then let's get this show started!" Hiroshi grinned into the cameras, then glanced over to the empty chair at his side. "If my co-host would be so kind as to show up...?" "I'm here!" A slightly flushed and heavily panting Daisuke ran up and took his seat. "Where've you been, Dai?" Eyeing his sweating co-host suspiciously, Hiroshi noticed when Daisuke's eyes darted behind Hiroshi for a moment. Following his partner's gaze, Hiroshi looked into the first row of the audience. Then he blinked. "...Shermie?!" "Hiiiiii Hiroshi-kun!" Shermie smiled and waved happily. "..." Hiroshi gave Daisuke an accusing look. "I'll explain later. I think a certain crowd is ready to extract some Ultraviolence out on us if we don't begin." Daisuke turned to the camera. "We've got an above average Ultra Reboot for you folks, as it has more jam packed action than ever. And that's just the stuff that's planned." "My partner IS indeed right. Not only do we have the heart wrenching struggle for the Reboot Internet Title... but now we have an all new heart wrenching struggle for the OMEGA Reboot Internet Title!" Hiroshi gave the camera a 'v' sign with his fingers. "That means even more fun for you Ultra viewers!" "The tournament HAS been cut from 8 to 4 fighters though, to compensate for the time difference." Daisuke noted. "But to compensate for that, we have an 'all fighters included' elimination brawl to see who those top four contenders are! That's right Ultra fans, EVERY fighter will participate tonight, in order to try to qualify to be one of the last four standing in their division to enter the Reboot tournament!" "In the case of Omega, who's brawled so often in the recent past, a special treat was put together for them by Nabiki, who apparently unearthed some of Jack's notes for Reboot and went with our esteemed missing booker's original plans." Daisuke expositioned. "And on top of all this, some fighters will be pulling DOUBLE duty as they defend their titles against challengers selected by our head book--" Hiroshi paused as a new sheet of paper was handed to Daisuke. "What is it Dai?" Daisuke read the sheet for a moment, then blinked. "Oh... wow. The fight card has changed... the titles are all still on the line.. but the challengers have been picked by the fans instead of Yaga. A week long poll was conducted on our website asking who should challenge for each belt today at Reboot, and over eight hundred million responses were recorded. Your calls have been answered. Each challenger will be notified just prior to the title defense that they will be fighting." "Incredible! Stupendous! Everything Ultra is on the line tonight folks! What a treat!" Hiroshi pontificated wildly. "Yaga's been out voted by the FANS tonight! YAH!" Daisuke yawned. "Are you done yet?" "Hey, you said Wow once too." "JUST once." "And now... you saw one before during UltraRage Theta, now you get to see the biggest and baddest of them all... Storage Area 51." Hiroshi pointed to the monitors. Which panned an underground storage facility that seemed to house countless technological wonders, and various deadly looking mechanisms, to seemingly harmless house plants. "This is the area where Washuu's spare parts and works in progress for Ultra have been stored all this time, and for the first time ever, we're opening it up to Ultra competition!" "There are actually only 24 storage areas, but This Old Dojo felt skipping 24-50 was appropriate for this one." Daisuke read from his notes. "Also, we'd like to assure everyone that Washuu gave a quick check over the contents of the facility to make sure no UltraDome sized threats were left inside." "The rules are simple! The last four people standing are the victors and enter the tournament. Mary and a cadre of other referees are standing buy to disqualify or count out anyone who is unconscious or immobilized. The rules are hardcore, so DQs will be very rare." Hiroshi eyed the monitor ravenously waiting for the signal. "And the combatants are entering the arena via random spawn points! Let the havoc begin!" ***** ][ GAMMA INTERNET TITLE TOURNAMENT ELIMINATION BRAWL ][ EVERYONE VS. EVERYONE ELSE ][ FIGHT! Storage Area 17 was said to be a monolithic edifice four stories high. Storage Area 51 was certainly no bigger. But its contents were MUCH MUCH wilder. Mountains of technological wonders had been cast aside in here. From spare parts to portal generators, to wrecked Gundamium, to a better mouse trap, almost anything could be found in Storage Area 51. This Old Dojo technicians only entered it when Washuu was present to guide them through its labyrinths safely. As the 26 fighters materialized throughout the room, they each took time to get their bearings as the effect of the transportation faded. "Raichu! GO!" "Hitmonlee! Show 'im how a real fighter does it!" "Aww no fair!" Zell quickly assumed a defensive position as the himself, Selphie, Ash, & Gary all arrived in the same section of the area. "Don't whine, just fight!" Selphie dodged to the side as the large rat- like pokemon dove at her in a tackle. "Fira!" A large burst of flame caused Raichu to jump back. "Good job, Raichu! Keep moving!" Ash eyed his opponent apprehensively. "Try Thundershock!" Zell quickly parried a hard fist from Hitmonlee and countered with a variety of punches to the pokemon's abdomen. "To be a true fighter, you have to have variety in your attacks!" "Hit... mon..." The pokemon wheezed under the sudden assault. "Awright! This one is in the-- GAH!" Zell quickly jumped back as a sword sliced the air he was previously standing in. "ENLIGHTENMENT!!!" Haohmaru withdrew his sword from the ground and held it in an offensive position as he kept a wary eye on both the blonde fighter and the pokemon. "Oh sure... ruin the surprise." Morrigan swooped in from the air above and landed next to a surprised Selphie. "Now this won't hurt a bit... DARKNESS ILLUSION!" Selphie landed at Zell's feet with a thud. "Aww crap." Zell shifted to keep an eye on all four fighters in the area as Gary recalled his pokemon and withdrew another ball. A nearby referee signaled, and Selphie faded into a portal that opened up beneath her, marking the first official withdrawal from the brawl. "ICE 3!!" Tifa shouted out from the driver's seat of a certain 1991 Corvette ZR1 as it zoomed into view. All five fighters scattered, as Tifa and Bean officially entered the fray. ***** "I've been looking forward to this you insolent brats! SATAN PUNCH!" Mr. Satan swung a massive fist at Li Ping, who backflipped away. "Still telegraphing your moves there, pal." Shingo ran in and punched Mr. Satan in the ribs a few times, before rolling to the side as the winded wrestler tried to swivel around to grapple him. "You will pay for that, whelp!" Yaga scooped up Shingo from behind and quickly slammed him back first into the hard concrete ground. Shingo's eyes fluttered but stayed open and alert. Unfortunately at that moment Sakura ran over her fallen friends form in her patented Shoryuken charging uppercut. Yaga felt the blows pellet his chest and eventually end with a massive fist to the chin. Yaga stumbled backwards, and Sakura turned to Shingo. "Ne, are you okay Shingo-kun." When she saw his guilty look and blushed cheeks her mind mentally retraced her steps, and her cheeks turned tomato red as well. "Heads up, Sakura!" Akane drove a foot into Mr. Satan's chin, who had been approaching the distracted Shotokan fighter. He staggered, but remained standing, until Akane landed, firmly planted her feat, and fired off a massive Bombshell aura attack. Mr. Satan went flying back into a Star Trek looking console, which had the decency to explode upon impact. Akane struck a somewhat sexy pose and laughed. "That'll teach you to mess with me." "..." Shingo and Sakura blinked at her. Her cheeks tinted red slightly. "Playing Roxy rubbed off on me, a little." "BULLET-TIME!" The three fighters turned to see Li Ping motionless in the air. "ROARING ELBOW!" Startled, Akane twisted and tried to jump back as she saw a lightening fast Yaga headed straight at her elbow-first. She flinched as she realized she wouldn't make it in time. Suddenly, Li Ping streaked in front of her, his foot connecting firmly with Yaga's forearm. The wrestler twisted, and lost his balance. Li Ping quickly landed into a crouch, and gave Yaga a fierce back flip kick to the chin that sent the elder man sprawling to the ground. "Way to go, Li!" Sakura gave her friend a thumbs up, and the others cheered in appreciation. "Come on guys! Let's find Ranma!" Akane gestured and the four young fighters ran off as portals materialized at the beckon of another nearby referee for the two wrestlers. **** "I will defeat you this time Ranma!" Mousse threw a half dozen knives in the direction of the pigtailed martial artist. "And if he doesn't get you, I WILL!" Tasuki tossed a flaming fan at Ranma as well. Ranma jumped over the fan and knives at once, a spinning heel landing into Mousse's chin. "Please. I've got bigger fish to fry than you two today." Mousse staggered back, and Tasuki rushed forward to his aid, a fist lancing out toward Ranma's stomach. A quick shuffle to the left, and a quick knee raised and Tasuki was quickly gasping for breath. Ranma elbowed the dazed fighter in the small of the back, and quickly jumped back to avoid being entangled in Mousse's chains. "RANMA! I'm not in your shadow any more! You won't defeat me so easily!" Mousse threw a mace at Ranma, who nimbly ducked the flying object. A chain arced out at the ducking Ranma, intending to take him off guard. *chink* Ranma caught the chain in his hand, and pulled hard. Mousse stumbled forward and Ranma charged at him. "TENSHIN AMAGURKIEN!!!" Fists flashed out, and Mousse cried out in pain then slumped over. "REKKA SHINEN!" A flaming fan whizzed past Ranma's ear, singing his hair slightly. "You stole my shot at the belt Ranma... it may not get me home but it would've earned me some RESPECT around here. I'll make you--" Tasuki silenced as Ranma leapt into the air. "You've been here too long, pal. The trash talk instead of fight habit has rubbed off on you!" Ranma seemingly slowed in the air in front of Tasuki. His feet lashed out twice in order, and somehow a spinning third kick was delivered as he twisted in midair. Ranma landed softly on his feet as Tasuki fell to the ground with a thump. "I knew that training would pay off." "I know that move, boy." Ranma tensed, and turned to face his new opponent. "I thought you might. I've been looking for you. Akane settled her score, but I still owe you one, Sagat." The powerful kickboxer felt the scar on his chest and smirked. "Fight for whatever reason you want boy, I just want to see how much Ryu has taught you!" With a grin, Ranma charged Sagat. ***** "Arbok! GO!" *KA-BOOM* "Wheezing! Attack!" *RATATATATATATATA* "Persian! Slice attack!" *SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS---BOOOOOOM* "Growly! Slow her down! PLEASE!" "Grrrrooowlithe!" "James, I hate to say it, but that little red hooded girl is annihilating our pokemon." Jessie turned to her partner with an apprehensive face. *WHANG* Growlith fell to the ground, the victim of a ki conjured bear trap that fell out of Bulleta's skirt. "Should we call out our big gun, Jessie?" James fingered a pokeball on his belt nervously. "Already? I'm not sure..." Bulleta smiled at Jessie and James evilly. "Awww? No more pets for me to play with? I guess I'll just have to play with YOU!" She began a merry little skip in the direction of Team Rocket. "..." "...MEW! I CHOOSE YOU!" "Mew!" The psychic cat flew out of its pokeball, and circled around its trainers playfully. "Kitty!" Bulleta pulled out a bomb with an already lit fuse. "Let's play!" Mew eyed the strange little girl, then its frightened trainers, and finally all its fallen comrades lining the floor. The small flying cat furrowed its brow cutely. "MEW!" The two combatants charged at each other. ***** "Can't we at least talk about this?!" Lei jumped onto a hovering disc as he leapt out of the way of yet another gust of pulverizing wind. To his surprise it began to slide with his movements, and he struggled to keep his balance. "Windy! Try again!" Sakura pointed her wand at Lei Wulong and the bound clow card unleashed yet another gust of wind at the hardcore champ. "Gaaah!" Lei swiveled his feet, and the disc followed his movements. "I don't know what this is, but thank god Washuu put it in storage!" The disc slid past the gust of wind and towards Sakura. Lei jumped off and made a dash at Sakura. "Really sorry about this!" He cocked his fist back to make a quick swing and end it quickly for the young girl. "Spirit of Lightning! Hear my call!" Li Shaoran gestured at Lei, who was promptly jolted by the bolt of lightening that flew from the small boy. Lei quickly backpedaled and faced off against the two Captors. "Two against one isn't very fair...." Li paused, and nodded. "You're right. Sorry. But we have to take advantage of the situation." Sakura nodded also. "This IS part of the rules, I'm sorry Wulong-san!" Lei eyed something on the ground, and quickly grabbed the rubber hosing and wrapped it around his arm. "You're learning quickly!" Lei ran at the two children as they prepared their next magical volleys. ***** They fought silently. Ranma landed behind Sagat, and as the larger fighter turned to face him, Ranma swung around as well, his fist extended and catching Sagat in the gut. The one eyed fighter responded with a swift knee that caught Ranma in the chin. Ranma stumbled backward, but kept his balance before toppling. Both men panted slightly. "Not bad, kid." Sagat reassumed his fighting pose. "Not bad yourself, Sa--" Ranma started before being cut off by the appearance of his four friends. "Ranma! We'll help you with Sagat!" Li Ping ran forward, only to be stopped by Akane putting a hand on his shoulder. Li paused, and turned to face her with one eyebrow raised in question. "Hey Ranma... do you want our help?" Akane smiled at her fiance faintly. Ranma returned the grin, and shook his head. "No, just make sure no one jumps in, okay?" Sagat snorted. "So there's some honor amongst the lot you after all. Ready to finish this, Ranma?" "You bet, old man!" Ranma raised his fists into an offensive stance and launched into Sagat again, landing a few lighter punches behind Sagat's defenses while trying to avoid Sagat's counter blows. "I... don't get it? With the rest of us here, we could take him easily." Li scratched his head. "Think of it this way..." Sakura walked up to the younger boy. "Ranma's a main star of the movie, and he has to prove himself by taking out his worthy adversary at some point in the film. Would you want any help?" Akane laughed lightly at the metaphor, but quickly resumed to watching the fight. Realization dawned in Li's eyes. "I get it... it's not about winning with this fight, it's about the honor." "It should ALWAYS be about the honor." Shingo sighed. "We forget that sometimes." Sakura added wistfully. Shingo nodded, then walked up next to Akane. "So... you think he has a chance?" "Have you ever seen him fighting better?" Akane asked Shingo curiously. Ranma parried a kick that would've possibly knocked his head from his shoulders had it connected, and countered with a sweeping kick that Sagat jumped over. Sagat backpedaled slightly and launched two progressive Tiger shots at Ranma. A Moko Takabisha double countered them, and before the ki faded away, both fighters were running at each other again. "...No, can't say I have." Shingo shook his head. "I've seen him fight harder... but not BETTER. I think he'll win." Akane smiled. "Heads up guys, who knows who all is still left." Sakura motioned towards the sounds of fighting coming opposite the large stack of inventions they were currently standing by. "We'll be ready! Right, Sakura?" Li slapped Sakura on the back playfully, and she grinned and punched him in the shoulder with enough force to make him flinch. Neither of them noticed Shingo's face falter slightly. And none of them noticed someone throwing a large lit bomb in their midst, until it landed, anyway. ***** "I don't have time for you kids right now!" Zell jumped over Bulbasaur's vines and landed a kick square against Ash's chest. The young poketrainer stumbled back and hit the ground hard, sliding a few feet away. The concerned pokemon ran back to where its master lay, and shot Zell an upset glare. "BULBA!" "ENLIGHTENMENT!!!" Haohmaru deflected another attack by Hitmonlee with the side of his sword then swooped down and gave it a vicious headbutt. The pokemon crumpled to the ground with swirls for eyes. "Hitmonlee! Return!" Gary held out his pokeball as the pokemon it belonged to returned to containment. He began to pull another pokeball from his belt but was suddenly hit from behind and collapsed. "Too slow, little boy." Morrigan knelt down as Gary struggled to rise, and squeezed his behind. "Nice butt though, for someone so young. Call me." "Lady, you're just sick!" Tifa jammed a fist into Morrigan's cheekbone, then activated a materia on her gauntlet. "HOLY!" "Ho--" Morrigan stumbled back, and was then enveloped in the magic from the spell. As the holy magic exploded all around her, everyone in the area was temporarily blinded by the flashing light. When the light faded, Morrigan was out cold on the floor. Zell charged Haohmaru while the Samurai was distracted, and managed to land a hard spinning kick on the legendary one's shoulder. Haohmaru quickly parried the next attack though, and the blunt end of his sword into Zell's ribcage. "Ow!" Zell doubled over, and started charging his battle aura. "That's it... time for my Armageddon FIST!" Haohmaru responded by taking advantage of Zell's dramatic pause and smashing the hilt of his sword into the youth's forehead. Zell's battle aura faded and he fell over in a heap. "Morrigan, Ash, Zell, & Gary are eliminated!" Mary smiled and winked at the camera as she pointed at the four fighters. Four subsequent portals opened up beneath the trio of fighters. Haohmaru pointed his sword at Tifa. "YOU WILL PAY FOR BESTING MY LEGENDARY PARTNER, BY FACING HER EVEN MORE LEGENDARY EQUAL, MYSELF!" "*HOOOOOOOOONKK*" Bean responded as he piled into Haohmaru at high speed. The Samurai bounced off the hood of the car and fell to the ground motionless. ***** "Ow." Daisuke said for everyone watching. "Indeed." Hiroshi nodded. "Could Haohmaru be out? Could this be the end for Team Enlightenment? We've still got about half the fighters left, this could go either way!" "I've got money on the group of six teenagers banding together." Daisuke noted. "But Dai, there can only be 4 finalists." Hiroshi gasped. "They'll figure something out. This IS Shingo we're talking about. He's had the most boring matches in Reboot out of anyone involved." Daisuke eyed the Ultratron carefully. "You'd think he'd have some dents in the hood or something." "Naw! Everyone knows the Bean Bandit is HELLUVA tough!" Hiroshi gave a thumbs up to the camera. "In human form maybe, but in car form shouldn't he--?" "Don't mess with my groove, Daisuke." "GROOVE THIS, HIROSHI!" The audience cheered. Hiroshi sweatdropped slightly. "You didn't." "Only $19.95." Daisuke proudly held up his latest T-shirt. "Groove THIS, Hiroshi!" "...I really hate you sometimes." "Welcome to my world." Daisuke allowed a rare smile. ***** Mary kneeled beside him apprehensively. "He's.. out cold, but he's okay!" Tifa smiled a little at the referee. "When you've been driving as long as Bean has, you know exactly how fast is just enough to get the job done." "*honk*" A portal opened up and transported Haohmaru out of the storage area. Tifa turned to her partner, "Okay, where to next?" Bean's windshield wiper fluid sprayed his windshield (now with water warmers!) and suddenly turned back into human form. Somehow his curse had transferred over to his standard fighting attire too, so he reappeared fully clothed. "Ahh... feels good to be normal again. Let's head over there!" He pointed to the other side of the mound of stored parts. "I think I heard some explosions." Tifa nodded. "Gotcha! Let's go!" The two ran off toward the sounds of chi based explosions. ***** "MEEW!" Mew flew circles around Bulleta as she strafed her chi based machine guns after him. The psychic pokemon fired a blast of energy at Bulleta which knocked the gun from her hands. "Awww!" Her lip stuck out in a large pout. "You're no fun Kitty! Don't you wanna play?" Mew reassumed a position in front of a crouching Jessie and James. "Mew!" It shook its head firmly, indicating that it did not wish to play. "Aww!" Bulleta pulled three hand grenades from her basket and threw them at the trio. "Mew! Mew! Meww!" Mew blasted all three grenades, causing three separate explosions in midair. The small pokemon panted silently, keeping a wary eye on his opponent. "Here kitty!" Bulleta pulled a knife from her basket. "Let's play!" "MEWW!" The two charged each other, Mew in a psychically powered flight, Bulleta running forward. Bulleta slashed with her knife, and Mew danced out of the way. She tried again, and Mew danced out of the way again. Mew launched a psychic attack at her, but she somehow deflected the blast of energy with her basket. "Mew!?" "Oopsie! Did I do that!?" Bulleta looked down at the black bomb that dropped out of her skirt. "Oh my, I better get rid of that!" She quickly kicked the bomb away from the pair. Mew focused his attention on her, forgetting the bomb, and started charging for his next attack. "Jessie! Hold me!" James squealed as the bomb rolled right up to them. "Mew!!" Mew turned to try to stop the blast... *BOOOOM* But he was just a little late. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaiiiinnn!!!" Jessie and James squealed as they were launched skyborn, up through the ceiling of the storage area and thus out of the arena and competition. "Meeww!" Mew glared kawailly at Bulleta, then quickly flew off after its trainers. "Happy day! I defeated some more mean people!" Bulleta began skipping around the warehouse. "OOooh... what's this?" She leaned over and inspected something. ***** "LOOK OUT!" Shingo dove and shoved Sakura out of the way, and Akane and Li Ping both leapt away from the large black bomb with a lit fuse rapidly shrinking. A moderate sized explosion blew over everyone as they crouched on the ground. Dazed, they looked up. "Bulleta!" Li ping pointed to the red hooded figure on top of a large mound of parts. "Hiiiii!" Bulleta waved at the group. "Look what I found!" "... that looks like a bazooka." Akane noted. "... she FOUND it in here." Sakura sweatdropped. "..." was all Shingo could add. "Let's get her guys!" Li Ping began running up the mound at full speed. "Now that's the spirit!" Bulleta pointed the bazooka at Li Ping and fired. ***** Meanwhile, in a pocket dimension, Washuu watched the fight. "Hey!" Washuu blinked. "There's my portable insta-wardrobe machine! I was wondering where that went." ***** Li Ping rolled down the mound, now wearing a pink evening gown. "What hit me?" He stood up slowly after landing. "Dan's perfect date's dress?" Sakura snickered. Li Ping looked down. "GAH!" Akane silenced him quickly with a gesture. "Look, we can't take this lightly, we don't know what that thing might also do!" "That wasn't that fun. Let's try a different setting." Bulleta pushed a few buttons at random. "Whee!" She pointed and fired again. "Shingo! Down!" Sakura forcibly ran into her friend and shoved him out of the way of the cannon. Unfortunately, thanks to Newtonian physics her momentum was lessened by the impact and was in the path of the blast. *BAMF* "Annooooo.... that's not fun either." Bulleta sweatdropped. "Hoe? Shingo-kun, why are you bleeding from your nose? I didn't hurt you... yet." Sakura looked down at her black bikini and blushed furiously. "This looks familiar." ***** Ryoko watched from the monitors backstage at Ultra. "... Hey! My bikini!" ***** Shingo shook his head and furiously tried to avoid staring at Sakura. "Let's get her guys!" "Gladly." Li Ping ripped slits down the side of the dress, and posed in the fighting stance of the crane. "BULLET TIME!" He leapt high into the air and froze. "Oooh! An easy target!" Bulleta put the bazooka down and pulled another bazooka out of her basket. "No you don't!" Sakura finished her run up the hill and knocked the bazooka out of the young girl's hands then dove to the side. Bulleta fumed for exactly .02 seconds. In .03 seconds she was kicking a landmine in the direction of where Sakura was going to land. In .04 seconds she was being kicked by Li Ping in the chest. Li Ping bounced off the young girl exactly as Sakura was blown from the top of the hill. Li quickly turned to see what was going on, and didn't notice that Bulleta didn't look as hurt as she should be. A flame thrower quickly reminded him of the threat at hand, however, as he ran away from the scorching inferno chasing him down the hill. Sakura rolled down the hill of inventions and was unconscious before she reached the ground. Shingo stopped her descent at the base of the hill, and tried to wake her up to no avail. "Sakura? Sakura! Damnit Bulleta!!" A referee signaled and Shingo put the young Shotokan fighter down as a portal opened near him. "Alright, that's it girl!" Akane jump kicked the flame thrower away from Bulleta, and turned to face her. "That's enough of THAT." "Why does everyone keep doing that today!!!" Bulleta pulled out her trusty Uzi and peppered Akane with chi based bullets. Akane staggered backwards under the attack, and fell to one knee. "SHINGO KICK!" Shingo's foot flew out and knocked Bulleta skidding to the ground. "Li? How come you're Bullet Time didn't knock her out?!" Li doused the last of his flames out of his shirt and looked embarrassed. "I didn't have enough juice for a good hit. Sorry." "It's okay, just know your limits!" Shingo watched Bulleta as she stood slowly. "Akane? You okay?" "I'll... I'll be fine." Akane struggled to rise herself, the chi-bullets taking a toll upon her. "I think you should quit." Ranma walked up slowly, with a rather large limp, a rather large lump on his head, and a rather large smile on his face." "You.. you what?!" Akane blinked. "You jerk! I thought--" "I'm not saying you can't handle her..." Ranma motioned to the now risen Bulleta. "But you have a title bout to be ready for. Wiping yourself out for this just isn't worth it, at least not to me. I know I'm done." Akane blinked. "You're.. you're quitting?" Ranma grinned. "I did what I came here to do tonight." He pointed to where a portal was swiftly escorting an unconscious Sagat out of the area. "And you've got more important things on your plate, don't you?" Akane thought for a moment... then nodded. "I forfeit. Sorry guys, you'll have to handle her on your own!" Ranma nodded. "I forfeit also. Bye guys! And thanks!" Shingo sighed as the two exited together via a portal. "Just us two, then..." "Don't forget about me!" Bulleta, bruised and battered but still standing, covered the area with machine gun fire again, and both Shingo & Li dove out of the way. "How could we?" The American otaku muttered under his breath. ***** "Oof!" Lei slid along the ground again, knocked back by yet another gust of Wind. So far the kids had double teamed him expertly, and any time that he got close to getting one of them, the boy would pull out that Time card and... "Time card! Increase my speed!" Li held out his card and sword and activated the card's innate magical abilities. Lei looked around frantically while the magical energy swirled around the boy. He found just what he needed, and stood. Bracing himself, he watched as Li charged him. Li wondered why Lei frantically wasn't trying to dodge this time around, as he had in the past. He hadn't fully unloaded on him like he had on the others, the time card WAS an advantage that was rather high. He didn't want to use it unless he was stuck. With this opponent, though, he felt he had little choice. He ran to the side of the man in order to begin circling around and landing punches in on him. Even with his time card he barely registered Lei sticking out the lead pipe in his path. "OOF!" Li fell to the ground hard after slamming into the pipe at accelerated speed. "Finally!" Lei dropped the lead pipe and grinned at Sakura. "The odds are a little more even now, huh?" Sakura's lip trembled... "You shouldn't have hurt Li like that!" As she spoke Li faded into a portal. As he did she quickly ran up to him and salvaged his collection of Clow cards. "Li won't mind if I borrow these to beat you! Take THIS! Arrow card!" Lei ran away as a dozen arrows launched at him. A whiz over his left ear, his right ear, he kept twisting and turning to avoid the arrows, but even he had only so much agility. Then he ran into a wall. Sakura walked forward, with her finger pointed, aiming the mystical launching of the arrows. "Give up?" "Never!" Lei assumed a fighting stance. Sakura quickly launched eight arrows at him. Lei was quickly pinned to the wall via his clothing being skewered in 8 places to the wall. Sakura walked forward and pointed the next arrow at him. "Now?" "..." Lei thought for a moment. He could get free in a few moments, but then he would have to fight her off, dodge, and then be ready for his hardcore defense... Sakura started lowering her aim on him, from the chest to... "I SURRENDER!" Lei struggled against the arrows as he gave in. "Wai! Now I'll go and win this tournament for Li-san!" Sakura waved cheerfully. "Byeee!" "..." Lei stared after her as Mary walked up and tried to pull the arrows out. "Don't mind her Mr. Wulong-kun. I think she's just trying to be better to her friend." Mary cheerfully plucked an arrow out. ***** "This is nuts!" Li jumped out of the way of yet another bomb. Shingo held his ground and merely flinched as the hot air of the nearby bomb washed over him. "Attack, Li! Attack!" Shingo jumped up in the air foot first. "SHINGO BOOT TO THE HEAD!" Shingo's foot flew past Bulleta as she ducked, the rest of him attached for the ride. "Shout out to my man Johnny Cage! SHADOW KICK!" Li dashed forward with his own foot extended and managed to nick against Bulleta's shoulder. "You guys don't play very nice." Bulleta whined. "Can't take the heat... get out of the kitchen! Quake!" Tifa pointed her fist forward, and the materia on it began to glow." Shingo blinked at Tifa. "Tifa? Then where's...?" "Right here." Bean planted a hard punch on Shingo's jaw, sending him sprawling. "Sorry, but I want a spot on that tournament, pal." Bulleta was being pounded around the ground by the Quake spell, and Li was too busy back flipping away to notice a new entrant. "Watery! Flood them all!" A massive wave of water appeared at the beckon of liquidy young sprite. The water rushed over all the fighters, and swept them off their feet. "HE--*Hooooonk*" Bean complained. Sakura sweatdropped at Bean's transformation, but quickly recovered. "If I beat you all now, maybe I won't have to win the tournament! Arrow card!" Pointing at the Roadbuster, Sakura fired off 2 quick arrow shots. With a loud POPing sound, Bean was temporarily disabled. "Wind card! Flip him over!" "Bean!" Tifa moved to assist the lopsided vehicle, but stopped as something short stood in front of her. "I don't like you very much." Bulleta pointed a bazooka at Tifa. "Oh sh--" Tifa blinked. Bulleta fired, and an explosion blasted both women flying in the air. Bulleta landed in a skid ten feet away, whereas a charred Tifa hit a large console (this one, uncharacteristically, did NOT explode) and lay still. Bulleta got up wobbly on her feet and cheered. "Yay!! A winner is me!" Li Ping and Shingo stared at the girl in shock. Bean's engine started up, and despite his injury he was furious for payback. His windshield wiper fluid was almost warmed too... just a little more.... "Thunder card! Hit him hard!" The forgotten Sakura hit her card with her wand and the effect was immense. Lightening arced down from Sakura's wand and slammed into the Roadbuster. Horns honked, hazard lights flashed, and engines revved, but eventually he was silent, his engine choked silent. Li blinked. "Geeze-us! Come on Shingo, let's teach those two a lesson!" Shingo and Li Ping began to run forward, when Mary stood in front of them. "Shingo, Li Ping, Sakura Kinomoto, and Bulleta are going to the reboot tournament!!" Shingo blinked, then did a quick count. "Damn. We'll get em in the tournament, Li." Li nodded, and slammed his fist into his open palm. Pausing, Shingo eyed Li. "...And please, get out of the dress." "..." Portals opened up, and the injured or unconscious were helped out of the arena, and those still standing left on their own power. ***** "AMAZING! SPECTACULAR! WHAT A FINISH!" Hiroshi screamed into the mic while waving his free arm around wildly. Daisuke sweatdropped. "You realize, that was only the start of the tournament, and the show." Hiroshi paused, quickly sat back down. "A-heh. Moving RIGHT along, for about 4 days this week, our Omega contestants have been pursuing their own 'Reboot Elimination Brawl', but with a twist." "Seeing as our Omega roster has faced up in a shared circle, so to speak, in the past, the people upstairs decided that the elimination round would be a challenge of endurance, of intelligence, and --" Daisuke explained before being cut off. "And of NO POWERS! That's right, all of our Omega competitors competed in one of reality televisions most popular of shows... WITHOUT their powers or special abilities!" Hiroshi gasped. "I don't know how they did it!" "They were free to travel in pairs or alone if they wished. Some of the choices were surprising, some were... not." Daisuke shrugged. "Magical Troubleshooting Crossover Fighting Federation Ultra is proud to present... Omega's AMAZING RACE!" Hiroshi grinned wildly. "Here is a montage of some of the best moments of the race!" ***** ][ OMEGA INTERNET TITLE AMAZING RACE ELIMINATION ROUND ][ EVERYONE VS. EVERYONE ELSE ][ FIGHT! UltraDome Parking Lot, 5 days ago "OHOHOHOHO! Since we will be collaborating again shortly, I thought it would be best to practice our team work again, Darshu!" Naga powerposed triumphantly. Darshu sighed. "Okay, but I'm the leader." "OHOHOHOHO! My foolish sidekick, have you never learned? Perhaps we'll have to turn you into a cute little Darchu again!" Naga's eyebrow twitched slightly. Dark Schneider glared at her. "... We vowed to never bring that up again." "We did no such thing." Lina shook her head and sighed as she watched Darshu argue. "Those two will never learn. Where are we supposed to go first, Dan?" "The mighty map of MIGHT says to head to the land of the free, and the home of the hula!" Dan scratched his question. "A confusing clue, indeed. This will be a MIGHTY challenge." "...We have to go to Hawaii, Dan." "OOOOSHA! To Hawaii!" Dan flexed his forearm. "...Can we get some suntan lotion, for even those mighty as I dislike having their skin irritatingly pink." "So, Gally.. you sure you don't mind if we team up? Without my Gundam, I'll feel a little... naked." Duo sighed. "Sure, Duo. But don't mess this up for me. I want that title. If we both make it, I won't hold back against you. This is just a business trip, got it? No stable, no friendships, NO holding it back in the ring if we face. Understand?" Gally leveled with Duo. "Gotcha." Duo grinned. "You just better keep up with the God of Death!" Gally snorted. ***** Blowhole, Hawaii, 4 Days Ago. "... I am not posing in this.. this THING, B-ko." Sephiroth struggled to maintain his aura of cool. "Sephy-kun! Pleease! You look so fabulous in a grass skirt! Just for this picture!" B-ko prodded Sephiroth to stand next to the statue of Duke. "..." Complyingly, he stood next to the statue of the great Kahuna. B-ko focused the camera on him. "Smiiile! "..." Sephiroth struggled. "I said smile! Please, Sephiroth darling!" B-ko pouted a little. "... I'm trying." Sephiroth renewed his struggle. Sweat trickled down his forehead. Slowly, the two corners on his cheeks began to turn up. Slowly at first, then more slowly... then they stopped. Barely smiling, Sephiroth was shaking with effort. "Hurry! B-ko!" *snap* "Thank you Sephy-kun!" B-ko kissed him on the cheek. "...Let us continue this race." Sephiroth began walking. "You can loose the grass skirt now." "... It has grown on me." "..." ***** Paris, France, 3 days ago Shockwave Alberto grinned. This was not his purpose in coming here, but it did have an appealing quality. He stood outside the capital building of France. He knocked politely. "Wee-wee, zis is zee French?" "Hello. My name Shockwave Alberto, you may have seen me on Ultra..." "We have not, monsieur." "Ah. Well, I am here to tell you that I declare war on you." "Zen zere is no choice. We surrender." "Muahaha." Alberto signed some paperwork which was slid under the door, and laughed to himself quietly. "I'll be back later to begin policy changes." "We await your return." Alberto walked away with a grin on his face. Sure, it might be hard to explain to Big Fire why they now ran the nation of France, but everyone needed a hobby. ***** Paris, France, 3 days ago "Quickly, Duo! Where is the next clue?" Gally ran down the street. "I don't know any more than you do! Look, wait up a second, some of us are human you know." Duo came to a stop and bent over to pant heavily. "... I apologize. You've kept up with me quite well for someone so... normal." Gally offered. "It's... okay." Duo tilted his head back and took a deep breath to try to slow his heart down. "Wow. I've heard of this place." Gally followed his gaze. "The Eiffel Tower. It's legendary in its supposed aura of romance." She snorted. "Give me the heat of battle over flowers and ambiance any day." Duo grinned. "The sounds of metal slicing..." "Bullets flying..." Gally said wistfully. "The adrenaline... pumping..." Duo eyed Gally. "Servos whining under all the pressure..." Gally blushed slightly as she saw Duo staring at her. "The destruction and mayhem..." Duo whispered. "All of your being... dependant on your next action... your next movement..." Gally started to feel uncomfortably warm under Duo's gaze. "Gally?" "...Yes, Duo?" ***** Paris, France, 3 days ago Yuffie ran quickly down the streets of Paris. "Gotta find the clue! Gotta find the clue!" She ran past a scores of the French, a few tourists, Gally and Duo making out on her way down the street to... wait. Yuffie facefaulted into the concrete as her mind caught up with her eyes. ***** Santa's Workshop, North Pole, 2 days ago "I want a manly Dan action figure, and a manly new pink gi, and.." Dan listed off his demands rapidly to Santa Claus. "... and maybe the clue?" Lina kicked Dan in the shins. "HOLD! Don't think you're leaving before US!" Sephiroth and B-ko walked in covered in snow... among other things. "... Anoooo..." Lina cocked her head at Sephiroth. "Why do you have a penguin on your shoulder?" "...his name is Pen-Pen." B-ko supplied. "... and why is he on SEPHIROTH's shoulder?" Lina queried. "... he is my new familiar." Sephiroth answered with a slight stumble. "I will... train him in the art of magic, and he will become my loyal attack... penguin." "OOSHA! The mighty Dan must have a loyal attack penguin as well!" "..." "..." "..." Santa Claus sweatdropped. ***** Peru, South America -- 1 Day ago "Where did you say you were looking for again pal?" The local Peruvian asked the strange figure again. Ultraman, wearing a space suit to protect him from the foul environment of the Earth, gestured wildly. "Is it... an Elephant?" The Peruvian asked. Ultraman shook his head and continued gesturing. "Aretha Franklin?" Ultraman sighed and held his head low, before he began walking north again. The elderly Peruvian shook his head. "Damn kids these days." ***** Ultradome -- This morning "Hey folks! This is Hiroshi coming to you live from the Ultradome via tape! Daisuke is away and Tarou isn't available to back me up, so I'm announcing to you live from this very ring!" Hiroshi stood in casual clothes in the middle of the ring. "Our contestants are due to arrive anytime now, the first four into this ring will be our contestants to the very first Ultra Reboot Omega Tournament!" Hiroshi grinned. Hiroshi waited. Hiroshi waited some more. Text appeared in place of the image of Hiroshi, reading "TWO HOURS LATER." Hiroshi lay in the middle of the ring, snoring slightly. "YAHOOIE!" Dan and Lina appeared at the top of the ramp. "We made it! I knew we would, since I'm the legendary bandit killer Lina Inverse, and if I had to swim back from Peru I would have still made it back first!" Lina laughed triumphantly. "Huh? Eh? OH! DAN AND LINA! As soon as they get to this ring they become our first entrants into the tournament!" Hiroshi quickly stood up and picked up his microphone. "OOOSHA! To victory!" Dan and Lina began walking down the ramp toward the ring. Unfortunately, Dan chose that moment to trip. Lina and Dan rolled right INTO the ring, but not inside the ring. Lina sat up whoozily and rubbed her head. "Beloved! Let us hurry, we can get inside the ring before those two get up!" B-ko and Sephiroth appeared at the top of the ring, briefly before breaking out into a run. "Oh no you don't! HYYYYA!!" Duo ran out behind them, and jump kicked into the back of B-ko's head. "And some amazing outside of the ring action in the wrap up of our amazing race! It appears that B-ko and Duo are fighting... Sephiroth is not stopping, he's IN the ring ladies and gentlemen!" Hiroshi quickly slipped into announce mode. "Curse you brat! I'm not allowed to blast you to pieces this time!" B-ko tried to swing at Duo, who easily dodged the attack. "Even without my Gundam, I'm more than a match for you without your equipment!" Duo threw another punch. "Hurry Gally, I'll hold her here!" Gally appeared at the top of the ramp also. "Sure thing Duo!" She ran down to the ramp, and jumped off the top of Dan's head and landed in the ring. She eyed Sephiroth before turning to face the ramp. "Hurry, you can sti--" Lina crawled into the ring, still rubbing her head. Dan stood at the apron, about to slide under the ring. "My mighty head rings with the pain of ages, but I am still..." He slid under the top rope. "VICTORIOUS! YAHOOIE!!" Duo dodged a few more punches from B-ko, then shrugged. "Ah well. Knock 'em dead, Gally!" B-ko gasped. "Sephiroth, darling! I'm sorry I couldn't join you up there!" Sephiroth nodded to her quietly. "Fear not, B-ko. You have other engagements today, so this may very well be for the best." Tears welled up in her cheek. "Sephiroth, darling! Always thinking of me." Dan eyed the shoujo display. "Uh... um... oosha?" ***** "There you have it folks! Dan, Lina, Sephiroth, and Gally are our Omega Tournament Entrants! One of those four will walk away WITH the prize!" Hiroshi marked out from his announcer table. "Yahoo! Go Dan!" "..." Daisuke shook his head. "I'm not even going to say it." ***** A small phone rang within the lab. Turning from her display of Ultra, Washuu picked up the phone. "Yes?" "Oh, hello Nabiki." "Xelloss? He... what? I'll be monitoring the show anyway. Just... see that Mary's not around if he does show up." "Thank you." Washuu hung up, and thought silently. What would Xelloss be doing suddenly returning from Ultra? And... why after Mary renounced her powers? Did he know, somehow? ***** "And now up for our first semi-final match of the evening, in the category of Gamma Tournament... Li Ping and Shingo, steadfast friends, will go on to fight in this very ring! What an exciting match these two must have ready for us!" Hiroshi seguewayed very nicely. "Actually, history dictates that Shingo is fairly boring in Reboot matches when he fights a friend. They'll probably play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Me, I'll be playing Rockman.EXE: Battle Network, on my Gameboy Advance!" Daisuke held up a cartridge and gameboy as proof. Hiroshi shook his head, but continued. "And here they come, Li Ping and Shingo Yabuki!" The two jogged down the ramp, each in fresh clothing, looking a little weary, but definitely battle ready. Li Ping gestured for a mic as he got into the ring. "Now Shingo, Daisuke IS right about one thing, you tend to take it easy on you pals in the ring. Now I don't want to hurt you any more than you me, but I just want to say we need to go all out this time." Shingo stood silent as a microphone was handed up to him. He nodded slowly. "You're right. I'm not holding back. We may be friends, allies, and pals... but I do have ONE grudge against you..." Li Ping blink, and at the announcer table even Daisuke took notice. "You... you stole the girl I love from me!" Shingo threw the microphone down. "I.. wha?" Li Ping blinked. "I... I'm sorry man. I didn't know!" ][ REBOOT 5.0 SEMI FINAL ROUND ][ MATCH ONE ][ SHINGO YABUKI VS. LI PING ][ FIGHT! Shingo didn't wait for Li to finish, he charged forward with tears in his eyes. Quickly adapting one of Ranma's moves, his fist lashed out a few dozen times in a few seconds. Li was startled by the attack and stumbled backward as the blows peppered against his frame. "SHORYUKEN!" Shingo crouched suddenly, only to leap up with his fist extended, his target Li's chest and chin. In an instant, Li grinned and backflipped away. "If there's one thing you don't want to try against an American Otaku... it's an uppercut trap." Li pumped his fist against his chest and held a victory sign out to the air. "Another one for the Cage-ster! SHADOW UPPER!" Li's elbow smacked into Shingo's ribcage as the older boy descended from his unintended jump. Shingo's butt landed flat on the canvas, and the wind escaped his lungs. Slowly, Shingo stood, as Li landed and charged forward also. Li quickly jumped in the air and extended both feet in the air at once in opposite directions, his foot landing into Shingo's chin, the other parallel in the opposite direction. "That was an odd move." Daisuke mused. "I think it was a Jean-Claude maneuver from Timecop." Hiroshi noted. "Ah. That would explain why I've never seen it." Shingo stumbled back, but regained his footing slowly. Continuing the aerial tactics, he jumped into the air, twisting even as his feet left the ground. His ankle spun around and collided heavily with Li's shoulder. "Wow! What an amazing fight as the fighter who copycats other fighters and the fighter who copycats fighting movies collide!" Hiroshi cheered. "That last one was Terry Bogard, right?" "Yup!" "Oye." "Shingo has scored a heavy hit, but both fighters appear to be rather winded now!" Hiroshi turned to Daisuke. "More interesting than you thought it would be, huh?" "I guess." Daisuke eyed his gameboy. "It's calling me though." Hiroshi sweatdropped yet again. "Are you ready... to give up yet?" Shingo panted. "What? Dude... even if you WIN... this fight..." Li paused to catch his breath and rub his shoulder gingerly. "You still won't get her. She's made up her mind, and nothing either of us do here will make a difference." "Huh? Oh I know that." Shingo grinned. "I just wanted to take my aggravation out on you for stealing her." Li blinked. "Oh. Oh... kay." "Shingo KICK!" Shingo leapt into the air and delivered his signature kick at Li... who ducked. As Shingo landed behind him, Li assumed a fighting stance, but paused. "When did you fall in love with Nakoruru?" Shingo nearly fell back over into the rings. "What?!" "Well, you said I stole your love, and I had a date with Nakoruru last week that went pretty well, and I think if she's ever in town again she'll probably sto... Wait." Li eyed Shingo nervously. "You didn't just declare your love for and challenge me about Sakura did you?" Shingo sweatdropped heavily. "I... uh... er..." Li sweatdropped also. "You realize she told me that we'd always be good friend, and she never wanted to change that right? That's why I got up the nerve to ask Nakoruru out." The older boy stared at the Li in disbelief. Shingo stammered momentarily, his momentum gone. "You... wha... oh boy." Li nodded. "Oh, and sorry about this..." Li ran forward and gave Shingo a right hook across the chin, and then did a roundhouse kick with his left foot as a follow up that sent Shingo over the top rope and sprawling out onto the concrete. The referee began counting Shingo out... "Normally, this kind of fall wouldn't count, but Reboot operates under hardcore rules... which means anything goes!" Hiroshi noted for the audience. "Is it over yet?" Daisuke peered up from his Gameboy. "Dai! You fell off the wagon!" Hiroshi frowned at Daisuke. "Ten! The winner is Li Ping!" The referee held up Li's hand, but Li quickly jumped over the rope and started to wake his friend up. "Come on Shingo, I know you're in shock and all at being stupid on camera, but if you don't come to soon, you might not be facing ME when you wake up." Li slapped Shingo lightly. Shingo's eyes opened, and stared at Li. "I am so dead." "Yes." Li shrugged, and offered him his hand. "Want help hiding?" "Please." The two friends limped up the ramp together. "Amazing! The power of friendship prevails!" Hiroshi waved a 'Young Ultra Forever' flag. "Friendship. Friendship? Again?" Daisuke snorted. "Told you." "Next up, a change of pace with our hardcore match! Lei Wulong defends against the first MYSTERY CHALLENGER, as picked by YOU, the loving fans!" Hiroshi pointed to the Ultratron. "This match takes place on TOP of the Ultradome! Hold onto your hats and glasses folks, it's windy up there!" ***** Lei Wulong stood silently on top of the rooftop. The wind shifted slightly, and he shifted his balance to adjust. Hopefully his opponent wouldn't wield magical arrows. His arms were still sore where some of the arrows and sliced the skin slightly on impact. As Lei rubbed his sore arms, a figure came crawling up the Ultradome. Lei's eyes widened. "You..!" ***** "That's right Ultra fans, you demanded it, and you've got it! Lei Wulong takes on Bean Bandit for the HARDCORE TITLE!" Hiroshi screamed. "Amazing! Bean gets a return shot at the title he lost due to his old curse! Only here on Ultra, folks!" "Given that we're the only ones to hand out the belt, I imagine so." Daisuke pointed out. ***** ][ HARDCORE TITLE DEFENSE ][ LEI WULONG VS. BEAN BANDIT ][ FIGHT! Bean walked slowly across the rooftop. "This isn't going to be an easy fight." "You're telling me." Lei spread his feet carefully. "I almost got blown off twice while I was waiting for you! Are you sure you're ready to fight?" His footsteps tad slower than usual, and his face just a bit more serious, Bean nodded. "Girl hurt me, but if my fans want a Roadbuster title holder, they're gonna get it." Lei nodded. "Very well... defend yourself." Assuming the stance of the crane, Lei was easily able to keep his balance in the odd environment. Bean charged forward and tried to get a clean hit on Lei to start off with. Lei shifted to the side and his hands lashed out and chopped into the pressure points on Bean's shoulder blades. "Ooow!" Bean staggered back for a moment. Pressing the advantage, Lei rushed forward and tried to drive an open palmed thrust into Bean's stomach. Bean used surprising speed and managed to catch Lei's arm. Bean yanked back, and Lei went flying past the Roadbuster. His arms pinwheeling about, Lei slid along the metal roof to the Ultradome, gravity and wind preventing him from slowing his descent. Finally he reached the edge of the rooftop, and slid out into open air... except for one hand which he managed to catch on the rain gutter. Hanging by his left arm, Lei managed to stop his mad fall and clutch desperately to the Ultradome. Bean slowly walked over to where Lei was hanging. He peered over the side. "Do you think you would survive a fall like that?" Lei's face contorted in disbelief. "It would hurt like hell!" "I'll take that as a yes." Bean stomped down hard on where Lei's hand was. Except that it wasn't there any more, he managed to switch hands quickly. Bean stomped down with his other foot to match. Again, Lei managed to switch hands to a point where a boot wasn't coming down on top of it. Bean growled angrily, and stomped with BOTH feet. Lei managed to dodge again, but the rain gutter gave a cry of agony as it was wrenched from the rooftop and fell from about five stories down to the nearest ledge. Unfortunately, this was the rain gutter that Lei was hanging on, and Bean was standing on. With a thud, all three (Bean, Lei, and the rain gutter) collapsed to the ground in a heap on the audience stairwell exterior to the Ultradome. ***** "Both men are down! We have a referee there, he's starting the count out!" Hiroshi gasped. "What will happen to the belt in a double DQ? My Lina! What could happen?!" "Looks like we won't find out. Lei's getting up." Daisuke pointed to the screen. "What determination! What guts!" "What internal bleeding." "Ewww.." ***** Lei staggered to his feet and the referee began to count out Bean solo this time. He stumbled over to the nearest wall, and leaned against it, breathing heavily. "Damnit Bean, you almost got us killed." He coughed loudly, and then tried to catch his breath. It wasn't for a few moments that it dawned on him that the counting had stopped. "My most sincere apologies." Bean said from being Lei. Lei twirled around to face his adversary... just in time to see the rain gutter smashed over his head. His world turned into stars, and Lei Wulong collapsed to the floor. The referee issued the count out, and raised Bean's hand in victory. ***** "Your new Hardcore champion... BEAN BANDIT!" Hiroshi announced the finale to the match as the audience went wild. "That was an interesting strategy.... 'if I go down I'm taking you with me' to the literal level." Daisuke added. "A-heh. We're just full of non-stop action today folks, not a moment to lose as we take you to our first Omega Elimination fight! The amazing Lina Inverse returns to the fighting arena for the first time in quite some while, against the silent but deadly Sephiroth!" Hiroshi grinned wildly as he sat back in his chair. "This match will be one for the record books, folks!" ***** Three portals opened up, and Krillin was the first one out of them. Sephiroth and Lina followed suit shortly. "Okay guys, I want this to be a clean fight! This is our first Omega tournament fight, so make it a good one!" Lina laughed. "Right. Like this over glorified bandit stands a chance against ME." Sephiroth shrugged. "Think what you will, Lina Inverse." "Ready?" Krillin asked. ][ REBOOT 5.0 SEMI FINAL ROUND ][ MATCH ONE ][ SEPHIROTH VS. LINA INVERSE ][ FIGHT! "RAY WING!" Lina levitated in the air momentarily, then blasted backwards, putting some distance between her and Sephiroth. "Childish games." Sephiroth shook his head, levitated off the ground slightly, and followed at a more leisurely pace. "Okay... he's following me. Now to start it up nice and easy." Lina slowed slightly and canceled the Ray wing spell, landing softly on the ground. "Fireball!" A ball of giant energy arced out over the landscape and towards the son of Jenova. Sephiroth held out his own hand and called "Ice 3." The magical streaks of energy canceled out, but Lina wasn't quite done yet. "Burst flare!" Lina gestured and another shot of magic headed off. "Flare arrow!" Lina targeted Sephiroth and fired. "Ice 2." The first blast dissolved against the ice spell. "Ic--" The flare arrow slammed through too quickly for Sephiroth to counter and it slammed into him. "Arrgh. You will pay for that." His once leisurely pace quickened and he fired off his own succession of spells. "Quake! Meteor!" "BARRIER!" Lina held out her hands and a protective shield kept the Quake spell from impacting around her. Lina strained with effort, using a good deal of magical muscle to prevent the spell from landing on her. A crackling fiery sound from above caught her attention though, and she dove out of the way as the first Meteor spell hit. "RAY WING!" Cape billowing, she quickly dodged all the incoming meteors from Sephiroth's spell. "You'll have to do better tha--" She stopped as she nearly ran into the white haired bishounen. He stared down at her coldly. "I intend to." Masamune withdrew from its hilt, and Lina barely got her own sword out in time to deflect. Quickly withdrawing with Ray Wing, Lina dropped the flight spell and cast yet another. "Flare LANCE!" A large streak of fire energy shot out at Sephiroth, once again exploding around him before he could put up a defense. Slightly charred, Sephiroth coughed. "I grow weary of this." "Same here, Sephi old pal! DYNAST BREATH!" Lina concentrated her magical abilities, and a mist surrounded Sephiroth. He tried to motion to activate his materia, but the mist froze all around him, numbing his limbs. Mist turned to hard ice, and hard ice shattered into sharp shards. The sharp shards tattered Sephiroth's clothes and sliced through outer layers of skins, drawing blood. "GAAAH!" Sephiroth fell to one knee, grimacing in pain. "That was your LAST hit!" He stood up, and posed dramatically. "ANGEL WING!" Sephiroth faded from view. Lina blinked, then nodded. "Ahh. I almost forgot you had this trick." The ground opened up before Lina, and a large black and white colored mecha arose from the ground, with Sephiroth in the cockpit. "ROCKET FLARE!" Three rockets launched from each shoulder, the explosions sending Lina scraping along the hard gravel dirt of Random Woodlands #242. "That HURT!" Lina stood firmly, and summoned forth her black magic abilities... "DYNAST... BRASS!" A pentagram of light formed in the ground underneath Sephiroth's large Mecha, and large bolts of electricity shot up the Mecha, pushing it well past its tolerance for live currents. Sparks flew in the cockpit, but Sephiroth pushed the controls forward, and the Angel Wing still responded. "Oh boy. Not gonna live this one down... but... ZELAS GORT!" Lina cast the summoning spell taught to her by Naga the White Serpent, and a large jellyfish appeared in midair and seemingly glomped the mecha to the ground. Sephiroth wiggled the controls and struggled valiantly, but the mech was trapped. "Good. Here goes nothing! Darkness from twilight, crimson from blood that flows..." Lina began summoning her famous Dragon Slave attack. Sephiroth watched the monitors, and smirked. "Finally." He faded out of the cockpit. "...buried in the flow of time; in Thy great name, I pledge myself to darkness! Those who oppose us shall be destroyed by the power you--" Lina paused and blinked as Sephiroth appeared in front of her. "Silence." Sephiroth held forth his materia, and it glowed slightly in response. "..." Lina responded. She attempted to gesture forward with the Dragon Slave. Nothing happened. Sephiroth held the Masamune to Lina's throat. "I do not wish to pound you into submission. You are beaten. Do you submit?" Lina eyed the Masamune carefully, then sighed and nodded quickly. Krillin reappeared into view. "Good job! The winner is Sephiroth!" "I await my next match." Sephiroth vanished from view. Lina muttered silently, as the silence spell had not yet warn off. "......." Sweatdropping, Krillin scratched the back of his head. "Aheheh." ***** "Wow! What a finish! Sephiroth and Lina pulled out all the stops for that one! How long has it been since we've seen the Angel Wing?" Hiroshi asked Daisuke. "Not long enough. Sephiroth was just waiting for Lina to get predictable, and she did. Her loss." Daisuke shrugged. "Next fight?" "Sure! This is Reboot, and we've got a BUSHEL of Ultra violence headed your way!." Hiroshi flipped through his paperwork. "Coming up next, is our second Gamma Semi-Final matchup! Sakura Kinomoto takes on Bulleta for the right to face Li Ping for the Internet Title!" "... In the ring? Bulleta's gonna be IN THE RING?" Daisuke slid underneath the announcer's desk. "I'll be here if you need me." "And here she comes, former hardcore champ, Bulleta!!" The little red cloaked girl came skipping down the ramp happily whistling a merry little tune. She climbed into the ring, and waved at the fans cheerfully. The audience, appropriately, responded with a silent wave of fear. "And here comes her challenger, Sakura Kinomoto!!" Hiroshi cheered. Sakura flew in on her magic wand, circled the ring twice, and landed on the opposite corner of Bulleta. "Hi everyone!" The audience reception for Sakura was resoundingly more warm. "I want a good clean fight!" Mary waved. "Good luck, Sakura!" ][ REBOOT 5.0 SEMI FINAL ROUND ][ MATCH TWO ][ BULLET B. HOOD VS. SAKURA KINOMOTO ][ FIGHT! "I'm tired." Bulleta yawned. "Let's finish this early so I can go take a nap before the finals." Sakura pulled out her wand without responding, and struck a card. "Thunder card! Shock her!" "Eep!" Bulleta leapt out of the way of the attack that quickly scarred the ringpost. "That wasn't very nice! THAT WASN'T NICE AT ALL!" Bulleta promptly pulled out more weapons from her basket at once than she ever had before. "..." Sakura blinked at the arsenal Bulleta pulled out of her basket. "SHIELD CARD! PROTECT ME!" Bullets, explosions, and roaring flames dominated the noise in the ring. "YE GODS! SOMEONE DECLARED WORLD WAR THREE IN THE ULTRADOME!" Hiroshi dived under the Announcer's table. "Told you so." Daisuke noted. "Hey... isn't this usually a bad thing to be under?" Hiroshi asked. "The Announcer's table? Yeah. But we're okay until the Spanish Announcer table goes. Some sort of law of physics." Daisuke explained. "One of the techs was trying to explain it to me." A small bomb exploded nearby, rattling the chair. "How many of those things does she have?" Hiroshi queried. "Well, I assume since they're ki based, until she runs out of ki, we're under this desk." "MADRE DE DIOS!!!" *BOOOOM* "..." Hiroshi added. "... Right. There went the Spanish Announcer's table. Abandon desk!" Daisuke scrambled out from under the table, pausing only to grab his Gameboy Advance. Hiroshi quickly followed. "Dear god! Bullets, explosions, all sorts of things are directly impacting Sakura's shield card barrier, and ricocheting all over the Dome!" "Since they're not real, I suppose that's why the structure isn't taking much damage. It would still hurt like dickens to get hit by it." Daisuke noted. "Looks like the audience shield is in working order." "Right!" Hiroshi and Daisuke looked at each other, and nodded. Grabbing their extension mics, they both vaulted over the barrier and behind the safety of the shield. "Daisuke-kun!" Shermie hugged Daisuke tight enough to make him turn red. "Hi Hiroshi!!" "Uh, hi Shermie." Hiroshi waved quietly. Silence suddenly overtook the ring, and both announcers turned to look. "Amazing, Bulleta is actually low on steam! She's panting for breath! Sakura looks like she's..." "Completely unscathed. Wow. What a waste of effort." Daisuke shook his head. Sakura, indeed, was unscathed by the assault due to the strength and loyalty of the shield card. The barrier dropped, and she pulled out a two card combo she had always wanted to test out, but Li would never let her. "I... I'm not done yet!" Bulleta pulled a surface to air missile launcher and took aim at the young card captor. "... WINDY! Take out Bulleta! TIME! Speed up Windy!!!" Sakura rapidly struck both cards with her wand. Windy appeared in the form of a small tornado headed straight for Bulleta. Time magic sparkled around it, and suddenly the tornado was gone. And so was Bulleta. "Whoooawhoooowhoooaoooooaooaoaoaaaa---*" Bulleta screamed as the accelerated tornado spun her around a few hundred times in just a few seconds. "Windy! That's enough!" The dual card spell dispersed, and Bulleta fell to the ground, out cold. Mary, surprisingly unscathed, hopped into the ring and checked on her. "She's out cold! The winner is Sakura!" She held up Sakura's hand. "Good job Sakura!!!" "Wai! Thanks Mary!" Sakura jumped up and down in joy. "Well that's it for this one folks, Sakura and Li will be fighting each other in our MAIN EVENT for the Gamma Internet Title!" Hiroshi brushed his hair back off his forehead. "We're... gonna clean up for a bit. Here's a video reel of past Ultra Reboot highlights." Daisuke nodded at the camera. "See you in a few." ***** "Look Dad, you're on there!" Videl pointed at the screen from the Ultra green room, where the fighters could go to watch the show comfortably backstage. "The crowds loved you back then." Mr. Satan chuckled. "Well, they'll love me again someday, I'm sure." Videl blinked. "How can you say that? They *HATE* you now." "Well, they also *LOVED* me then. Me and Yaga will play the jerks for awhile, then someone else who's naturally a jerk will step into the role and we'll find a way to swivel to a different position." Mr. Satan chuckled. "It's basic industry stuff. Yaga may be a hot head sometimes, and so am I, but we're just doing what's best for the show." "But Dad, Ultra's not fake." Videl scratched her head. "How can you pretend on a show like Ultra? You could end up over your head." "No one's going to get hurt or anything, and we're just trying to drive ratings. It's harmless." Mr. Satan sighed slightly. "Harmless." "Dad?" "N-Nothing.... just.." Mr. Satan rubbed his hand through his giant afro. "just... always remember that, Videl. No matter what happens on Ultra, I'm a good man. I'm just... doing what I have to." "Of course, Dad!" Videl hugged her father. "You never have to worry about me, I'll always love you. I'm not as fickle as those crowds." And it was all Mr. Satan could do but to not cry out. To tell his daughter everything. Maybe her boyfriend and his family could help him... but... no. Not this time. Not with her life on the stake. He would do what he had to... to make sure she lived a happy life. He could bring her boyfriend with them if he had to. But he couldn't bare the thought of her dying due to his mistakes. Not after her mother. Never again. "O-of course, Videl." Mr. Satan gave his daughter a hefty hug. "Of course you will." ***** "Next up, B-ko will fight the MYSTERY CHALLENGER that the fans have selected and defend the belt against them!" Hiroshi cheered. "So far the fans made a good call with the Hardcore belt. They said Bean could defeat Lei, and he did! I wonder who they selected to fight B-ko!" "Hopefully not Sephiroth. I don't think I could stand the psuedo angst factor in that." "Alright then! Let's see who we've got! Taking place on the planet of Pluto, temporarily flooded with atmosphere courtesy of Washuu, we take you to our Omega championship bout!" Hiroshi smiled as the camera faded out. ***** ][ OMEGA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ B-KO VS. ??? "Standard rules apply. Blowing up Pluto or the universe will be a technical foul." Ifurita floated impassively in front of B-ko. "OHOHOHO! Of course, I will obey the rules, and defeat whoever my opponent is with ease." B-ko held the back of her hand up to her mouth as she laughed, and gave a confident pose. She paused momentarily. "Who is my opponent anyway?" "OYAAJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Dan rolled through a portal into sight. "..." B-ko sweatdropped. "Surely not..." "The fans decided, remember?" Ifurita reminded B-ko. "Ready?" ][ OMEGA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ B-KO VS. STONE COLD DAN HIBIKI ][ FIGHT! "The might of your latest creation shall prove nothing when compared to the might of my own... fists?" Dan paused in mid arm flex, and looked around curiously. "The mighty Dan does not see your latest creation." "You simple baboon, I couldn't let you upstage me now could I? Here it comes now!" ***** "Look! Up in the sky!" Hiroshi pointed to the space above Pluto. "WHAT?" Daisuke covered his ears. "I can't hear you! Ever since Dan showed up the Ultradome's been cheering too loud!" "I SAID, LOOK! UP IN THE SKY!" "Hiroshi, I'm not checking my fly on national TV." Daisuke eyed Hiroshi warily. "IT'S A BIRD!" Hiroshi pointed again. "It's a plane?" Daisuke tried to understand his gestures. "IT'S..." Hiroshi gasped. Daisuke finally noticed the screen. "Great Scott!" ***** "...the Akagiyama SuperTron Five!" B-ko finished as she climbed into the cockpit. Dan scratched his head. "Isn't that... uh... Superman?" "Whoever is Superman?" B-ko laughed into the back of her hand. "My design is PURELY original. As will your DEMISE!! OHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!" ("That might be a tall order, Dan's been beaten almost every way possible." Daisuke snickered. "Quiet Dai! Go Dan!!") "There will be a demise today, but it will not be mine, for indeed, it will be YOURS!!! GADOUKEN!" Dan extended his arm and a large pink puffball of ki energy launched out at the SuperTron Five. The fireball simply bounced off the mecha's chest. "OOOOsha?" Dan blinked. "OHOHOHOHO! LASER POWERED EYE ATTACK!" B-ko furiously pressed buttons in the cockpit. In response the SuperTron Five's eyes lit up a deadly red color, and two crimson beams of light scorched the ground where Dan had been standing. "Too slow for the mighty taunting legend! Yosh!" Dan rolled up to the foot of the mighty Mecha. "Now I have you where I want you!" The SuperTron Five lifted a red boot in the air to stomp the pink one into the ground. "OOOSHA! KORYUKPEPPA!" Dan spun in place and launched into a furious uppercut that went straight up. His fist caught the machine right in the foot and sent it skidding to the ground. "Oho?" B-ko hung on tight as the robotic SuperTron came to a halt. "You.. you actually hurt my SuperTron Five! Impossible!" SuperTron Five got back on its feet, somewhat wobbly on one ankle, and proceeded to punch at Dan. "HAHA! You are too slow!" *roll* "For the might!" *roll* "And agility!" *rollroll* "Of Stone Cold Dan Hibiki! BOOT TO THE HEAD!!" Dan's flew foot first toward the giant mecha's robotic head, his iron foot denting the cold steel alloy. Warning klaxons went off as B-ko struggled to maintain control of the robot. "Impossible! This robot was designed to be faster than speeding bullet! Indestructible! I know! I'll use its hidden power!" B-ko pressed the big red button. Dan paused, and waited. B-ko snapped her fingers. "SuperTron Five's ability to communicate with fish life is useless in this situation!" Dan facefaulted into the ground. "I know... I'll use my SUPER SUCTION!" B-ko pressed the OTHER red button on the console, and the SuperTron Five started to suck in all the surrounding atmosphere and everything in it. Dan gripped the ground for dear life. "O...OYAJIIII!! NOOOO!!" His grip slipped and he flew back and into the giant's mouth. "HAHAH! I have you now, foolish Dan!" B-ko began manipulating the jaw controls and SuperTron Five started chewing on the poor pink fighter. Ifurita scanned the scenario, and began a ten count. "1... 2... 3... Dan is up." B-ko blinked. "Huh?" "OOOOTOOOKOOO MICHIIIIII!!" *grab* SuperTron Five's head promptly exploded. The rest of the machine slowly fell apart at the seams, and soon a very charred B-ko sitting in a pile of rubble machinery was all that remained of the red and blue mecha. Dan coughed up a little smoke, wobbled for a moment, then straightened. "YOSH! VICTORY IS DAN!" Ifurita nods. "B-ko is unable to fight. Dan is the new Omega Champion." "OYAJIIII!!" Dan flexed his forearm with tears in his eyes. "I did this one for you, Daddy! OYAJIIII!" ***** "Once again, Dan has come BACK to Ultra!" Hiroshi flexed his forearm. "He never left, Hiro." "I guess you could say that B-ko's SuperTron Five ran into its very own.. DansDay." "*groan*" "And next, we bring to you, our final Semi-Final round of the evening... Gally versus... er.. DAN!" Hiroshi sweatdropped. "Perhaps the pink one might've wanted to save his most powerful attack if possible, since he IS pulling double duty tonight." Daisuke noted. "This... DOES put Dan at a large disadvantage. But he WILL prevail! We now take you to abandoned Arctic Shelf #42!" Hiroshi finished tying a pink headband onto his forehead, then turned to watch the Ultratron. ***** Gally stood with Krillin on the Arctic Shelf, her eyes off into the horizon, lost in thought. Krillin shivered slightly, then flared his aura and relaxed a little. A portal opened, and Dan appeared from within it. His gi was singed and slightly tattered, and he still appeared to be lightly smoking from his fight with B-ko. But he was determined. For he was... DAN. "OOOOOSHA! THE MIGHTY STONE COLD DAN HIBIKI IS... really stone cold!!!" Dan shivered slightly in his gi. Gally laughed. "Thankfully, I'm not prone to such temperature drops. Let's get this done with." Krillin nodded at each of them. "Ready?" ][ REBOOT 5.0 SEMI FINAL ROUND ][ MATCH TWO ][ DAN HIBIKI VS. GALLY ][ FIGHT! "We will get this done with! But in a DAN DAN REVOLUTION WAY! YOOOSH!" Dan flexed his right forearm mightily, his strength slightly faded but still obvious. Gally blinked. "Dan Dan Revolution?" Krillin shook his head and groaned. "DDR." "...whatever." Gally squalled and pulled out her gunbla^H^H^H^H^H^HDamascus Blade from its storage area near her back. "Just try not to bleed on me too much, I have a date after the show." "HA! It is you who will bleed!" Dan paused. "Or... drip oil. Or..." "Enough!" Gally ran forward, her blade swinging. Dan jumped the swing of the blade by a hairsbreadth and his foot lashed out at Gally's face. His mighty foot caught her square in the cheek, and she spun around, caught off guard by the blow. Dan landed in a backroll, came up in a kneel, and flexed his forearm again. "YOSH! Dan is [MIGHTY]!!!!" "Dan would be a threat if he knew how to follow through..." Gally turned slowly, recovering from the blow. "Care to try again?" "GADOUKEN!" Dan held his hand forward, and a blast of ki energy shot out at Gally. "MISSILE BEES!" Gally used a volley of her explosive bees to knock the blast out of the air. Seeing Dan's startled expression, she tried to press her luck with a double attack. "MISSILE BEES!!" She launched another volley of bees at the pink warrior. Dan's expression changed from surprise to determination as he leapt into the air and jumped over the bees. His knee lanced out in mid air, the concentrated effort somehow extending his flight. Another foot struck forward, again extending his flight, now taking him past the bees, who collided harmlessly against a rock of pure ice. A final foot struck forward... into Gally's forearm. "Not this time." Gally swung her blade again, with just enough force to injure Dan. She was just a little surprised when he caught the blade with his hand. "How can you..." Gally blinked. "It should be slicing you to the bone!" Dan grimaced, but uncharacteristically did not answer. Gally stared at his hand again, and something white between his hand and her sword. "One of your ki based autographed glossy photos? How--" Gally stopped as Dan's aura flared up from nowhere, and his eyes widened suddenly in power. "VICTORY!" Dan punched Gally's gut with surprising force. "RELYING" Another few quick jabs landed in Gally's robotic midriff. "ON NOBODY!" A standing uppercut knocked Gally in the chin, and the Damascus Blade from her grasp. "BUT MYSELF!" Dan twisted around and a flying uppercut sent Gally sprawling through the snow. She blinked a few times as her systems readjusted themselves to the damage. "You're stronger than before." "My Oyaji demanded that I train! And train the mighty Dan did! So now he is even MORE MIGHTY!" Dan's aura flared up again as he proceeded to walk slowly toward Gally. Instinctively, Gally edged backwards as she stood up, only to freeze in her tracks. Her heel stuck out over the edge of the end of the ice, and below was the cold, and more troublesome DEEP ocean. She was a graceful fighter, but she swam like a lead rock with concrete boots. Dan kept advancing and, Gally eyed him and grinned. Pinned down, without her weapons, some of her more fragile systems damaged. "My kinda fight!" Gally ran forward and engaged Dan in a fierce series of martial arts prowess. Gally's lightening fast fists connected with Dan's body in punishing blows. Before the surprised fighter could counter with his own offensive, Gally was already spinning around and kicking him square in the chest. Dan stumbled back, and his aura flagged for a moment. Seizing her advantage Gally pointed her arm at him and point blank launched a volley of her missile bees at the Saikyo style warrior. Dan's eyes widened as he saw the incoming metallic insects, before he was enveloped in an explosion. Gally frowned... even with her enhanced senses she couldn't see where Dan was in the thick cloud of smoke from the explosion. For a tense moment, nothing happened as the smoke dispersed from where Dan had been standing. Then, when the legendary stone cold fighter didn't come out of the cloud, Gally paused for a moment, looking to Krillin. "I win?" "Heh. You have a lot to learn about smoke clouds." Krillin shook his head. The smoke parted suddenly, and a pink aura surrounded a man who was panting heavily, whose entire top half of his gi and T-shirt had been torn to shreds, and was singed lightly bleeding on various areas of his manly chest... but was still standing. "..." Gally stared at Dan in brief shock. "OYAJIIII!" Dan leaped forward, and landed a punch on Gally's nose, driving her back. He advanced, another fist punching her in the already damaged stomach area. He floated six inches off the ground as he continued the assault on her. She stumbled back even further when he twisted around and landed a roundhouse kick on her. She stopped herself as she felt her heels once again floating over free space, the edge of the shelf having been reached again. Gally quickly regained her balanced, and then turned back to Dan to see that he was giving her a thumbs up. "Gomen, ne!" Dan held up a glowing autographed picture. He casually tossed it to her. Instinctively she crossed her arms in a blocking position, in case the picture exploded. However it just tapped against her straining arms with just enough force to knock her off her balance. Gally teetered with her eyes wide in surprise for a moment, then plummeted back into the cold Arctic below. The autographed glossy of Dan floated to the ground lazily, and ceased glowing. Krillin began the 10 count, and finished. "Dan has won the match. Gally is clearly not coming back on her own power. Dan advances to the final round." Krillin's white aura glared up around him and he dove into the ocean to search for the lost fighter. Dan gave the camera a quick thumbs up, then walked into a waiting portal. ***** "Wow! What an amazing fight! Spectacular! Fantastic! Fantasmagoriffic!" Hiroshi cheered. "Dan is in the final round versus Sephiroth! What a terrific turn of events!" Daisuke shook his head. "A fluke. He's warn down, and Sephiroth's much more fresh. He doesn't have a chance." "Say what you will Dai, but I think tonight will be an upset of upsets! Let's get on to our next fight!" Hiroshi paused. Daisuke sat up as he listened to the same feed that Hiroshi was getting in his earphone. "Uh... it appears folks.. that Krillin's having a problem LOCATING Gally. The fight somehow damaged Washuu's tracer built into Gally... We're not sure if she NEEDS to breathe or not, but apparently since she's a cyborg Krillin can't sense her, and there's a lot of ocean out there. We're cutting back to the arctic shelf as some of our fighters are volunteering to find her." ***** "Damnit! Gally, where are you!?" Krillin shouted as he came up out of the ocean depths once more. He panted for a moment, then took a few deep breaths to prepare for another shot. Sensing others' presence, Krillin blinked and turned around. "Ultraman!" The Ultra Sentai hero posed dramatically for a second, before diving into the ocean's depths. From the portal, another figure emerged. Krillin blinked. "Dan.. you just--" "The mighty Dan Hibiki will NOT allow such a worthy opponent to die such an unworthy death!" Dan's aura flared once more, and the pink warrior jumped into the water while plugging his nose. "Attempting all known methods of location." Ifurita appeared next to Krillin, and stared into the ocean depths. "Ifurita! Am I glad to see you! Any sign of her?" Krillin asked his co- referee. "Negative." Ifurita kept scanning. "Attempts will continue though." "Right!" Krillin nodded, then dived in as well. Ifurita kept up her scan, when she HEARD rather than saw the latest volunteer. "Duo Maxwell? Is your Gundam Equipped to traverse under water?" "I haven't leak tested it since the last rebuild.. but I'm sure not gonna let that stop me!" The Gundam Deathscythe jumped into the water with thrusters blaring it downward. "Gally! I'm not letting you die on me that easy!" Duo keyed his scanners to maximum, and pushed down faster. The others meant well, but even Krillin and Dan could only dive so far down. Ultraman could go all the way to the bottom, but all he had was eyes. His Gundam though... A blip showed up on his sensors as he approached the ground. His eyes widened. "There!" Deathscythe launched off toward the source of the blip. An unconscious Gally laying on the bottom of the seafloor greeted him when he arrived at its location. "GALLY!" The Gundam leaned over and gingerly scooped up the cyborg girl. Quickly accelerating as fast as he dare, Duo launched her upward. Keying systems into her internal systems, Duo watched to make sure her body could withstand the rapid depressurization. Finally the Gundam broke the surface of the water, Gally in tow. Duo grinned at the viewscreen. "I gotcha babe, I gotcha." ***** "Thank god." Daisuke sighed. "Duo's got her, and they're getting her over to Washuu's as we speak. I'm sure she'll be fine by next week folks." "And now after that little scare, let's get to something a little safer... like a LAMBDA TITLE DEFENSE!" Hiroshi grinned. "The fans have spoken, and so they shall receive... already in the ring... Marlo and Gary!" The Furnityre Warrior and the pokemon trainer stood in the ring, chattering quietly back and forth, pausing to wave to the rise in cheers as Hiroshi officially announced them. "Any second now... we should have a challenger down in the ring for the belt..." Hiroshi waited. Music played, and the crowd cheered slightly just from sheer excitement. Many of them, booed and hissed and said other nice things that really shouldn't be repeated as Mousse and Tasuki appeared at the top of the ramp. "You love us! You really love us!" Tasuki pretended to cry into his microphone. "I'm not sure what internet dumbasses voted us into this match, but we do appreciate it. We'll be sure to kick your pansy ass champs all the way to that arctic shelf everyone was just on!" "Actually, Mr. Matchbox.." Marlo grinned and spoke into his microphone. "I believe the fans voted you into the title slot, so we could KICK YOUR ASS." Mousse growled, and both him and Tasuki charged the ring. "And the gauntlet is laid down!" Hiroshi cheered. ][ LAMBDA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ GARY OAK & MARLO SEMAJ VS. TASUKI & MOUSSE ][ FIGHT! "You're gonna eat your words, furniture boy!" Tasuki leaped over the top rope and launched a flaming fan at Marlo as he landed. "You didn't even bother showing up for the Reboot tournament. Knew you were gonna lose?" "No!" Marlo blocked the flaming blast with a concrete birdbath. He spun around and launched the large object at Tasuki. "I just figured that the crap title didn't mean anything to me, but this one DOES. So if I could defend it fresh, I'd have an advantage over you." Tasuki dodged the fountain by an inch, and shoulder rolled into a crouch. Marlo grinned evilly, and slung a metal folding chair at his opponent. "And I think I do." Tasuki sprawled to the floor while Mousse attempted to dodge the Pidgeotto that was flying circles around him. "Stupid bird!" Mousse swung a chain out at the flying pokemon, and missed. He turned, tracking the Pidgeotto's movements, and found himself face to face with referee Mary. Mary shook her head at the young Chinese boy. "Two people in the ring! Now!" Mousse blinked, then quickly vaulted over the top rope. "You can do it Tasuki." Marlo grinned at Gary. "This one is ALL mine. Just stick to the plan." Gary nodded and slid under the top rope, while Marlo turned to face an angry Tasuki. Tasuki scowled and ran at Marlo. Marlo quickly threw a couch in Tasuki's path. Tossing a flaming fan at the couch, Tasuki leaped over it and launched a kick at Marlo's upper torso. Marlo pulled out a steel chair and blocked, as the couch in front of them caught in a blazing inferno. "Holy cow! Someone distract the Fire Marshall" Hiroshi eyed his meager bottle of water nervously. Tasuki managed to land a punch on Marlo with a fake, and then another. Momentum building, Tasuki landed another 3 punch combo, forcing Marlo back. He advanced, when suddenly Marlo cracked a coatrack over Tasuki's head. The stunned fighter dropped to his knees in a daze. Holding a steel chair over his head in his typical fashion, Marlo posed dramatically as if about to strike Tasuki. "Gary! Now!" Mousse launched a chain at the chair. "Oh no you don't, not this time!" The chain wrapped around the chair and yank it from Marlo's grasp. "RAICHU! I choose you!" Gary threw out a borrowed pokeball, and a very familiar Raichu popped out into the ring. "Raichu! Thundershock the chair! Now!" "CHUUUU!" Electricity crackled around Raichu as the large rodent pokemon launched a massive bolt of lightening at the metal chair bound by a metal chain. Before Mousse had time to drop the chair, the current rushed down the chain and shocked the Chinese boy into unconsciousness. "What a shocking attack from... er.. Dai, why are you beating your head into the table?" Mousse crumpled to the floor, falling off the apron. Marlo grinned as Raichu posed in victory. "Way to go Gary, borrowing Ash's pokemon was--" Gary's eyes turned from Mousse to Marlo, and they widened in horror. "MARLO!!" Marlo twirled to see Tasuki holding the flaming couch over his head, a streak of blood running down from the top of his skull where the coat rack had smashed into it. The fighter scowled at Marlo. "Forget something?" He asked as he slammed the flaming inferno on top of the young boy. With a resounding smash, and the flying bits of upholstery, wood, and flame, Marlo hit the canvas hard. "And a MASSIVELY savage attack by Tasuki! Can Marlo recover from this treatment?" Hiroshi panicked into the microphone. "Probably not." "Marlo! Get up! Raichu help hi--" Gary started. "CHU!!" Raichu screamed in shock as Tasuki punted the small pokemon from the ring. "No interference, right ref?" Tasuki smiled at Mary. With a slight look of disdain, Mary nodded, continuing a ten count on Marlo. "Wow. Tasuki enforcing the rules. Who'd a thunk?" Daisuke shook his head. "N-Not done.. yet." The flaming debris shifted, and Marlo's head popped out of it. The young boy struggled to free himself from the searing debris as Tasuki casually walked up to him. "Yes, yes you are." Tasuki slammed his fist down hard into the back of Marlo's head, and the young boy dropped to the mat. Mary gasped, and did a rushed ten count. The bell sounded and her and Gary rushed to get Marlo out from under the flaming couch remains. Mousse stood up in a daze. "Bell? We won?" Tasuki grinned. "We won partner!" Mousse picked up the belts from the table ringside where the referee had placed them for the duration of the match. Sliding under the bottom rope, he smiled as he handed Tasuki the belt. "We'll never... what's happening?" Light surrounded Tasuki in an eerie blue glow. "I... I fulfilled the prophecy thing.. I'm.. I'm going home! Home!" Tasuki grinned. "Thanks for your help man." "Just like you to leave right when the fun starts." Mousse nodded at Tasuki. "Good luck." "Thanks.. I'll--" Without warning, the blue light flashed, and Tasuki was gone when the brightness faded. "Good grief! Tasuki just... just won the belts almost single handedly then.. quit?!" Hiroshi blinked. "Granted, I don't think he had much choice, but that does seem to be what happened, Hiro." Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Always with the dramatics." "No need to thank me, Dai, just doing my job!" Hiroshi gave a thumbs up to his partner. "Next up, it's finally here!" "The end? Already? Yah!" Daisuke mockcheered. "Errr... no. We're at the first part of our SPECTACULAR three part main event! Dan versus Sephiroth for the Omega Internet Reboot Champion title!!" "Oh. Okay." Daisuke picked up his Gameboy Advance. "Let me know when Sephiroth wins. I'm going to be playing... Ultra Fighter X Remix. A special remake of the original Ultra console fighting machine, now for the Gameboy Advance." "..." Hiroshi sighed. "You're shameless." "Thank you." ***** A wind blew through Dramatic Wasteland #1. For it was the first, the most dramatic of all wastelands. But other than that, there really wasn't much special to it. It was, after all, a wasteland. Three portals opened. Ifurita floated through one, Sephiroth floated through the second, and Dan rolled through the third. "You know the rules. The winner will be the new Internet Champion." Ifurita motioned to both fighters. "Begin when ready." Sephiroth shrugged bishounenly, "When you are as powerful as I, man lavishes to bestow titles upon me to honor my power." "Your power will not be honored, it will be my MIGHT fighting skills that prove the day and earn me the respect of my fans! My family! And... my father! OYAJIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!" Dan flexed his singed forearm mightily. "Please. You're not even as much a problem as usual in this state." Sephiroth calmly gestured. "Fire 3." ][ REBOOT 5.0 FINAL ROUND ][ CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ DAN HIBIKI VS. SEPHIROTH ]{ FIGHT! "Owie!" Dan rolled around frantically trying to put the flames on the remains of his gi out quickly as the flames scorched his body. "Quake." Sephiroth made a yawning motion as the next spell was cast. The ground around the rolling Dan trembled violently, tossing the self trained warrior about like a pink rag doll. Dan bounced along with the violence, then finally leapt into the air, panting heavily, a large cut oozing blood along his chest. "Are you done yet?" Sephiroth asked in a bored tone. "Dan Hibiki is NEVER done!" Dan flexed again. "OYAJ--" "Holy." "--i?" Dan felt a strange buildup of energy around him, and then the world exploded into white. Pure pain suffused his body as an energy overload overtook him. As the spell effect faded, Dan flopped to the ground, his body still. "One. Two." Ifurita began counting. Dan clutched to consciousness like a drowning man to a raft, but could not make his limbs respond to his requests. At least, not at first. Slowly, his limbs began to respond to his massive willpower to stand. "Three. Four. Five." His legs moved, then his arms twitched, and then his whole body began movement. "Six. Seven. Eight." Suddenly, a pink aura enveloped Dan. He floated off the ground, causing Ifurita to pause her count. His hair rose dramatically, bursting out of its ponytail, and turning a neon green shade. Spikes formed in his hair, and his eyes turned the color of pure power. Pure pink. His muscles bulked out, and his aura expanded, causing powerful winds to erupt out of him. He floated into a standing position, and grinned a confident smile. Dan then did what he did best, flexed his forearm at Sephiroth. "You will have to try harder than that to best the might--" "Ice 3." Ice formed around Dan's body, freezing him in place. His eyes wide in surprise, his arm caught in a permanent flex. Ifurita floated forward once more and began her count. Sephiroth smirked, turned quickly, his hair billowing out dramatically, and began to walk away, wholly unconcerned with his opponent. His magical ability was drained from such a continued assault, but he had one, so it was of no consequence. He had seen that trick of Dan's before, but Dan HAD taken punishment, surely he couldn't--. "[SEPHIROTH]!!!" Ice exploded into chunks and shards that flew off the Saikyo warrior at frightening speeds. Ifurita was even caught in their blast, and Sephiroth felt a few pricks of pain as the sharp shreds of ice impacted his back. "Eh?" He turned, and his eyes narrowed at the sight they saw. "I have been training, Sephiroth! Super Saikyojin wasn't enough! So I trained harder! For my pride! For my sister! For my fans! For my... OYAJI!!!" Dan's arm flexed and a sheer pulse of power erupted out, pushing Sephiroth back a few inches, his feet dragging in resistance in the dirt. "Super! Saikyojin! Level... 2!!!" Dan's hair was even taller and even greener than before, and pink lightening bolts of energy crackled along his aura. Dan smiled, then charged forward, his feet never even touching the ground. Sephiroth cast a shield spell that crackled into shape in front of him instinctively, but in his weakened state it was visibly a faded shield. Dan punched the shield fiercely, his fist crackling through the shield, and impacting against Sephiroth's chest. The bishounen stumbled back, and coughed fiercely at the assault on his ribs. "This.. will not do." Sephiroth unsheathed Masamune. "You want a fight? Let's have us one." Dan eyed the powerful sword wearily. His hand reached into his gi, and he concentrated. "SHINKUUUU..... ORAGAMI!!!" He pulled a four foot long glossy autographed photo of himself out of his gi, and faster than Sephiroth's eye could follow, folded it countless number of times until it was the exact shape and size of Sephiroth's Masamune. "..." The bishounen stared in disbelief as a sword whose side was the smiling face of Dan was held against him. "That THING will never withstand the true Masamune!" Sephiroth charged forward and swung his sword with all his might, hoping to 'accidentally' cleave Dan in two and finally rid himself of this menace. Dan blocked the blow. Not only did his autographed photo sword block the sword, Dan's aura extended into it and DEFLECTED the sword away from the Origami creation. Dan quickly extended his hand forward and placed it on Sephiroth's chest. "GADOUKEN!" The burst of pink energy built up in Dan's hand quickly and exploded on Sephiroth's chest. The bishounen staggered in pain, but brought his Masamune to bear again. "I'm ready for your trick, this time!" Sephiroth motioned with his hand for Dan to make the first move, then readied himself. Dan grinned. "My sister, Ran! This one is for you!" He ran forward and slammed his sword into Sephiroth's. The deflection aura held, and even though Sephiroth tried to anticipate it, it still pushed his sword back. Dan advanced on Sephiroth, with various blows and attacks. Sephiroth backpedaled repeatedly, frustration growing on his face. "Where did you learn to sword fight? All your attacks are over head slashes and weak parries! If it wasn't for your BLASTED sword..." Sephiroth tried to get an attack in edgewise but Dan blocked it easily, and pressed Sephiroth back even farther. Dan paused, and brought his sword in front of him, bowing his head. "If you strike me down... I will become stronger than you can possibly imagine." ***** "AUUUUGH!" "Daisuke... I don't think that's good for your head. ... Or our desk." ***** Sephiroth blinked, obviously not getting the reference. "Wha..?" "Dan will finish this!" Dan planted his sword in the ground, and his aura flaring up even pinker than before. A few stray arcs of pink lightening strafed the edges of the aura. "Super... Instantaneous... ROLL... ATTACK!" Dan rolled at Sephiroth. Sephiroth swung down at the foolish move, intending to cleave Dan mid- roll. As soon as he started rolling though, Dan vanished. Blinking, Sephiroth tried to look around for where Dan could've gone to. "BOOT TO THE HEAD!" From behind Sephiroth, Dan flew out and slammed a foot into the back of Sephiroth's skull. Sephiroth crumpled forward, but quickly readied himself to attack, but as soon as Dan landed on the ground again he tucked, rolled, and was gone. "YA YA SHIYA!" Dan triple kicked Sephiroth from the right, rolled away, reappeared on his left and blasted him with another Gadouken, and rolled away again. Sephiroth staggered back from the assault, only to bump into someone behind him. Dazed, the bishounen turned to see who it was. "SUPER SAKYOJIN FLYING DRAGON UPPERCUT!" Dan's aura grew, and expanded into a giant pink Dragon... who promptly tucked into a roll and rolled over Sephiroth. Sephiroth passed out quietly on the ground as the Pink Dragon shrunk back down into Dan. Ifurita held up Dan's hand. "Dan is the winner of the Omega Internet Title." "OOOSHA!" Dan's hair slumped, his aura faded, and he promptly fell over on the ground. "Oyajii....." Ifurita sweatdropped. ***** "WOW! What an impressive match by Dan! New moves! New powers! Same old Dan!" Hiroshi grinned. "I'll admit, he actually did something somewhat impressive. As is the custom, Dan will now get a shrine on our website until the next Internet Reboot." Daisuke noted. "Coming up next, we have our next in our triple main event, the Gamma title defense, where the fans who apparently have more booking sensibilities than Yaga ever did, chose who the top contender is." "I wonder who it will be? Ranma? Sakura? Sagat? Who!" Hiroshi grinned like a mad man. "Well considering almost everyone got beat up in the start of the show, it shouldn't be too long a match." Daisuke nodded to the ramp. "Here comes Akane now, she wisely chose to bow out early in the Reboot tournament, rather than risk losing her title due to fatigue." "Bah! Dan ran the whole show! Dan's the man! Dan's the man!" Hiroshi poinged in his seat. "..." Daisuke stared at Hiroshi. Akane reached the bottom of the ramp, and rolled gracefully into the ring. She picked up a microphone. "I just want to tell everyone out there that I *would've* won the internet poll for the best fighter if I wasn't already the champ." She winked at the nearby camera, then struck up her best sexy Roxy pose. "...Wow! Akane's a whole new person lately." Hiroshi said appreciatively. "Oh, hello Rei." Daisuke waved off camera. "GAAH!" Hiroshi fell backwards in his chair, then poked his head up and looked around. "Don't DO THAT!" Daisuke snickered evilly. "And I think our secret competitor is coming out... who... I should've known." "ASH KETCHUM! OH MY GOD! He's won the fans back! After months upon months of going up the wrong path, and being despised by everyone in the federation, the pokemon master has cleaned up his act and has cleaned up his messes in Ultra! The fans voted him for the number one contender slot!" Hiroshi marked out as he reclaimed his chair. "Ironic, since he started out in the Lambda division as one of Ultra's first fighters. Although tagging with his pokemon that other fighters used routinely was a bit of an odd choice." Daisuke thoughtfully mused. "Ash is motioning for the microphone!" Ash caught the microphone as it was given to him. "I just wanted to say... real quick.. that I'm proud to have earned your respect again. Thank you all, so very... very much." The audience roared its support for the young hero, and Akane grinned from her corner. "And, I just want to say hi to my Mom, and Brock and Misty! You guys remember them, don't you?!" Ash pointed to the trio, with Mr. Mime, in the front row of the audience. Again, the audience roared, and a few quick fans held up signs reading "Misty, I choose you!". Ash turned to Akane. "Let's have a good fight." Akane walked up to Ash, and held out her hand. "I won't go easy on you, this title means a lot to me." Grinning, Ash accepted her outstretched hand. "I won't go easy either. I wouldn't want it any other way." The two shook hands then went back to their respective corners. Raichu emerged from the audience and took a position behind Ash. "CHUU!" "Hey Raichu! I'm glad you're okay!" Ash grinned at his partner. "Be ready to come in when I need your backup, okay?" "CHU!" Mary smiled and waved quietly at Ash as she entered the ring. "This is for the Gamma Title! Ready?" ][ GAMMA CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ AKANE TENDOU VS. ASH KETCHUM ][ FIGHT! "Bulbasaur! Let's show everyone how much you've improved!" Ash tossed out the pokeball of his most loyal pokemon, and the plant like pokemon appeared on command. "BULBA!" Akane ran forward and tried to get an easy KO on the small creature, jumping into the air to land a smashing stomp kick on the creature. "Bulbasaur! Razor leaf!" "SAUR!" A half dozen razor edged leaves shot out at Akane, and she twisted to try to block them, but her momentum and aim was impacted, and she ended up landing on the mat in a semi roll. "Vine whip!" Bulbasaur's vines lashed out and whipped Akane... right in the behind as she stood from her roll. "..." Hiroshi explained. "...oh my." Daisuke kasumi'd. Akane's cheeks went red with embarrassment, as did Ash and Bulbasaur's. She slowly turned to Bulbasaur. "We will NOT be having that kind of match!" She pulled a mallet out of Hammer space, and Bulbasaur was sent flying through the air into the audience as Akane stood indignantly in the ring with her recently swung mallet. Mary paused thoughtfully. "Pokemon out of small balls vs. Hammers out of midair... I'll allow it!" Ash sweatdropped as he held out his pokeball. "Bulbasaur! Return! Steelix! I choose you!" A large metallic pokemon emerged from its pokeball. "Okay Steelix, remember what I said, stun, no permanent damage." Akane grinned. "I appreciate your concern bu--" The large tail of Steelix swung out and slammed against her, sending her stumbling into the ropes. She shook her head to clear it, then quickly untangled herself from the ropes. The giant Steelix dove into the ropes where she had been tangled, literally tearing them from their mountings. The pokemon roared, and turned to face its opponent. Rubbing her arm gingerly where she was hit, Akane frowned, and made a run for the pokemon. Seeing her, Steelix tried to slam his tail down on her. She dodged to the side, then actually jumped up on his back. Running up the side of the Steelix was difficult as it twisted and shook trying to throw her off. Steelix turned to try to bite her off its back, but Akane quickly got in too close for Steelix to bite her, and ended up smack on top of his head. Latching onto the extrusions from his hardened hide, Akane held on as Steelix threw its head from side to side trying to unlatch Akane. Finally, in frustration, the pokemon swung its head in a large arc, intending to bring the top of its head down into the floor out of the ring to knock Akane off and unconscious. Ash flinched. "Steelix, NO!" Akane leaped off the beast's head just as it slammed into the concrete outside the ring. While still midair, she concentrated her ki, and launched a massive blast at the pokemon's dazed head. "SHOCK BLAST!" The pokemon reeled under the impact, and fell still across the broken ropes of the ring and on the concrete crater its head had impacted. "WOW! What damage!" Hiroshi raved. "What a fight!" Akane landed on her feet, and wasted no time to run at Ash, stumbling to recall Steelix, Ash was surprised by this aggressive turn. "CHUUUU!" Raichu bounded out and leapt in front of its master. A large bolt of electricity slammed into Akane, knocking her back on her duff. "Ow!" Akane winced. That rodent packed a punch. She quickly got to her feet and decided another shock blast would take care of thi--" "CHUUUU!" Another blast slammed into Akane. "CHUUU!" Then another. And another. Akane fell back onto the mat, struggling as her muscles spasmed and flexed from the electricity pumping through her. 'How can he... channel... so much...?' "CHUUUUU!" Raichu panted slightly after his last blast, and paused for a moment. The pain still great, but sensing her last chance, Akane stood as quickly as her protesting muscles would allow. Seeing her rise, Raichu eyed her again. "CHUU!" It charged at her with an electrified tackle, which she dodged clumsily, her reflexes still marred by all the shock. 'Too slow...' Akane thought as Raichu barely missed her. She saw him prepare another thunder shock. 'Wait...' Akane ran in time to just barely dodge another shock treatment. Pushing her straining muscles past their tolerance, she ignored the pain and ran a full circle around Raichu as the pokemon rapid fired shocks at her, trying to pin her once more. Frustrated, his blasts became more rapid, just barely on her heels. 'Good... he's just firing now.. hoping to hit me...' Akane veered, and the blasts followed. Ash blinked as Akane was headed straight for him. "That won't work, Akane! Raichu! Full power on the next blast!" Ash grinned Akane leapt as Raichu nodded and started building a massive charge. Just as the shot was fired she latched onto Ash. The bolt struck them both, and Ash managed to smile as they both twitched in pain. "I'm... u-u-used to... h-hi-his blasts.... You'll p-pass out f-f-first!" "M-maybe...n-n-n-ooot! BOMBSHELL!!!" Akane concentrated as she felt the electricity sapping her consciousness and her strength, summoning all her ki. A massive explosion of ki lashed out, blocking the Thundershock and slamming right into Ash, who was pinned in Akane's arms and had nowhere to go during the attack. "Chu?" Raichu paused, as the blast faded, and Ash fell, and Akane fell to one knee. Mary began a dual count, and Akane struggled to her feet. "Akane's up! This could be it!" "Hiro, Ash is out colder than me at your last vacation slide show. This IS it." Mary knelt next to Ash, and smiled sadly. "You did your best, Ash-kun." She lifted his arm, and it fell cleanly to the mat. "He's out..." She signaled and the bell went off, and the crowd erupted from tense silence into enormous cheers. "Akane's the winner!" Akane smiled as she weakly held up her belt. Ranma appeared at ringside, and slid into the ring gingerly, his own wounds still bothering him. "Let's get you some ice, Akane." He helped her out of the ring slowly. "Wow! An amazing strategy by Akane, and a brave counter by Ash, even if it failed!" Hiroshi screamed in excitement. Daisuke flinched under Hiroshi's aura of intense ultra violent excitement. "Hiro, we've got one more fight.. pace yourself." "Actually, we get to take a break! Here's a video montage of the previous fights of the night, while we fix up the damage this bout caused to the ring! This Old Dojo never rests!" Hiroshi waved momentarily. ***** "Dad? Where are you going?" Videl asked Mr. Satan curiously. "I... have something to do at the end of the show." He stated hesitantly. "You're not going to beat up that poor Sakura-chan are you? Yaga was so cruel last time with that..." Videl began. "Heh. No, Yaga made mistakes when he first came here, indeed. But he's learned that our stars lay on different paths now. I just have an appearance to make... I'll... see you later, Videl." Mr. Satan looked at his daughter one last time. "Good luck Dad, I'll be watching!" Videl gave her father a wink and a thumbs up. And as Mr. Satan walked away, a single tear threatened to escape from his eyelid. He quickly brushed it away, and reminded himself... "I'll do what I need to do to save her... even if she hates me for it." ***** "And we're back folks! This Old Dojo works fast! Rebuilding the Ultradome since 1998!" Hiroshi plugged wildly. "Final fight yet? Because I've almost beat Final Fight for my Gameboy Advance. Wow, it's taken me forever too." Daisuke held the game box up for the camera to see. "Final Fight for the GBA... wow, what fun." "That was so energetic, Dai." "Well, if I did it any way, it just wouldn't be me." "... ... True." Hiroshi conceded. "And next up, we have our FINAL MATCH of this ACTION PACKED Reboot... Sakura Kinomoto versus Li Ping for the Gamma Internet Title!" "And here comes Li Ping now." Li Ping bounced into the ring a little slowly, but he bounce he did. "I'm ready and waiting for you, Sakura!" The young girl answered by flying out of the backstage area and into the ring. "Hi, Li!" The small girl waved cheerfully. "I'm glad you're so excited about your upcoming loss." Li Ping grinned. "I'm glad that I get such an easy opponent!" Sakura stuck her tongue out at Li, who laughed in response. "Fair enough! Let's go!" "An amicable start to what's sure to be a KNOCK DOWN FIGHT!" "...come 'on Cody..." Hiroshi sweatdropped. ][ REBOOT 5.0 FINAL ROUND ][ CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ][ SAKURA KINOMOTO VS. LI PING ][ FIGHT! "I've been waiting for this!" Li Ping ran backwards and onto the ropes, vaulting off of the top rope, and landing clear across the ring, balancing on the top rope over there. "I hope you don't mind a little bit of mad kung fu balancing acts." "Fiery! Light the ropes on fire!" Sakura struck her wand to the powerful car, and a body of flames shaped like a female with fiery wings appeared in the ring. Quickly, the being sprayed flames across the ring, until all the ropes were set ablaze. "Yow! Ow! Ow!" Li Ping danced on the rope, and then vaulted off of it, landing gracefully in front of Sakura. "Iron Fist!" He reared his fist back and swung hard at the young girl. His fist was blocked by a flat side of a sword. "Did I forget to shout out that I was activating the sword card while you were dancing on the ropes?" Sakura smiled while bracing the sword with both hands. Quickly she pushed Li Pings surprised hand back off of her sword and lashed out with a flurry of strikes. Li Ping dodged the quick blows as best he could, ducking and weaving, all while trying to avoid the fiery ropes behind him. He tripped into a kneel, and Sakura lifted the sword over her head with the blunt side facing him, readying a knockout blow. His eyes widened as her sword began it's final arc, but just as her sword was moving almost to fast to see, his hands actually moved faster than Sakura could track. He caught her sword just as it was above his head. She blinked. "How did you do..?" "Ancient Chinese secret." Li Ping winked. He quickly swiveled and gave a light sweeping kick at Sakura. The shield card she generally activated before fights absorbed some of the blow, but the card was still very weak after her fight with Bulleta, and she felt a large amount of the impact. She pulled the first card she could reach, and tapped it with her wand. "Slow him down!" She cried out a generic command in the hopes that the card would be capable of such a feat. Flowers rained down upon Li Ping, and he fought to swim through them. "Eh?" "And an... interesting move by Sakura." Hiroshi blinked. "... That's a first." Daisuke watched the ring curiously. Li Ping was almost covered in flowers, when he suddenly knelt down into the stack, and burst out from the top of it. He hung frozen in the air dramatically, and the crowd chanted his signature phrase along with him. "BULLET TIME!" Sakura's eyes narrowed and she pulled a card she'd been saving in a special spot just for this, and activated it with her wand. Li Ping's dramatic moment ended, and he launched at her foot first. The magic of Sakura's card activated, and she leapt out of the way, her jump exceeding even Li's earlier jump. Slamming into the mat, Li collapsed in pain as his foot took more impact than he had intended. He rolled slightly, trying to will the pain in his ankle away for the moment. "Earthy! Finish him off!" Sakura tapped the card at the arc of her jump, and the ground rumbled in the Ultradome. A large pillar of concrete erupted THROUGH the mat, launching Li Ping into the air. "WHOA! I didn't know she could do THAT!" Hiroshi blinked. "The column is sinking back down, but This Old Dojo is gonna kill he--" Daisuke looked up. "... INCOMING!" Hiroshi looked up. "... meep!" Both announcers dived out of the way as Li Ping came smashing down into the announcer's table, destroying it utterly in a messy explosion of electronics equipment and splintered wood. Mary, from the ring, began a count on the moaning Li Ping. "Usually... falls like this wouldn't count.. but Reboot *is* under hardcore rules." Hiroshi noted. "..Deja vu." Daisuke cocked his head for a moment, then suddenly started looking around. "Hey, have you seen my...?" Hiroshi held up a shattered and decimated Gameboy Advance, the internal board hanging out of a hole in the case and bent at an awkward shape. "Yes." "... there goes THAT endorsement." Daisuke sighed. "...Ten! Li Ping is out! Sakura-chan is the winner!" Mary turned to Sakura. "Way to go Sakura!" She smiled at her friend. Sakura cheered. "I won it for you Li! See, I can be tough enough to be your partner!" She paused and leaned over to the ropes just extinguished by the This Old Dojo techs. "Not *you* Li, my partner Li." She sweatdropped. Li sat up from the rubble of the table, groaning. "I kinda got that. Good match." "You too!" Sakura slid under the ropes, and helped Li to his feet. "I'll help you get back to the infirmary." "Wow! What companionship! What comradery! What good sportsmanship! What a positive way to end an Ultra Reboot! Can you think of anything to add, Daisuke?" Hiroshi turned to his partner. Before Daisuke could answer, another voice spoke up in his place. "Actually, I think I might have something to add, Hiroshi-kun!" Sakura and Li stopped at ringside on their slow trek to the ramp and stared at the new figure. Sakura whispered to Li. "I don't recognize him...." Li gulped. "I do... he's before our time. That's..." "XELLOSS!" Hiroshi gasped into the microphone while managing to shout at the same time. ***** Nabiki bolted from her chair and stood at her desk, staring at the monitor. "Tarou! He's..." She paused, and noticed her door swinging open still. "Tarou?" ***** Washuu sat up in her chair as alarms went off in her laboratory. "Hrmm... that's odd. How could he have cut off my connection to all the teleportation and portal devices at the Ultradome? And why?" The world's greatest scientist tapped a few keys and gasped. "Oh my..." ***** "I'm flattered you still remember me Hiroshi-kun!" Xelloss waved at the announcer cheerfully. "I'm not here to fight anyone, or anything like that, so please, don't panic everyone!" He waved at the audience, who were all booing him with intense hatred. "Actually, I'm here to make a SPECIAL announcement! This involves all of Ultra, so if the fighters, and that means you Omega monstrosities too, could come out and listen for a moment, I'd REALLY appreciate it!" Xelloss winked at the camera. "What an amazing turn of events folks! Xelloss has just called out the ENTIRE roster of Ultra! This is a first!" "Actually, I don't think a pay per view can end without SOMETHING unexpected happening. I mean, think about it, we had an entire show go almost entirely by the card. SOMETHING was bound to happen." Daisuke sighed. "Why do I get that intense feeling of death from this?" Shermie appeared next to Daisuke and practically glomped him. "I'll protect you Daisuke-kun!" "and i will protect my man as well." Rei appeared by Hiroshi's side. The announcers both blinked and sweatdropped at their respective guardians. "Rei... when did you get here? "Earlier, Daisuke said hi to me, but you were looking the wrong way." "..." "Daisuke! Hold me! I'm scared!" "How cuute! But that's enough boys, this is my moment to shine." Xelloss smiled. "Ah, here they come!" Ultraman appeared first. Walking slowly, and eyeing the mazoku wearily, he walked down the ramp. Slowly but surely, others filtered through. Sakura, Shingo, Marlo, Gary, Mousse, Ranma, Yaga, Duo, Gally, Mr. Satan, Morrigan, Akane... fighter after fighter poured in. A tired but determined Dan appeared at the side of Lina Inverse, and both walked in together, neither of them taking an eye off of Xelloss. Except for when Dan looked down to make sure he didn't trip on the ramp again. "I think that's just about everyone... I'll get started, if anyone misses they can catch up." Xelloss grinned. "Basically... I've called you all here to introduce you to my brand new Ultra team! Team Xelloss! Although that's really a rough name, and maybe we'll think something better up later... last time it was the Void, but I really don't want to associate myself with such a negative image again..." Lina scowled. "Xelloss, get on with it!" "Oh! Lina, I would've invited you but I didn't think you'd accept my invitation. So I got someone better!" Xelloss pointed to the fighters. "First off, Naga!" Lina stared at Naga in disbelief. "Naga.. you didn't..." "OHOHOHOHOHOHO! My sidekick forgets her place! I'm tired of you hogging all the fame and glory of Ultra, when you should really be standing in MY shadow! So since you'd naturally stand against Xelloss, I decided to stand with him to show my superiority!" Naga stepped into the ring as Lina facefaulted. "Naga... you idiot..." Lina growled. "And since they go way back, I got the other third of Unlimited Desire, Dark Schneider!" Xelloss gestured to the sorcerer in question. Darshu smirked and entered the ring next to Naga. Daisuke turned to Hiroshi, "Can't say I'm really surprised about that one." "This probably won't surprise you either then... Team Enlightenment also joined my ranks!" Xelloss smiled happily. "ENLIGHTENMENT!" Haohmaru cried as him and Morrigan entered the ring. "This is going to be... delightful." Morrigan purred. "And my other tag team... WILL be a surprise to you." Xelloss' eyes glinted evilly. "DISCIPLES OF THE VOID... COME ON DOWN!" At the top of the ramp, Chris and Yashiro appeared without any music or fanfare. The crowd burst out into confused murmurs, which is quite an accomplishment in and of itself. Shermie stared in disbelief. "They... they went back to him?" Daisuke blinked. "I'm... sorry, Shermie." A tear escaped her eye, and Shermie buried her face in Daisuke's shoulder. Yashiro and Chris looked confident as they entered the ring, but Yashiro's face was a little struck when he saw Shermie sobbing. But he quickly recovered and returned to confident smirking for the benefit of the crowd. "I was so delighted. We were like family, you know. Oh, Hi Shermie!" Xelloss waved cheerfully. "Sorry, but I'm busy being a leader and all. As for my next team member announcement, I have to be honest and say I was surprised by this one. She came to me, and I think she's going to make me proud! Bulleta, come up here you cutey you!" Bulleta singsonged into the ring and waved at the crowd. "Hiii!!!" The fighters gathered around the ring eyed each other wearily, at least the ones not in the know did, as they pondered exactly how big this new stable would be. At this rate it would dwarf even the Spirit of Shotokan soon. "I know what you're thinking.. how can there by ANY more on top of this, but I've got a whole store of surprises in store for you. Don't I... Mr. Satan?" Xelloss winked at the afro'd fighter. Taking a deep breath, Mr. Satan began his way into the ring. A meaty hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned to see a bewildered Yaga confronting him. "In all my years of knowing you... I'd have never... why are you doing this?" Mr. Satan looked to the floor, unable to meet his old friend in the eyes. "I have my reasons." He turned, and climbed into the ring. When he turned to face the crowd, he saw the stare he'd been dreading most of all. The stare he'd been dreading more than even Yaga. Videl stood at the top of the entrance ramp, her jaw drooped in amazement. "And just for those of you in the crowd wondering, this is NOT a planned gimmick by those lovable folks at Ultra. I'm freelancing this one ALL on my own. Wait'll you find out why!" Xelloss grinned. "But I'm not done yet! In fact I think Sephiroth and B-ko would prove that." The Omega pair calmly climbed into the ring, and took a position next to Dark Schneider. "Indeed." Sephiroth noted. Duo stared up at the assembled fighters with a look of worry. "This is bad... very bad." Shingo nodded. "I hear you." "Oh, and I'm proud to announce we have royalty here tonight! King Shockwave Alberto, the recent dictator of France, is here with us! Come up here you sly dog! Congratulations in conquering France." Xelloss greeted the Big Fire agent warmly. "Everyone needs a hobby." Alberto shrugged humbly, before making sure to grin at the crowd. Xelloss thought for a moment. "Well, I think that's everyone..." The audience gathered let out a sigh of relief. "...that's on the current Ultra roster. Oh poo, I introduced Yashiro and Chris early. Oh well! This has all been so much work and fun, excuse me if I'm just a little unorganized." Xelloss grinned. "I think the crowd will remember the next member of our little group." Ringside, Tifa suddenly shrieked. Everyone twisted to see what was the matter, and a vein on Bean's forehead bulged as he saw the disturbance. "HENTAI!" Tifa slapped Happosai off of her chest and he went sailing into the ring, where Morrigan caught him. "A man after my own heart." Morrigan purred at him. "I'm in heaven!" The old man crooned. "..." Akane stated. "..." Hiroshi added. "..." Mousse decided. "..." Daisuke contributed. "....YOU DIRTY OLD BASTARD! How could you join up with such scumbags!" Ranma shouted angrily. "How--?" A hand on his shoulder gave him pause. He turned to see Yaga looking at him calmly. "I understand your frustration, but I think much here is at work. Many impossible alliances have been struck. We would wise to wait and see the outcome." Yaga paused, then added. "However, if you do end up hammering the old pervert up there.. rest assured, I will be at your back." Ranma blinked, and nodded slowly. "Thanks... I think." "Are we done now?" Xelloss smiled. "I still have two more surprises. Gosh. What will be more fulfilling..." "I grow tired of this." M. Bison floated down from the top of the Ultradome ceiling. "I will not hide like some common ravel in the rafters." "...Bison!" Daisuke used a rarely expressed exclamation mark. Hiroshi turned purple. "BISON!!!!!" "Ah, hello Hiroshi! You taking good care of Rei for me?" Bison smiled at the announcer gleefully. "You... I'll..." Hiroshi fumed. "Oooh, Bison, you're stealing my fun! Oh well, I think this last one will surprise them. Come on down, why don't you?" Another figure floated down from the ceiling. Well, if you can define floating as falling at an acceleration of 9.8 m/s^2. The person landed with a loud crunch, with an assortment of limbs going in every which way, looking as if nearly every bone in his body had broken. "... I don't know who that is, but I think that's the last we've heard from him." Daisuke raised an eyebrow. Then he stood up. Lei Wulong gasped. Li Ping stared in shock. Hiroshi almost fainted. Undead Johnny Cage grinned at the crowd. "I'm the BEST!" "Yes you are, Johnny." Xelloss patted him on his fully reassembled zombie shoulder. Undead Johnny Cage posed for the cameras. "And I'm BACK in Ultra! Back from the GRAVE even! HA!" Xelloss smiled. "So there's my team." "That's IT!" Bean smashed his hand together. "Let's put a stop to this NOW!" The remaining fighters cheered in agreeance, and began a movement to the ring. The assembled Team Xelloss moved to deflect them, when a sudden shout came from the top of the ramp. "KA-ME-HA-ME-HA!" A large ki blast shot over Xelloss's head by an inch, and impacted harmlessly against the audience protection grid. Xelloss turned curiously. "Oh! Hello!" "Enough of this!" Krillin and Ifurita stood at the top of the ramp, flanking Nabiki at the top of the ramp. The CEO of Ultra glared at Xelloss. "What do you want Xelloss? What could Ultra possibly have that would interest you now?" "Oh! That's simple! Next week, viewers, you can tune into a very special Ultra, held at the End of Time! There, my fighters will pound the smear out of anyone who stands against them, start a winning streak that will carry through an entire tournament!" "You're not booking our show, Xelloss. In fact--" "In fact, I am! You see, this tournament decides the fate of the universe! If the Prophet of Life doesn't show themselves with their chosen team of heroes and face us, we win by default, and the universe... will be destroyed!" Xelloss smiled and put a finger to his face. "Good clean, ultra violence!" The crowd began booing wildly, and the fighters around the ring murmured to themselves again. In the crowd, Mary stared at Xelloss with her eyes wide, and her heart racing. "The Prophet of Life?" "We'll be going now! You have a week to get ready!" Xelloss smiled. He turned as if to walk away. "Oh... one more thing." The crowd quieted, and the Ultra roster stared at him suspiciously. Xelloss looked around, as if inspecting the Ultradome. "I never did like this place. Thankfully, it's going to explode in five minutes! That takes care of that problem didn't it? Ta ta!" The fighters gathered in the ring all faded from view, Xelloss' magic whisking them away to wherever they gathered. As they faded, Sephiroth's gaze locked on Mary's shocked face, and Mr. Satan's gaze locked on his daughter. For a moment after they left, there was silence. Then the Ultratron came to life with a staticy image. "He's not lying folks!" A very distorted Washuu appeared on the screen. "A vast energy charge is building up around the Ultradome! It's going to blow sky high! I CANNOT STOP IT! He's somehow blocking my acc--" The Ultratron went silent once more. "EVERYONE! OUT NOW!" Nabiki shouted. Hiroshi quickly spoke into his microphone. "Attention all people within the sound of my voice! EVACUATE THE ULTRADOME! EVACUATE!" The crowd, 40,000 strong, began to pour out of the emergency exits. The fighters dispersed in separate directions. Hiroshi grabbed Rei and began a mad sprint for the exit. Daisuke and Shermie did the same. Duo ran up the ramp and made a mad sprint to the docking bay to grab his Gundam before it was too late. Ash, Gary, and Team Rocket each scrambled back to their dressing rooms to pick up any Pokemon left behind. Ultraman grabbed Lina Inverse's arm and pointed to the ceiling. Perplexed, she looked up, but understood quickly. "FIREBALL!" Clasping his arms together, a beam of energy struck out from Ultraman to the same spot the fireball was headed. The ceiling erupted in a burst of energy, and Ultraman quickly grew THROUGH hole, and began scooping dozens of fans out of the dome at a time. Dozens of others capable of flight assisted as well. Whether hated or loved by the crowd, every fighter in Ultra helped pull someone out that day. Two minutes remained. Lina ran through the halls, making sure no one was making an ill timed bathroom stop, when she came face to face with someone she could not save. She stood before him, and gave him a prayer before leaving down the hall again. If he could have, the soda machine would've wept. Dan walked out of the Ultra Bar & Grill carrying his most beloved possession. The Ultra custom Dance Dance Revolution machine. The crowd fled on foot, cars forgotten, down the street. The fighters gathered in a spot a safe distance away from the Ultradome, but not as far as some would've wanted. "Any second now..." Tarou noted, recently having reappeared in the escape. As if on cue, the Ultradome, in the heart of Tokyo... exploded. Not a single nearby building was hurt. The explosion went straight up in a pillar of flame and vibrations, and reached into the very heavens. Nabiki stared as the base of operations for her company evaporated. Many fighters had been around for an Ultradome explosion or destruction or two.. but this one had lasted longer than any of the others. And this time, God wasn't around to wave his or her hand to make it all better. This time the dome was gone. Dan sat on the street weeping. "Why!? Why is life so cruel!" Sakura knelt beside her former 'mentor'. "What's wrong Dan? You saved the DDR machine..." "I had no time! I had to choose! DDR... or Karaoke!" Dan sobbed manly tears. "XELLOSS! IN THE NAME OF MY OYAJI! IN THE NAME OF MY KARAOKE! YOU WILL PAY! KARAOOOOKEEE!!!!!" Sakura sweatdropped. ***** Author's Notes: Whoa. What a ride. Ultra bad. Tree pretty. I'm sorry for the mountain of delays and everything, and hopefully I didn't mess anything up too badly. This was a large scope episode, and I had a small scope week or two. I'll just sum it up with 'Work and School suck, why can't they just give me more time for the Important things in life, like Ultra?' Oh, and stomach flu sucks too. I'd like to thank Rutt & Jesse for the Dan filk at the top of this beast, and Kristen for doing a light preread of the first half. Twoflower for his inspired ideas and UNGODLY amounts of support. (addendum: and for not smiting me when I sent in the wrong copy of Reboot! DOH! It was late! I was tired, and apparently dyslexic! 78! 87! Wah! ;_;) I hope this goes well, and while I'll miss it, I'm glad it's ending. Ultra's getting HARD ^_^;; But let's take a moment to appreciate all the authors who contributed to this MONSTER of a story. We're up to 87 chapters with what.. 5 to go? Wowza. That's what we call a LONG story. It's been a blast! So long, and thanks for all the fish! --ColdFury v1.1 (let's send the RIGHT chapter in tonight, ne?) 12/1/01