Mugen Universe: Tournament of Champions- The Fanfiction Series

[OverMaster]

Inspired by this thread: http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=46801&page=1&pp=15

Promotional trailer:



The Omniverse is in inminent danger. Again. All that exists is about to come to an ending. However, this time it isn't the work of a supreme demon lord of all Evil, or a cosmic madman who gained domain over all the dimensions of existence, or a coallition of supervillains who have taken over the Omniversal Nexus of Everything That Is.

No. This time, all the universes are in danger... because the Heavens just want to end it all. To purify the Creation, it all must be remade from scratch... but not if Belldandy, the kindest goddess in all of Heaven, can help it. She is just about to give everyone a chance to save their lives and worlds...

*Ominous music sounds in the background*

Of course, you know this ain't gonna be pretty.

Especially when, well, that was NOT what the creators of the series had in mind when they started with it... And now someone's going to pay for it!

Based on the best-selling "Mugen Universe: Multiversal Tournament of Champions" videogame...

The Ultimate Battle has begun.

Live the action. The carnage. The weirdness. The wackiness. And the sheer idiocy... of the adventure of a lifetime... or something like that...


* We see a long series of scenes showing:

Excel Excel battling Puni Puni Poemy,

Street Fighter's Ryu and King of Fighters' Kyo Kusanagi sitting and eating ramen together as everything around them crumples,

Darkstalkers' B.B. Hood running after the terrified Lord of the Rings' Balrog monster with guns a-blazin',

Spawn fighting Lobo,

Saber Marionette Lime in an intense "scissors, rock, paper" duel with Catgirl Nuku Nuku,

Homer Simpson punching a yelling Peter Griffin in the gut... and Homer's hand being left stuck in Peter's tummy folds,

Ranma Saotome fighting Kenshin Himura,

The Smurf village being stomped on by Godzilla,

Superman fighting Son Goku,

Disgaea's Angel Trainee Flonne, KOF's Kim Kaphwan, Disney's Darkwing Duck and The Slayers' Amelia making a few sentai-like entrance poses together for Justice,

SF's Dan Hibiki punching Batvillain Killer Croc in the mouth... then rubbing his pained hand as he yells,

a quick, dramatic closeup of Belldandy's worried, shocked face zooming in into her right eye,

Evangelion's Shinji Ikari sitting in a chair complaining,

Freakazoid's Fanboy running after an annoyed Scarlet Witch while holding an old Avengers comic to his chest,

Emperor Joker and Mistress of Hell Hild going in a battle mano-a-mano,

and it all closes with a shot of Nabeshin going SSJ as he screams, "This all stops HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.....!!!!!!!". *



Mugen Universe: The Fanfiction. Coming very soon.

[J Dog]

Alright! This is cool!

[Altraferne]

This sounds cool. So, um... wadda we post? Is this like a role playing thread?

[OverMaster]

This sounds cool. So, um... wadda we post? Is this like a role playing thread?

More or less, since anyone can contribute. Although it has more of a pure fanfic twist than the usual RPG thread. If you want to take a part, you can start by telling us which characters would you like to use.

[J Dog]

I chose my characters at the end of the Anime Cast thread. Go there to see which.

I'd like to start with an opening song that I like as it offers both Guys and the original Mads:

The MST3K Song by Joel Hodgson

In the not-too-distant future--
Next Sunday A.D.--
There was a guy named Joel,
Not too different from you or me.
He worked at Gizmonic Institute,
Just another face in a red jumpsuit.
He did a good job cleaning up the place,
But his bosses didn't like him
So they shot him into space.

We'll send him cheesy movies,
The worst we can find (la-la-la).
He'll have to sit and watch them all,
And we'll monitor his mind (la-la-la).
Now keep in mind Joel can't control
Where the movies begin or end (la-la-la)
Because he used those special parts
To make his robot friends.

Robot Roll Call: (Let's go!)
Cambot! (Pan left!)
Gypsy! (Hi, girl!)
Tom Servo! (What a cool guy!)
Croooow! (What a wisecracker!)

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
and other science facts (la la la),
Then repeat to yourself, "It's just a show,
I should really just relax
For Mystery Science Theater 3000!"


My first part will begin at Joel Robinson's Hot Fish Shop in Osseo, Minnesota.

[Alan2099]

I'm not fully getting this. is this more of a fanfic round robin, role playing thread, or what/ Also, which characters are avalible for use and how many can be used per person?

[OverMaster]

I'm not fully getting this. is this more of a fanfic round robin, role playing thread, or what/ Also, which characters are avalible for use and how many can be used per person?

More like a fanfic round robin. You can use characters from any series you want as long as they aren't taken by anyone else, as many as you think you can handle, and don't worry about making too much sense with power levels, since this is intended to be rather on the frantic Harmageddon comedy side of things.

Episode Guide (subject to changes if anyone wants to change anything, and have a good cause for it):

1. The First Wave.
2. Culture Clash.
3. Night of the Living Unliving Whatever.
4. Love and Justice.
5. Nabeshin's Fairy Tale Theater.
6. Swords of Fire.
7. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer doesn't live here anymore. (Special Christmas episode!!).
8. Lobo Hina.
9. Old Jokes.
10. The Hunt for the Unknown Enemy, Part I.
11. The Hunt for the Unknown Enemy, Part II.
12. The Hunt for the Unknown Enemy, Part III.
13. The Obligatory Recap Episode.
14. The Obligatory Swimsuit Fanservice Episode.
15. Future Shock Value.
16. Suddenly, a Space Opera.
17. Sentai Wars, Part I.
18. Sentai Wars, Part II.
19. Neon Genesis eDANgelion.
20. Much Ado about Shakespeare. (Warning: Really Weird, Mind Twisting Episode).
21. Return to Those Days when we Laughed.
22. The Freak and the Dead.
23. Holy Bells.
24. Love at the Death's Frontier.
25. A New Earth, a New Heaven.
26. Screw this, we're going Home. (Special OVA episode).

[Alan2099]

Intresting. I'd like to see a preliminary chapter before I commit fully, though.

[KingEli]

Can I join in? Plus I did Guy Gardener(part 1) at the games bord.

[OverMaster]

Just wanted to say, I've been sick for the last couple of days, and that's why I haven't started this yet. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to begin with it.

[OverMaster]

Episode 1: The First Wave.


Prologue:

Somewhere in Tibet.

The small fortress of thick black walls was half buried under a few feet of snow at the peak of one of the world's highest mountains. It was supposed to be my Shangri La. My last hideout from the cruelties of the world outside. It was my safe place. And I was, at least, relatively happy with it.

Then, why was he there, intruding, hunting for me? Couldn't he just leave me alone? Did he need to hound my steps through the world, right down to my last safe hiding place? What did spur him to do so? What??

It didn't matter. It wouldn't matter anymore, never. I was prepared for him. As I heard him dispatch my guards sitting behind my working desk inside of my office, and I saw him through my TV screens, shooting his way through my troops, I caressed the gun in my hands. He wouldn't take me this time. I would make sure of it, one way or another.

Did he have any idea of how much had costed me to hire all those guards with the salary of a mangaka? He plowed his path through them as if he didn't have any care in the world, smiling with cocky confidence, every once in a while throwing a few grenades at them or pulling a bazooka out of his stupid hairdo to blow them up. It was all a game for him? Did he have such a low concept of me? Unacceptable.

He was getting closer. I already could hear the explosions near my door, complete with the desperate yells of the soldiers. It was time. Clearing my sore throat, I stood up and walked to the door, gun in hand.

"I'm waiting for you, SOB" I said then.

An Elite Ex-Green Beret mercenary being thrown through my door into the office was his way of saying "Here I am", two seconds later. As the unfortunate man fell to my feet muttering "He's crazyyyyyy..." very weakly, my tormentor stepped in to face me.

There was a grim resolve of his own on his eyes.

"Rikdo-san" he said, gravely. "We need to talk".

I pointed my gun at his forehead, right between his eyes, under his huge afro. "The time for talkings is over, Nabeshin. You'll never convince me to partner with you again!".

"Is that so?" he asked, critically, giving a long, cynical smoking of the cigarette between his lips. "You shouldn't be so obstinate. Everyone else already has given their approval".

"You lie" I growled. "You just want to trick me again...".

He shrugged, and before I could react putting a bullet into him, he threw a few documents at me. "You can check these out and tell me if I lie...".

I distrusted. But still, I just had to know if he was being sincere this time. The curiosity got the best of me, and I quickly picked up the papers and read them with widened eyes behind my glasses. "Th-this can't be...".

"Oh, but it is. And if you don't want to take a part on it, you'll be the only one left out. Your call, Rikdo-san. But I'd suggest you to do it... even if it's only for the good ol' times... and the most important thing...".

"Do you mean--?" I asked him, with some hope in my voice.

"Yes". He nodded solemnly. "Lots of money".

I had to sigh in defeat. "Okay. You win, damn you. I'll do it... for the money".

I pulled the old approval seal out of one of my pockets and held it over the expecting document as I pronnounced the old oath:

"I, Koshi Rikdo, hereby allow this to become the first episode of our massive group collaboration, the Mugen Universe Series!".


*STAMP!*

[OverMaster]

Somewhere else, a few days later:

Keiichi Morisato sat down at the back porch of the old reaconditioned temple where he had been living for the last couple of years, and sighed softly in the cold breeze of the Autumn.

He was missing her already.

Not only missing her, but even missing her sisters as well. The house was just too quiet without them around anymore, to the point it wasn't feeling like a real home anymore.

He felt just miserable. Slumping down his shoulders, the young man stayed quiet and silent, lost in deep thoughts and asking himself what had gone wrong, when he heard the knockings at his front door. He barely could gather enough interest on it to mutter, "Who is it?".

"It's me, Bro!" a familiar young female voice called out from the outside. She sounded so careless, always. In moments like that, he really couldn't understand at all how did she do it.

"Come in, Megumi. The door isn't locked" he said, barely loud enough for her to hear him. And a few moments later, she was standing next to him, smiling down at him.

"Come on, Keiichi. You don't have to worry so much!" she slapped him gently on a shoulder. "Didn't they tell you they'd be back soon?".

No, actually, they hadn't. That's what he had told Megumi, of course, but it was a lie. There was no way of knowing what would happen from then on.

Still, there was no point in telling his sister truths she couldn't understand, much less believe, and that only would hurt her even if she believed them. So he made the best fake smile he could and looked up at her. "Yes. You're right, of course. I've no reason to think anything bad will happen, do I?".

"That's the spirit!" the girl with the short brown hair winked an eye to her (slightly) older brother. "Now, what if we go out with Hasegawa and your Motor Club buddies to that party tonight, so they can talk to you again? You've barely seen them for the last few days...".

"I know, I know. Look, I'll try to go, as long as I'm feeling better...".

"Oh, please, Keiichi. You're starting to worry me. Be honest. There is something else to this you haven't told me...?".

"No, no, that's not it--".

Then a loud booming thunder in the gray skies cut his words short. Somehow, it had made him to shudder.

Megumi Morisato looked up. "Boy, looks like there's a real big storm comin' up...".

She didn't know how truly right she was then.

[OverMaster]

Yggdrasil:

The impossibly beautiful woman standing in the air, in a long white ceremonial robe, overviewed her handwork from above, and weakly smiled to herself, satisfied. She felt very tired, but also proud of her work. At long last, the Arena for the final match was ready.

Of course, challenging almost anyone else to a battle against the Ultimate Force, under normal conditions, would have been an exercise in futility. They would never stand a chance against her then. That's why she had to try and level the odds... make a special place where the strenght of the challengers would be equal to their resolve... Only then, they could have a prayer.

She really wanted to take a short sleep now. The work had been too intense, with her Seals still on and all that...

Just a few moments of sleep, she told herself as she descended. Surely The Father wouldn't mind after all...

"Is it over, already?" a female voice asked, coming from behind her.

"Yes. It is finished" she answered, with the most beautiful voice of all of Heavens. "Everything is going according to the Plan".

"Are you sure about this?" the other woman... or rather, Goddess... asked. "This could be a classic case of a remedy being worse than the illness, if things go wrong at any point...".

"That will not happen, Peorth" she replied with resolve. "I know everything is going to work out at the end. It has to".

"Very well" Peorth of the Roses nodded solemnly. "Then, I assume we can pass on to Step 2 of your project?".

"Just let me rest a bit first, please. I feel drained... We will go for Akira after that".

The dark haired Goddess crossed her arms and said nothing. Then her longtime rival added, "Thank you for your help, Peorth... I know it mustn't be easy for you...".

"The alternative wouldn't be any easier for me either, Belldandy" she replied quickly. "I just hope you are right... and this doesn't turn out to be a fatally wrong faux pas...".

[OverMaster]

Arkham Asylum:

People feared the name. A dark castle of shadows, wrapped in thick walls and an aura of insanity. The Fortess of Madness itself.

There lived a Prince, do you know? A dark Prince of warm, charming smile and the heart of a devil. The Sultan of Swing, the Count of Chaos, Duke of Disaster. The Joker, for the pals.

And once upon a day, the Prince got an invitation to a Royal Ball...


He laughed dryly, just to himself. He had just had an idea.

He had to. Sitting restrained in the rubber room, almost choked by the tightness of his old straightjacket, faintly smelling of sweat and dried vomit, he had no other things to do than:

1) Scream to the walls, which really became stale after a while.

2) Fall asleep and have ideas while dreaming, and

3) Have ideas while being awake.

Of course, there also was Choice 4) Vomit again, but today's food hadn't been THAT bad.

Anyway, as for the idea... That was a real beauty... The newest, keenest escape plan ever! Surely no one ever in the history of mankind had ever thought about it before! Now, all he had to do was to--

"Wait a minute".

He had just heard a small poofing sound near him. He looked aside with curiosity to find himself staring at a tiny, big headed blonde woman with strange markings on her rounded face. She smiled wickedly, showing him some slight pointy fangs, and was half wrapped on a black cloak around her somewhat buxom body.

She was oddly sexy looking for being some sort of gremlin.

"I'm sorry, but the Mistress isn't here today" the ghostly pale, green haired man told her, as if she was the most normal sight ever. "Try coming back tomorrow, please".

The diminutive figure clad in black huffed at him. "Really? Figures. The reports didn't lie, it seems... You're really convinced you're funny".

He frowned. If there was something he hated to be called like, it was 'Unfunny'. "What can you know, Smurfette?" he snorted.

"The name's Mara" she replied. "I came to make an offer to you".

"Sorry, but I already accepted three proposals from the last hallucinations that came to visit me. My schedule is full for the whole week".

"This isn't a joke..." the little thing said sternly. "Wouldn't you like to be free again?".

"I'm already working on it".

"Yes, and looks like you're doing such a fine job at it...". She almost laughed cruelly.

He stared down at her, critically. "What can a mouse with makeup like you do to free me, Sweetcheeks?".

"Watch me".

With a louder, stronger Poof, she grew up to normal human size amidst a cloud of yellowish smoke. Joker raised a green eyebrow. Definitely this was a change for the better.

"I like what I see!" he chuckled, and tried to playfully ram his head into the crotch of the shapely woman standing in front of him now. She just kicked him in *his* crotch, instead. "YOW! You little-- I mean, big--" he almost choked, and gasped for air.

"Oh, don't be a crybaby" she waved a hand in front of his face. "I didn't even put any real strenght on it... Anyway, that's just a reminder for you to keep your hands quiet now that you have them free". And just by waving her hand again, the straightjacket loosened and suddenly fell from Joker's body.

"Hey! Neato!". He stood up and stretched his arms. "Much, much better, I'll admit it... So, Mera--".

"Mara".

"Whatever, Maria... I suppose you aren't here just because you're part of my always lovin' Fanclub, right?".

"They don't call you a Criminal Genius for nothing!" she noted sarcastically. "My employer wants to have a few words with you".

"Exactly which words, Marla...?" the Clown looked at her again with mild interest.

Her grin grew a bit. "I can tell you this: One of them is Apocalypse".

[OverMaster]

The zombie was scared.

Really. He--it-- literally trembled while backing away on shaky, clumsy legs, hissing hoarsely, almost slipping on the wet floor of the dark hall as he tried to get awat from the inhuman thing that had just massacred all the others. That little beast who was staring at him with icy cold blue eyes, a huge sadistic grin on her face. She advanced towards him fearlessly, aiming the impossibly large gun in her hands at him, stomping over the inanimate remains of countless other zombies splattered all over the hall as she did so.

Twirls of golden blond hair were visible coming out from under the red bonet on her head. She was not the mightiest, but certainly the most merciless Hunter in the world, *her* world, at least. Welcome to another of her job days.

"It's time to pay the piper, Mr. Stinky...!" she giggled in a perverted fashion, now stomping her way towards the zombie. "You're the last one standing, so I guess I'll have to savour you before this all ends... But it would be way better if you showed some guts first! C'mon! Be a man! Bring it on! Do your worst! Bam! Sock! Uuuuuuurrrrghhhh! Let me see that famed undead feral rage! Do you get what I'm saying to you, stupid beast?".

As if it could truly understand her, the unliving one seemed to decide to die (again) like a man (that is, at least better than his first time). With a gutural, low growl, he rushed forward to attack her...

... and had its head blown up by her as thanks.

"Jaaaaaaaaaaaaackpot!" B.B. Hood smiled with satisfaction. The Little Red Riding Hood from Hell, Scourge of Monsters all around Earth, softly blew some grayish smoke from the point of her gun as the zombie fell down, inutilizied. "Feh. Those UMBRELLA idiots... will they never learn, I wonder? And why it looks like their zombies are getting even worse with each attempt? They must be runnin' out of budget... Maybe they should try another area. I bet they could give Tupperware a very good run for their money if they wanted to".

She whipped out a cell phone from a pocket in her little red dress and spoke through it. "Yeah? Hood here. Yep, the zone is all clean. Prepare that money now, because I'm going to collect immediately. Yeah, yeah, my pleasure. I live for my job, after all!".

Then, a pause.

"I'll call you later, Eduardo..." she cut the communication as she cautiously walked to the nearest corridor. She could hear a suspicious weak zooming sound coming from there... and she didn't like it any bit.

Once there, her eyes widened. Some sort of weird vortex of light was opening in the middle of the corridor, and out of it was stepping a tall, buxom, female figure. It obviously had to be some kind of cheap Darkstalker trick.

Cool. The job had been way too easy anyway.

She jumped to face the unknown woman, aiming her guns for her massive chest. "Alright, Morrigan, or whoever the Hell you are! I don't know why are you here, but I can tell you where you are going to--".

Just a moment. That couldn't be Morrigan. Heck, she made Morrigan to look *flat* as a pancake.

The tall woman with long black hair looked down at the child and laughed, with a hideous laughter that managed to do what few others ever could-- scare B. B. Hood. "OOHHH HO HO HOH HO! You little kid! Why must you all children be so impulsive?".

Hood arched her fine eyebrows. What kinda freak was that? She wore nothing but tall black boots, spikey shoulder pads, a scandalous black leather bikini that didn't leave much to imagination, some jewelry, and a black, long cape. Be careful, she told herself. This must be a being twisted enough to give Zarock the creeps.

"Who are you, sister?" she demanded, not bothering to be polite. "Talk fast, before I get an itch on the trigger finger!".

The woman looked at her guns with a puzzled expression. "What are those things?".

"I asked you a question!!".

She humphed. "You obviously never learned any manners. You're even worse than Lina! Very well, if you want to know it so much... I'm Naga the White Serpent! The most powerful sorceress ever born! The world fears my name, kings and demons are nothing to me!". And then she laughed again with that damn laugh of hers, and her round breasts bouncing.

"Very impressive!" the Hunter snorted. "OK, I'm Baby Bonnie Hood, and I kick the buttocks of freaks in black for fun! Wanna take a number? I'm all willing!".

She looked down at her in true amazement. "YOU are Hood? The one I was instructed to look for? No way...".

The girlie looked at her with a cute but serious frown. "What do you mean?".

"Well, I was told by my latest patron to look for a Demon Hunter named Hood... He said he had a job offer for her...".

"Me, working for the same guy you work for...?" the child grumbled. "What's the catch?".

Naga shrugged. "Looks like he's searching for people who works for money for him. And he's got a lot of money, too".

"Lots of money??". Now she WAS interested.

"Indeed" Naga nodded. She passed Hood a small bag, and the kid could see it was full of gold coins weighing heavily in her small hands. Her eyes went wide like saucers. "He said this would be yours, only if you came with me to talk with him".

"Okay!" Hood nodded anxiously. She always could collect Eduardo's payment tomorrow. Or the next week. "I could be talked into doing some favors for this guy!".

[M203]

"The Ley Lines are in chaos..." The little Devil muttered under his breath as he drew his coat a little tighter around his chest. He watched as beneath him, the nuns, ministers and others serviant to the Order of Magdeline milled about, almost in a frenzy. It had been months since the last crisis threatening humainty had been averted, the Sinner known as Aion dispatched, and finally the world of humans and the world of Devils reaching some manner of accord, thanks to Pandemonium being appeased. Chrono put his ear to the warm, tiled roof basking in the morning sun as below, and listened as Ewan Remington spoke grimly.

"I am sorry to have called you all here, but things have been set in motion that may again require the efforts of the mgadeline Order. I am aware that the conflict between urselves and the Devils may be over, but I am afraid that we may need their aid yet again..."

As usual, Chrono heard as the voice of his partner, the rambunctious, and often obnoxious Rosette Christoper tore the stoic silence of the room in two.

"AGAIN!? But..."

Remington cut her off. "Rosette, I understand that Sister Kate has allowed you and Chrono some time away from your duties but this simply cannot wait!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhkay, so what is it this time? Devils? An Apostle needs saving? What?" the fiesty nun shot back, only to find a littl hand over her mouth, and a arm around her wait, both appendages beginning to drag her backwards.

"I'm sorry about that Father Remington," Chrono smiled, embarrassed, and hissed into his partner's ear, begging her to be a little more patient.

"Thank you, Chrono." The tall, handsome minister placed a gold-trimmed tube of ivory upon the desk of the Mother Superior, all in the room letting out either a gasp of disbelief or a murmur of suspicion.

"It is," Remington cautioned, looking down at the elegant cylinder. "The final Revelation of Fatimah, the scroll which holds the secret words given to those Faithful, words which pertain to the remaining time humanity has been allowed by God."

The room was plunged into silence as Remington slowly, carefully twisted the top of the cylinder and with delicate fingers, extracted its cotents, unfurling the scroll.

None approached it, save Remington himself, who slowly, solemnly turned it around to face the assembly before him, and then nodded to Chrono, the Devil who had taken up residence in the House of God itself. The little Devil stepped cautiously forwards, and paused several feet away from the huge oak desk.

"Father Remington...I feel..."

If it were at all possible, Remington's features grew even more grim. "What is it you feel, Chrono?" He noticed the eyes of the little Devil begin to grow wide with fear, as his lips began to tremble.

"You do understand it, don't you Chrono? You do know what this means..."

Rosette came to his side, and together the pair stepped cautiously ever-forwards, until they looked almost directly downwards at the ancient Hebrew letters, a strange shape, sitting omniously in the corner of the parchment.

"This can't be..." Chrono stammered.

Remington nodded, and beckoned the pair of them into his chambers. As the door closed behind them, hrono noticed a petite little girl, her light blue hair tied into the most adorable pigtails and kept where they were with little ribbons.

Remington turned to face tha pair. "Rosette, Chrono, I would like you to meet one of my colleagues. This," he presented the adorable little creature, "This is Dokuro-Chan. As you may ave guessed, she is as I am. Except fr the fact that she is from our Covert Operations Section." It had already been a while since Remington had revealed himself to be an Angel during one of the more brutal battles against the Sinner Aion and his cohorts.

Rosette took a shallow step towards their "visitor," and then poked her repeatedly in the head. "So, what's all this about? We're suppose to be on extended leave, you know!"

Behing them, Remington took up the Scroll of Fatimah and nodded to the tiny Angel, who began to speak in a voice so soothing both Rosette and Chrono were mesmerised.

"We need you, Rosette. We will be leaving immediately."

Chrono's jaw dropped, as the young Angel took Rosette's and and began pulling her towards the door. He found the and of Father Remington uopn his shoulder, holding him back."But why!?"

Remington spun him around, and brought is face again to the scroll. "It doesn't burn your eyes, does it?"

"Wait..." Chrono whispered in disbelief. Heavenly objects never had a good effect on Sinners like him. "No, it doesn't..."

Remington sighed. "That is because the power behind this sigil is still sealed...it has been sealed for the last one thousand, eight hundred years." He spoke matter-of factly as he indicated the star-shaped brand at the bottom of the page, seemingly burned into the Nile-reed paper.

"One thousand...no...impossible!" Chrono stammered...

"You are needed elsewhere Chrono," Remington stated flatly, "Because if we are right, and the rumors about the Relief Office in Heaven shutting down are true, then we may again need the help of the Devils who aided us before."

THe Minister let out a sigh.

"Before this, we dealt with Devils. But never before have we dealt with a God..."

Before his eyes, Chrono watched as the paper surrounding the star-shaped brand began to smoke, as if it were burning. The words left his lips in a lisp of awe, but mostly it was fear.

"The God of Destruction...is coming?"

Remington's silence spoke volumes.

[OverMaster]

Somewhere in the snowy hills of Japan:

The man was surrounded by monkeys, sitting in a circle all around him. He was tall and thin, still young looking, with long dark hair and a long beard. His feet were bare, and he wore a brown robe, looking more like a vagabond than anything else. His voice had a real simian tone to it as he talked to the beasts in their own language, fluently, exchanging impressions with the group as an old friend.

They were alone in the hot springs mountain resort at those hours of the night. At least until the water in one of the nearby springs bubbled intensely, and a light vortex appeared above it. Scared, the monkeys quickly ran away, but the lanky man simply approached the water with interest.

"So, my pupil comes to visit at last" he pondered to himself. "There must be something really pressing urging her to do so".

From the vortex, a young petite girl with long black hair and blue rounded markings on her forehead and cheeks, all dressed in pink, emerged to face him. Her expression was absolutely serious.

"Master Beenuel" she did a quick, half unwilling bow at him. "Excuse me for intruding this way".

"It is somewhat disturbing to see you coming here, indeed..." he nodded. "Especially since you never have wanted to have anything to do with the lessons of your intended teacher...".

"Oh, please! We've already talked about this!" she told him. "With all due respect, you can't teach anything of any interest to me!".

Celestine, definitely this guy wasn't. What had the Oracles of Yggdrasil been thinking when they assigned him to be her future teacher? And yet, he was her last option right now. Just showed how badly messed up things were on a whole.

"Just because I am a minor deity, or because I am not fond of the machines you love so much? In any instance, if your position about it is still the same, why did you come here this night?".

She stared at his face, genuinely shocked. "They haven't told you about it??".

"Told me about what?".

"Ragnarok!".

Beenuel blinked quickly. "Ragnarok...? Surely you jest".

"I'm NOT joking!" she protested. "My Father called us back to Yggdrasil and told us about it, a couple of weeks ago! The End is near... that's why I am here".

He pondered what he had just heard silently, his eyes wide open. Finally, he spoke up slowly, "If that is true... Goes to show how badly they think about me. I never get a memo when this sort of thing happens. The God of Cheese gets more respect than me...".

"Stop thinking about your ego, will you?" the girl asked, almost scolding him. "Now, as God of Animals, this is bad news to you. All your precious beasties will be wiped off existence along with the humanoid races. So you have to help me to handle all this...".

He observed her with a critical look. "What is your interest in all of this, Young Skuld?".

"My sister".

"Which one of them?".

"Who else? Belldandy! You know her... She has been asked to handle the main basics of the Ragnarok Operation, but... she can't do it. She just can't. I've seen her... For the last days, it has been eating her alive... She couldn't bring herself to do it, so she proposed an alternative to our Father".

"And the alternative is...?".

"She'll put her own life in risk for the Universes. She's going to stage a... some sort of massive battle for the Future... and, if someone manages to beat her and the Ultimate Force, the Existence will be spared. She is going to... make herself killed, Beenuel-san... She's just going to throw herself at the mercy of the mightiest beings in the Universes... and I'm not going to stand there and let them to destroy her!" she announced, almost crying, stomping with a foot on the ground.

"And you want my help for that?".

"We have common goals. I know you don't think much of me, but we have no other choices, really. No other God in the Pantheon will help me with this, and odds are they won't help you either".

"Of course, you know you are challenging the Will of your Father...".

"No. He has approved this... Tournament, and as long as we play by its rules, we aren't going to disobey His Will".

Beenuel smiled weakly. His apprentice lacked very much in the field of Communion with Nature, but she still had a very stong determination. He nodded.

"I think I am willing to help you, then. Just tell me more about your plan".

[OverMaster]

Hong Kong:

Decades ago, Jules Chawang had been an elite Street Fighter. He had won several famed martial arts tournaments, and his name was respected in fighting circles around the world. That had been, however, far in the distant past. Now he was a spent man, old and tired, with blurry vision and a beer gut. He hadn't fought seriously in more than seven years.

However, he had not truly realized how low he had fell until that night. Beaten, literally pummeled... by the goof in the pink karate gi who has holding him by his shirt's collar now, behind that lowly bar, in the darkened alley.

His assaulter's already narrow eyes narrowed even more. "Why, Chawang? Why did you have to do it?!".

"F'r the love of God, Dan!" the old man coughed. "How could I know Sagat was going to kill him? I truly thought yer dad had a chance! Honest!".

The young man with the thin hair tied down in a long ponytail shook him a bit more, with cartoony streams of tears running down from his eyes. "You were his friend, Chawang! He trusted yoouuuuuu...! And you told him it was a good idea to challenge Sagat!".

"Bu-but that was so long ago!" he pleaded. "I'm sorry about dat, have been dat way f'r a long time! Don't hurt me, boy... Yer dad wouldn't have liked it...".

"Shut up! Now you're going to taste the full fury of Saikyo...!!".

"No! Please, don't hurt m--".

What was he doing now?

Dan was rolling in a quite ridiculous way all around him, taunting him while singing:

"You scum, treacherous bum,
foolish no-good, dirty crud!
Your no worthy of nothin', but taunts, piece of mud!
The Hibikis laught at you!
Saikyo! Saikyo! Taste the cold despise
of the strongest fighting style!
Saikyo! Saikyo!".

The old man blinked in disbelief. "What the f--".

"Hah hah!" Dan Hibiki stood up and faced him again. "Bet that truly shattered your poor soul, eh? You'll never forget the sting of the Saikyo Special Revenge Super Taunt!".

"Uhhh... sure. I'll never forget. Is that... all?" he hesitated.

"Do you want more?".

"No! No! I-- I have, um, tasted more than enough of your terrible rage, boy. But, since your going to allow me to live... I want to give you a showing of my gratitude... I'll tell you about something I just learned...".

"What?".

"There is a new World Martial Arts Championship coming. I'll bet you have quite good chances there".

"Don't tell me! But of course! Hah! Nothing will stand in the way of my style to victory!".

Jules handed him a piece of paper. "A woman gave me this... told me to give it to the greatest fighter I knew... It's an invitation. My gift for you, son".

Dan smiled, looking with mild fascination at the paper. "Very interesting...".

Jules smiled to himself, too. The boy was even dumber than his father. Surely he'd get himself killed in that jam the weird woman had told him about. The pompous arse had it coming.

"By the way, Chawang...".

"Yeah?".

Dan then gave him a good punch in the middle of the face. Granted, it wasn't too strong, since he was Dan after all, but still, it was enough to really hurt the frail old drunk.

"That's my parting gift for *you*! Thanks for everything, old weasel! WAHOOOOO!". He began to run into the night, full with enthusiasm. "I'll be the next World Champ...!!".

Jules spat a few drops of blood.

Stupid boy...

[OverMaster]

Yet another dark city.

The city was full of towers that pointed to the black sky like needles attempting to scratch the night. Its streets, narrow and shadowed by the buildings, were almost empty of any bystanders at midnight, since most people was almost too scared to get out after sunset. The criminal element ruled after the fall of the sun in the city without hope.



Now, that sounded dramatic, didn't it?



The gang was on the move, coming out of the jewelry store. Their steps were quick, echoing in the lenght of the lonely street, as the alarm siren blared behind them.

"Move it, guys!" their leader, a huge, corpulent humanoid with a... wolf's head, barked as they almost reached their motorcycles. "I don't wanna any problems this tim--".

His words were cut short by the impression of seeing the cloud of smoke appearing in front of them, between them and the vehicles.

"Aw, crap. Not him".

A voice was almost hissing, coming from inside the cloud. Threatening, in a sort of way.

"I'm the terror that flaps in the night...".

"Fill 'im with lead, boys!".

The night resounded with gunfire, but when it stopped, they saw they hadn't hit anything. Blinking, the five canine men stood up stupidly where they were, until they heard how the gas was poofing behind them now, along with the same voice.

"I'm the needle that breaks your bubble! I'm the nightmare that makes you spend your life in the psychiatrist's couch!".

"Shut up!" the leader prepared to end up with the strange tirade by turning around and aiming at the small caped figure appearing in the gas with his gun, but was stopped by some sort of smoke projectile exploding in his face.

Then the whole world went black.




A few minutes later, standing over the pile of tied, knocked out thugs, the caped feathered figure clad in purple dusted off his hands. "Look good while doing good, just like always" he muttered satisfied to himself. But something else caught his attention at that moment, making him to blink. It seemed to be some sort of intense white light, coming from the other side of the street. He looked at it, intrigued.

A very young female voice called from the light. "In this dark place, where Injustice reigns, I have come to meet the one who wields the flame of Justice! Sent by Heavens, here am I!". She was visible now: a small blonde of long hair with a light blue ribbon on her head, dressed in pure white. A human?? "Angel Trainee Flonne, at your service!".

An Angel? No way. He *had* met humans before, and he knew they... often were far from being likely to say the truth. Even when they had such radiant smiles as this child's.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, looking straight at her.

"I came for you, Mr. Mallard!" she said cheerfully, waving a little hand at him. "Why, we're going to save the Universe!".

[OverMaster]

"Apocalypse?" Joker huffed a bit, without truly looking too interested or impressed. "To be honest, I prefer 'Harmageddon'... sounds cooler, and more like a heavy metal band. But I suppose Apocalypse is also a fine way to spend a weekend. By the way, do you know which day is today? It's kinda easy to lose your notions about that sort of things in here...".

"You talk way too much" Mara snorted, and she raised a hand in front of him, touching his forehead. "Get ready".

"Get ready for what?".

Then he felt the world around himself to distort, the laws of physics and reality bending and breaking all around him, only to kick back into existence a few seconds later. He blinked, feeling slightly disoriented and weakened for a few moments.

"Whooo..." the Clown Prince coughed a bit, his legs almost trembling. "Did the Earth move for you too, Darling?".

And then, he looked around. They weren't in his Arkham cell anymore. They were in some sort of fine, well mantained office, not unlike the one you'd expect a high public officer having, although with a certain otherwordly twist, now.

"I see" he said, slowly rubbing his long chin with a hand. "Teletransportation trick. Not too different from what Luthor used to carry me to his Injustice League satellite, after all... Let me guess. You're working for him, righto, Honey?". He smiled at Mara again.

"Not quite" she shook her head. "You have no idea of how much MORE powerful my boss is". And she pointed at the small figure sitting behind the office's desk, smiling at both of them in a casual way. "There she is. Be sure of being respectful to her".

Joker blinked in surprise. "No way, Julian...".

He walked towards the dark skinned sitting little girl with long white hair, almost chuckling to himself. "Now this is funny! You know, cutie, you remind me of the time when I bombarded a kindergarten...".

"My name is Hild. Not 'cutie' " the child said to him. "Welcome to Hell".

Joker stopped right there. "Hell? Hmmmm. Doesn't look too much like Neron's place...".

"That is because this is *another* Hell. I'll explain it later" the girlie noted, in an even voice. "Now, just stay quiet and listen to what I have to say".

"Or else, what? You'll hit me with your dirty diapers?" Joker started to laugh, until he felt an intense, irresistible force pinning him, face down, against the floor. " ... Ouch. The baby's got spice!".

"Hmph" a man's voice sounded then, as Joker could hear steps coming into the office, and a tall man in dark clothes that reminded him of religious habits went in at a signal of Hild's. "I can say this lowly being is full of sins, just by looking at him. Making him into a productive member of our community shall be a challenge... but for you, Mistress, it shall be a welcome one".

"Hello to you too" Joker grunted from the floor. "Who are you, pal, the local babysitter?".

"The gentleman's name is Leopold Goenitz" Hild stated from her chair. "He will be working with Mara and you...".

She paused, and smiled down deviously at him.

"... And that's no joke".

[M203]

The air reeked of methane, and the ground released its bubbling wheezes as she treaded onwards between the red pools, once every so often stopping, looking downwards at faces that were all too familiar. The sky was red, and the atmosphere thin, and where there were pockets of oxygen, the breathable air stank of decomposition, decomposition that was all around her, in the ground, the ground of world made of crushed bodies. The crushed, soulles bodies of Gods long dead.

"Every single one of them, their residual energies indicate that they were at least equal to my Lord himself in power, some of them are even off the scale...what could have done all this..." she thought as she presed her bundled up cape closer to her nose. Then it hit her, the red skies, the red oceans, the ground, they were the remnants of a war long past. Bodies, bodies of Gods piled so high in the weightlessness of space that the sheer number of them had become a planet, with its own gravatational field, with its own atmosphere, and the oceans, they were the blood of the divine, the moons above her, the twelve silver crescents, were the vessels in which they once lived, crushed into perfect spheres by one being's will alone.

"This...this is what Urd sent me to retrieve..." Peorth turned pale, realizing that whatever she was to recruit for Heaven had, here in the Continuities beyond, evolved to such a state that it could very well end the system functions of Yggdrasil on its very own. "What in the name of Kami Sama was she thinking, extending a invitation to...to this place?"

The flash of light caught her off guard, and as the warmth surrounded her, so did the blue skies, the perfect clouds, and the sound of children wherever she turned. As her vision returned, she found herself face to face with an old man, bent over double with age, his torn rags bundled about his deshrivelled form so as to hide his face. From between the rags, his husky, cracked voice crept. "If you are looking for the being who made that world of death, you're a bit late. He has already left." The beggar pointed to the enormous hole in the ground, not five feet from where Peorth stood, and then towards the sky, where the silent juggernauts plied the skies, meandering their ways through the transluscent, almost organic buildings that seemed to rise forever towards the sky. "He caught the train."

Peorth was a bit too awe-struck to reply.

"Welcome to the City of Dreams, Daughter of Yggdrasil. I know, you can no longer sense your bretheren. That is natrual. You are beyond, what was it that he called it...ah, the Fourth Wall."

She reeled with shock, but before she could scream her disbelief, the beggar's finger found its way to her lips, silencing her.

"He literally caught the train. Only, he, uhmm, didn't really get the fact that even an octo-dimensional groundplane cannot support an inverted entropic field...he's kind of dumb that way."

A bead of sweat rolled down Peorth's cheek. "And how do you know all this?"

The snicker filled her mind, rather than her ears. "You..."

The old man gave opened his hand, and brought the space of distorted air to her face. "This is your sister's handiwork?"

"The Dimension Tide! But how...that..."

"It is nothing, she still needs to learn how to properly wield her power. Her heart is both her strength, and her greatest weakness. Now step through it, he is already in transit."

Peorth extended her hand towards the ever-shrinking anamoly, a mirage in the several dozen or so dimensions that made up the small space within the confines of the beggar's palm.

"Oh, wait. Before you meet him, tell your Lord that Seicross sends his regards. And take this to Nudoru." The beggar handed her a first aid kit that was quite comprehensive. "And tell him not to die so much, it's f*cking irritating when he keeps falling into my coffee. For that matter, he'd better not die again."

Peorth's features distorted, trying to take in everything that the beggar said.

"Your sister wanted a champion from this Continuity, and so I sent to your Continuity the one man who needed to find himself the most. However, Nudoru Kaarage cannot manifest in your form of reality without creating immense chaos. He is composed of simply too much matter on too many material planes. As he is aware, and as you now are, I have stripped him of the better part of his power. I do not want another debacle like that planet of death you landed on. In return, he will have the chance to earn a place in your Omniverse, in your Continuity. I have sent the memo, ask if your master got it. My fax has been playing up and I think it's seriously f*cked over."

The beggar pulled the rags away from his face as Peorth stepped into the anamoly, the Dimensional Tide which had fused every single reality in the one Continuity that mankind had come to know as the Fictional Universe. As she felt herself begin to fall, she saw the beggar's true face, the white mask, the sigils flowing across it, and then again, came the light.



~The space between existances~

"And you are?" the man with the spar of an enourmous nanoconstructed hull through his head asked.

Peorth could't speak, the scene before her was pure carnage; half his brains were hanging out the back of his skull with the white spar protruding a good war out of the back of his head, its entry point objiously his left eye socket. She held the nausea back as he extended his hand.

"Nudoru Karaage!"

"What! I can't hear you over this..."

The wind intensified suddenly, and her instincts took over as she willed hersef into intangibility in that crucial split second. The same split second that the skyborne train, three miles long, and its unwilling passenger-by-impalement slammed into the waters of Lake Toba, cutting like a hot knife through butter through the Earth's crust, right into the molten rock beneath, lava saturated with pockets of poisonous gasses.

"Oh My Go...what in Hell!?"

The portal opened right above her, and out tumbled her quarry, the half-masked man whose jawplate ended in round, dark goggles. His silvery-white hair mingled with her own jet-black crown as their craniums met, hald a mile above solid ground. Peorth clutched her head in pain. "YOU IMBECILE!!!!!!" She raised her hand, electricity arcing between her fingers, at the man she was tasked to recruit, the one being who might have stood alone and triumphed against the might of both the three Chousein and Yggdrasil combined, only to have him vanish before her eyes. Right into the engine of a Boeing 747...

She produced a cell phone from between her ample breasts. "Hello, Belldandy? He's here. But uhh, I think he's dead." A moment of silence passed. "No, no...he kind of died twice in the first five seconds that he was in this reality. Leave him be? Are you sure...alright."

As Peorth faded away, returning to her duties, the dark portal again opened. And spat its contents, the Killer of a civilisation of Gods, right into the path of a striking Indonesian Cobra.

Nudoru Kaarage had arrived. Now, all he had to do was to stay alive long enough to make a difference. :D

[OverMaster]

Down in the dark corridors of the UMBRELLA Labs of Wisconsin:

Naga pulled out a tiny, square device from between her huge melons, and pressed a few buttons on it while mumbling, "I just hope I remember well how to handle this... Honestly, I don't know why he couldn't just go with a simple teleporting spell, instead of this... thing".

B.B. Hood then noticed the air around them starting to shine in a strange yellow light, and could hear that annoying, loud zooming sound again. "Hey, what's this?!" she shrieked. "I swear, if this is some sort of setup against me, you'll be sorry...".

"Don't be so silly" the sorceress humphed. "I'm merely taking us with my employer". And then, they blinked out of existence, only to return to it a couple of seconds later. "Ah, here we are".

It seemed to be the eerie, sinister insides of a huge cave, barely illuminated by some diminutive red flames floating all around the ghostly figure that hovered high above the floor in the middle of the dark shrine at the end of the cave. The spectral being looked like a giant head with no body at all, but with a long, thick black beard, and burning redish eyes that looked like the eyes of either an angry saint or a devil.

"I knew it!" the killer Red Riding Hood almost spat in rage. "This is nothing but Darkstalker trickery! Who are you, Jedah's cousin or something?".

"Silence" a tall man in a weird battle outfit with tall boots and a half black, half red mask that covered all of his face (except for his cold eyes) told her sternly. He had been standing next to the shrine until he walked to meet the females. Then he talked back to the supernatural apparition as he looked down at Hood, analyzing her with his icy stare. "Don't tell me *this* is our third teammate. I thought this was supposed to be a serious assignment".

"You don't know about her potential, Deathstroke" the ghost (or whatever he was) spoke, in a voice with a recognizable English accent. "She has the deadly skills and instincts required for this mission".

"What in the world are you talking about?" the child asked, still very distrusting.

"The Heavens and Hells, the Cosmics and the Humans, all alike, they all are amassing their forces, preparing for the Final Day" the ghostly voice boomed. "The recruitment drives have started, fast and furious, all through the Universe, and anyone with any talent is being brought in by a party or another. Everyone is making a play for power... or mere survival. You are part of my soldiers in that war. My Mercenary Team".

"Now I understand even less..." Hood admitted, blinking.

"You will understand it soon enough. Suffice to say for now, I want you to eliminate the threats to the advancement of my other Teams in the battles that are about to come. You will be their support team, dispatching anything and anyone that can interfere with our plans".

"Wait, wait, wait!" the young Darkstalker Hunter shook her small hands in front of herself. "You still haven't even told me your name, and you want to push me into some sort of war for you?".

"You can call me... Moore. I will not tell more about that for the time being. If you do what I tell you to, you all will be greatly rewarded, with prizes far beyond your wildest dreams".

Naga drooled at the simple idea of that. Deathstroke the Terminator only stayed quiet and silent.

"Heh..." B.B. Hood made a twisted grin on her little cute face again. "Are you sure about that? I have pretty big dreams... But, anyway, as long as there are no doublecrosses or funny stuff like that... I could do it...".

[OverMaster]

Mini Interlude: Inside of the madman's mind.

They are simply soooooooooooooo unfunny.

It shouldn't surprise me, actually. People who thinks they are big stuff are always like that. That's the problem with them, they just don't know how to have fun.

Do they really think they'll never die? Oh, please. No matter how high and mighty and demonic they are, they'll have to croak someday. That's the thing. Nothing lasts forever. Nothing but The Joke. The Ultimate Truth of the Universe, the Fact about Everything Else being Nothing but...

... Nothing.

In the end, despite all their bravado and illusions of grandeur, they'll all vanish in the void, like the sound of laughter in the winter wind. What power will they keep then? Who will hail them, tell them how uber they are, when everything is wiped off and the theater's lights are out? Then, the only thing they'll have is how much fun did they have in their lives.

And they'll find out they didn't have any.

Too busy chasing their dreams of power and supremacy. You should listen to that little pipsqueak Hild, talking as if she's the biggest thing since the rubber chicken, acting all mysterious, giving me nothing but the basic info. Try finishing your potty training first, kiddo. And Mara's even worse. What a stuffy, full of herself gal. You'd say she thinks of herself as someone with real big power, instead of just Hild's puppet. Maybe I can't throw lightning bolts out of my hands or float like a stupid butterfly, but at least I'm the owner of my own fate. That's more than what Mara could ever say, by the looks of it so far.

Sure, I'll play along with them for the time being. But that's just because I want it so. It's not like I'm impressed by them being *the forces of Nifelheim*... or by that fanatical Goenitz goon always looking above my shoulder. Pompous cretin. From what I've heard so far, I think he was killed by some losers, and Hild took pity on his pathetic hellbound soul and made him one of her lapdogs. Or something. Whatever the case is, I, The Joker, am not going to be scared by a simple preacher of Heck with a bad haircut.

They told me we need to form a four members team for some sort of battle against Heaven and anything on the way to Heaven, too. So, that makes us Mara, Goon-enitz, old wonderful Yours Truly, and the guy Mara went off to recruit now. I get the basic rules of the contest. What still puzzles me, is, why did they choose *me* of all supervillain people in my world? True, no one can hold a candle to my sheer genius and unparalleled showmanship, but still, I'll admit I'm kinda outmatched in the raw power department. I'm not a brawler. So, why me?

I asked Hild, and she just smiled. "You'll understand it later". What kind of answer is that? Just like I said: dumb little brat from Hell. We'll see who laughs last.

I only hope we get to see Bats along the way. We simply must.

If the world is in danger, he WILL be there.

And we'll dance under the pale moonlight again.

[M203]

~The man with seven scars, the white-winged princess, the Red Destroyer and the Naru Punch~

"What the hell is he, some kinda monster!?" "Kill him, kill him!" "You two, flank him on both sides! Quickly, or we're all..." The second in command of Hellywood, the flyting fortress screamed as the smell of blood reached her nostrils, behind her the would-be ruler of Earth, the mad king Hamdo, his hands shaking uncontrollably as his eyes darted around the room, and the finally to the monitor, where a tall man clad in blue coveralls with cold, brown eyes stared back at him.

"Where is the woman? The one you kidnapped up last week?" his icy tone barely breaking as he landed swift blows onto the heads and bodies of several more of Hamdo's soldiers, seemingly without moving. The men convulsed for a moment, and then their bodies ruptured, their intestines spraying the walls in a collage of blood and gore. "I have come for her, call back your troops. There is no need for any more of them to die today..."

Terror overtook him as Hamdo fired point-blank into the screen.

No less than fifty decks below, more bodies broke apart, more heads gave up their contents and yet more bodies hit the floor as the man strode purposefully forwards, not once breaking his stride, until he reached the door at the end of the corridor. The holding place for recent "aquisitions." He felt over the door, tapped it a bit, establishing how thick it was. There was no need for undue force; as a matter of fact, he knew that the door shattering would flood the room on the other side with deadly shrapnel. He stepped back a ways, and with a small twist of his hips landed a crushing kick into the center of the barrier.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.....TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAA!!!!!!!"

The princess came to as the door to her cell shattered, and she looked up at her rescuer through hazy vision, the result of the beatings her captors were only to happy to have dished out over the past week. She had fought, bitten and clawed her way through every ecounter, strugging to make bloody sure that every man of Hamndo's who had tried to lay a hand on her flesh would think that she was too much trouble to even try raping her.

"Kenshiro..." she coughed, her voice raspy. Her last would-be assailant had thought it would be a lever thing to try choking her into unconciousess. Her belongings fell before her, the arconium-ceremi sword and the lever-action rifle. Together with assorted rounds, and the blue, short-hemmed dress that she always wore.

"Nausicaa. Get up, there are more coming, you have to leave. I do not want for any more of these misguided people to die for their king. There is a hangar three decks below where your glider is kept. I will meet you again in the town nearest here..." The tall man spoke with anger, as te strong fabric of his coveralls began to rip as the gigantic muscles of his chest grew to immense size below them. "There has been enough blood shed by his madness. It ends now."

Nausicaa scrambled through the dark corridors, using the flat of her sword to sway her way through the children without killing them. The adults she did not go easy on, sprinting from assailant to assailant, spinning with each cut to deliver a deft crack to the temple of every secod man. The flying fortress began to shake as she reached the hangar, the ancient steel beams and trusses buckling from what seemed to be irresistable pressure. The door before her fell away as the frame of Hellywood buckled, vital portions of its structure ceasing to exist above her. As she kicked the throttle all the way down, the place that she had been held captive for a hellish week seemed to explode form all around, and as she again soared into the blue younder, the explosion behind her caused her to turn back. She gasped with horror.

Hellywood was dissapearing, no, it was being consumed from the inside out by the expanding barrier. Parts of it collapsing, others collapsing into themselves. I moments, the remnants of the flying fortress crashed into the hot desert sands, aided in their descent by the few remaining safety systems. Testament to the power of the Muso Tensai, and the skill of the last person left alive who could use it. She descended, and came scraping to a halt in front of the largest section as the boys poured out of it, all of them looking up at the giant of a man who towered over them.

"Hamdo and the men who made you fight and kill are dead. The war is over, you must make your own way in this world..."

*Some time later*

"Celestine said to meet him here," Nausicaa whispered, her thoat still sore as she massaged it. "Where is.." She found a flask of water held gently in front of her.

"Drink, don't talk. You still need to rest."

She drank, wondering how a man as brutal as Kenshiro could also be as kind and understanding as anyone else she had met. He seemed to read her thought as he answered.

"This is the fate that belongs to all of us, the practitioners of Hokuto Shin Ken. Some use it to commit injustices, others use it to become kings. There can only be one Heir for every generation." Kenshiro replied. "One week ago, in this very place I thought about what life would be like if the nuclear war had never happened. Then a man came to me, calling himself Celestine."

"That was the same day I arrived here," Nausicaa said, sill rubbing her aching neck. "the day they took me to that place. I met him too, he said that I should be here if I wanted to stop the war from ever happenning, to stop the God Warriors from ever being created..."

Night came quickly, and their tiny fire, in the middle of the dying town lit the shattered buildings of their apocalyptic world, casting dancing shadows as the flames licked the black air. In this day and age, no-one save the warlords had much at all, and both Nausicaa, the princess of the Valley of the Wind and Kenshiro, the heir to Hokuto Shin Ken, the Fist of the North Star, were thankful for the little meals that the townspeople had afforded them, a sign of thanks for ridding their lands of the mad king Hamdo.

"They did not have enough for themselves, but yet..." Kenshiro's voice betrayed his sadness for a world that was dying as he held up the tiny piece of bread. A tear rolled down Nausicaa's cheek as she gazed into the tiny flask of water that a small boy had brought them, he had thanked them pofusely for saving his elder brother from Hamdo's madness.

"And they never will," the voice came from the opposite side of the fire. Both Nausicaa and Keshiro looked up, and found there a man whose exquisite robes, sharp features and stragnely-styled hair stood out beyond anything they had ever seen. The marks on his face, the smoothness of his hands, they told of his past to Nausicaa. The sadness in the man's voice spoke volumes ot Kenshiro. "Celestine." The heir of Hokuto Shin Ken nodded to the man and poured him a cup of water, which he recieved gracefully. Everything about the man held grace.

"It is beginning," he fixed his eyes on Kenshiro, and then on Nuaiscaa. "The end of everything is coming. You are the only two chosen from this world to represent Earth in the Final Conflict between Heaven and Hell. Armegeddon itself." Celestine's face was grim.

"What can we do then," Nausicaa asked him, "we're only human."

"And that is your greatest strength, Nausicaa. Only the righteous of heart may stand a chance against her. I do not wish to see her die." Celestine looked up the the stars.

"Who is going to die?" Kenshiro asked, taking a nibble from the tiny loaf of bread he held in his right hand.

"The kindest, most gentle Goddess I have ever known. She was my student once upon a time, and I was her mentor. She grew up into a beautiful young woman who treasured life so much, she was willing to give up her own for the sake of the world."

Both Nausicaa and Kenshiro looked at the man in confusion.

"Her name," Celestine began, "is Belldandy. Two months ago, her Father, my Master decreed that i was time to start anew. The ultiverse would be wiped out and then rebooted, everything in this multivers is going to be recreated. It is Heaven's way to start afresh when things have gotten out of control. She could not bear it, especially when she wa the one asked to carry out the plan for the full system reformat. She put forward an alternative plan, to give the strongest beings in God's multiverse a chance to show that they deserved to exist. What she proposed to Kami Sama himself was a tournament of epic proportions, where it would be proven one and for all that good can and does triumph over evil, and that existance is still worth saving. Gods, devils, humans and superhumans are coming together, taking sides, establishing the battle lines in this last conflict. I have been asked to select a group of four who will enter this great battle as a team." Celestine sipped from the rusted old cup. "I need you, for your are the most righteous of heart left in this forsaken timeline."

"So, if we succeed, then the war will have never happened?"

[M203]

Celestine sighed, and began again. He explained that in this particular universe, the great battle did not come to an end. Instead of reaching its definitive conclusion, the governments of the Earth had organised a task force made up of the elite within their own forces. They struck at Belldandy during her own match, and were destroyed. The sheer number of dead and dying awoke somthing terrible, and it descended to Earth from the Lunar Dungeon, and itself took on the Goddess of the Present in mortal combat, for the sake of the world it wanted to protect. The battle between them was so intense that all of mankind that everyone except those in the know thought it to be a nuclear war. It was not. It was a clash of infinites.

"So we have a chance now, a way to retur everything to normal?" Nausicaa couldn't believe it.

"This is normal," Celestine explained, "what the two of you have is a chance to change this normality to somthing better. Should you choose to take part in this greatest battle, and should either of you emerge victorious, then you will be granted a wish. Any wish. And the wish you make will come true. However, it is also very likely that both of you will not make it, and that you will lose your lives in the prelimanary rounds."

Nausicaa and Kenhsiro fixed their eyes on Celestine. It was Kenshiro who spoke first. "If there is even the smallest chance that all the lives lost will be saved at the cost of my own, then so be it. I have asked myself many times before if there could ever be such a trade, I have seen too much pain and suffering visited upon man by other men. I accept your offer." The princess nodded. "My people are dying because of the Toxic Jungle at the other side of this world. If I can save them, and give them a better life, I'm willing to sacrifice everything I have to do it, even my own life."

Celestine smiled. "You're so much like her. Very well then, let us go." With a gesture, a sphere evneloped the trio as another two joined them. "These will be our team-mates for the tournament. May I present Naru narusegawa, and the man with her is called Raven."

The pair stood before Nausicaa and Kenshiro, and introduced themselves. Naru was bubbly and friendly, but Raven was her complete opposite, cold and foreboding. "I've had enough of fighting," he explained as the big red machine descended slowly behind him, a low and sinister growl echoing from deep within the Geno Breaker. "I've killed so many people, all in the name of what exactly? A madman? A cause? Nothing. Let me tell you this, that wish blongs to me, and if anyone or anything gets in my way..."

"Enough!" Celetine spoke with authority. "Save your anger for the battlefield, Raven. Your entire planet is counting on you. Do not deny your own heart."

Raven spat onto the nonexistant ground in protest. "At the very least I want that wife of mine to stop nagging me every three munites."

Naru and Nausicaa giggled, and Celestine smiled his approval. "Then I bid you welcome, to the battle that will decide the fate of existance!"

[OverMaster]

Nifelheim:

"Everyone's gonna die, gonna die, gonna die" Joker sang cheerfully as he walked through the hall right outside of Hild's office, time and time again, his arms open, like a child playing to fly. "Everyone's gonna die, and boy I'm so happyyyyy...".

Inside of the closed office, Goenitz snorted very slightly. "I still don't understand it, Mistress. Why him?".

"He has his uses, you can be sure of that" she told him, back into her voluptuous, six feet tall adult form in the skintight dress, smiling quietly to herself as she stayed sitting behind her desk. "I know he can look like nothing but an annoying burden right now, but he has a link to something I desire. And I'm not willing to let THAT go".

"But he is so... pathetic. No powers. No view of the future. No rationality. The man is nothing but madness, and chaos".

"Precisely..." Hild almost chuckled, delighted at the idea. "Chaos...".

"Excuse me, please?".

"Oh, I won't spoil the surprise for you. Just be patient and take care of him during the tournament. Don't let anything to happen to him until the finals".

"If that is your wish, consider it done". He bowed formally to her. "However, if you don't mind about it, might I ask why did you show yourself to him in your... more youthful form?".

"I wanted him to take me lightly, that's all. Play a bit of mind games with his fractured mind. Let him to think of me that way; so he'll be for a small surprise or two later on".

"Hmmm".

"You can leave now, Goenitz".

"As you say, Mistress".

[OverMaster]

Tokyo:

She was walking back to her home, her shoulders slightly down, her normally lively steps slower than usual. The average looking (but still cute) schoolgirl in the sailor-type uniform walked alone through the afternoon, depressed as she couldn't stop thinking about him.

She hadn't seen Ryu in such a long time...

In moments like those, she really wondered if she meant anything at all for him. She knew his journeys of training were hard, rigurous and long, but surely it wouldn't kill him to stop by every once in a while in Tokyo and talk to her. Just for a short while.

Stupid girl, she told herself. He barely knows you, after all. And of course, he doesn't know how do you really feel about him. The heights of your admiration.

"And even if he knew" that annoying, tiny voice inside of her was saying again, "odds are he wouldn't care about it anyway".

Then she heard another voice, but this time, she really could hear it, coming from behind her. It made her to stop right on her tracks.

"Sakura!".

She spun around; she knew that voice very well. And there he was, smiling down at her in that arrogant, slightly goofy way of his. The man in the pink gi.

"Dan!" she said, surprised. "When did you come back to Tokyo?".

"Ahh, just yesterday". He crossed his arms and chuckled. "I was in Hong Kong, you know... winning throphies, recruiting dozens of students for my school... the usual stuff".

"Yeah, yeah, sure...". She nodded weakly. Who did he think he was fooling? Surely he had just been receiving poundings again. "Then what brought you here?".

"I have an offer for you".

Now that was unexpected. "An offer? What are you talking about?".

He showed her some sort of... invitation? "I just got this. It's my ticket for a new massive World Tournament. Something like that 'King of Fighters' event... but this time, obviously it at least has some class, since they invited ME...".

"Man". She blinked. "I think I've heard something about that. I thought it was just a rumor, though... And you want me to join forces with you for it?" she guessed.

"Hah! My student is as bright as her sensei!" Dan beamed, nodding with enthusiasm. "I was required to show up with a team of four... well, that's what the invitation says... so I immediately thought of you. Whaddya say?".

Sakura's already big eyes widened hugely, and her heartbeat quickened. If it meant fights galore, surely Ryu would be there.

She would be able to see him again.

"Okay!" she almost jumped, excited. "Count me in, Dan! I'll give it my best!".

[Saint_007]

So, this is a fanfic for the characters listed in the Omniversal fighting game, or is the venue open for other characters? Even those from YvtW threads? Apparently, Benueel is here too.

[OverMaster]

So, this is a fanfic for the characters listed in the Omniversal fighting game, or is the venue open for other characters? Even those from YvtW threads? Apparently, Benueel is here too.

Actually, he was in the Omniversal Fighting Game thread, too. But yeah, pretty much any character from anywhere could be fair play here.

[OverMaster]

The old manor was quiet as a mauseloum that morning, as it had been for the last weeks. She liked it that way better nowadays.

Sitting in an old red couch, a shadow of the woman she once was, the young, fair skinned female with long black hair, all clad in a long white robe, stayed staring at the huge portrait hanging from the wall in front of her. In the image, the inanimated eyes of her sister looked back at her.

It had been that exact same way for hours since she was awakened. She had not said a single word, neither wanted to eat anything. She just wished to stay there, thinking, and staring, fully knowing she wouldn't find an aswer, anyway.

The butler's voice drew her back to reality. "Madame, excuse me for intruding like this" he said from the room's door, his voice dry and formal, "But three ladies want to talk with you know. They say it is because of an urgent matter".

"Tell them I'm not in conditions to meet anyone today" she answered, still not moving. "As a matter of fact, tell them I won't be available for the whole week".

He seemed to hesitate. "Yes, Madame, but... Honestly, I doubt they would take that for an acceptable answer. They... seemed quite determinate to talk with you... And one of them... well, one of them has... something... around her that... worries me, to say the least".

She finally looked back at him. "Exactly what do you mean?".

Then she saw her for the first time ever. She was stepping next to him and into the room. An old-style, traditional Japanese priestess, with pale skin and distant, cold eyes, in the clothing style of an age long gone. There seemed to be something eerie, supernatural around her, like an aura. The current owner of the manor could have said that even if she had not seen the two ghostly creatures floating around the newcomer.

"Chizuru Yata Kagura" the unknown woman said, with an unemotional tone of voice. "We simply have to talk, right now".

Behind her, other two women stood. One of them had European features in her face, a purplish hairstyle that made Kagura think it made Benimaru Nikaido's look normal by comparison, and also a peculiar liking for clothes styling, by the looks of what she was wearing. The other dressed in a much more conventional way, with long skirt and gray blouse, and had long hair in a tone between the stark black and the dark green.

"Forgive us for interrupting your well deserved rest, please" this latter woman made a reverent bow at Chizuru. "But this just can't wait for long. My name is Setsuna Meioh, and these ladies are Miss Rose" she signaled towards the one standing next to her, gently, "and Miss Kikyo" she added, doing the same with the priestess. "I'm afraid we may need your services, Kagura-sama".

"Why for?" Chizuru sighed deeply. "I'm not in any shape to help anyone".

"We know" Rose replied, softly. "We have heard about your unfortuante encounter with Ash Crimson".

Chizuru's eyes narrowed at the mention of that name. "How do you know about that?".

"We have our ways, Kagura-sama" Setsuna assured her, very seriously. "Just like you have yours. You are still a very resourceful woman, and we have a need of you. The world's greatest living authority on the study of the Orochi...".

Now, Chizuru's eyes widened in shock. "The Orochi? You mean you are--".

"He is coming again, Kagura-sama" Setsuna nodded solemnly. Then she handed her an invitation.

"The 'King of Fighters'?" she asked, examining the piece of paper. "But it wasn't supposed to start at this time of the year...".

"Not the King of Fighters. Something much, much bigger. And much more dangerous" Rose said.

"The end of the world" Kikyo added, still apparently emotionless.

"It can't be..." Kagura's voice was a gasp. "You want me for your... team? But I can't... I lost...".

"Yes, Mr. Crimson took it from you. Your power" Rose said. "That's why you haven't been able to feel it coming. But we did. I saw it... in my tarot cards... The coming of a power that makes the might of my nemesis, Bison of Shadaloo, to look insignificant".

"Bison of Shadaloo?". Chizuru had heard the stories about that man.

"I also felt them... the rips in the fabric of time and space... Only small ripplings in the universal continuum for now, but they will grow and grow until all Hell breaks loose. And the God of Destruction will be in the middle of all of it" Setsuna continued. "I have friends that are working on their side to prevent it from happening, but we need an expert on the Orochi matter. That is where you come in, Kagura-sama".

"And about your missing powers..." the priestess took a tiny, shining slice of crystal from inside one of her long sleeves. "This may help you to regain some semblance of them. Normally, I would never do this, but these are desperate times demanding for desperate actions". She gave it to Chizuru, who could feel the power flowing out of it into her hands.

"This can't be... I always thought it was nothing but a legend... The Shikon no Tama ...".

Rose spoke then again. "Use it wisely, Kagura-sama. It's a very dangerous thing. Then again..." she paused, and sighed, "it's also the least of the dangers we shall be taking on from now on".

[OverMaster]

OT: Kinda been busy lately. Maybe I'll be able to update this Monday. Coming next: The last member of Mara's team!

Edit: Ahh, what the heck. Just a quickie bonus DVD-like extra for now...Never say I didn't give you anythin'.






MUGEN UNIVERSE OMAKE PART 1!

Interviewer (off screen, his face not seen): "So, what did move you to take parts in this story?".

B.B. Hood: "... You kiddin', right? I haven't had a paid gig on a videogame since Capcom vs. SNK for the Neo Geo Pocket. And I have bills to pay! It has been horrible, I tell you! This is the first fic I've been able to star in in two years, as well! Those stupid fanwriters just keep on trucking Morrigan lemon stuff!". *Bawls her eyes out*

Skuld pats her on a shoulder: "There, there, take it easy, Bulleta-chan...".

Joker: "Didn't they give you anything for the PSP Darkstalkers remake?".

B.B. Hood (still crying): "They said they didn't have to pay me anything for a mere remake of a game I had already acted for...! Those heartless bastards...!".

Bizarro: "Me hate fighting games! Me no like fights! Me like strategy games! Nobunaga's Ambition am bad!".

Naru: "... Whatever. Anyway, I had to pay the costs of Keitarou's new medical treatment. And I didn't have many options since Akamatsu-san devoted himself to Negima and only to Negima...".

Amelia: "You shouldn't have hit so hard, then...".

Naru: "How could I know I would hurt him that time? He's supposed to be near invulnerable!".

Amelia: "Yes, but I still think you should have stopped after you grabbed the crowbar...".

Naru: "Hey, he was being a disgusting pervert!".

Deadpool: "Look, you were both in your honeymoon. Weren't you expecting him to ask for anything like THAT? If so, then I have some swampland in Genosha I can sell you...".

Naru: "But how on Earth did he expect me to make THAT with my MOUTH?!".

Interviewer: "Might we... go back to the topic, please?".

Joker: "Sure. I'm just a little publicity whore. That's why I jumped in, for my fame! And my fun! Oh yeah, and my public. Look for my upcoming roles in Infinite Crisis and Batman Continues, kids!". *Waves to the camera*

Laharl huffs: "Prima donna...".

Goku: "I wanted to take on new rivals! I just love having a good fight!".

Akuma: "I cannot deny there is an appeal to trying to find worthy opponents, even if you have to pass through tons of worthless pond scum for one".

Deadpool: "Yeah, we love you too, Demon Dude".

Urd (hiccuping, to the interviewer): "Hey, kid... Before I answer, can you bring me 'nother beer, please...?".

Rio Kinezono: "Just for the money. Believe me, I wouldn't dare to mix with this people if there weren't money into play. By the way, this interview also will count as a bonus payment for me, right?".

Interviewer: "Uh, I don't think so".

Rio, Lina, Vampire Nabiki, Reiko Mikami, Uncle Scrooge (all at once): "Ah, crap".

TO BE CONTINUED.

[M203]

Bits and pieces, here and there! :D

"This way, Mr. Morningstar!" The pretty little thing beamed as she ran ahead of the tall, well-built blond man in his immaculately kept tuxedo, his steps purposeful and measured as opposed to her own playful skips. He had become curious of the child over the course of the last few hours, the time in which he had been summoned back to Heaven, to answer again to his Father who he had come to loathe.

"Be careful not to fall, Sassami!" he spoke camly to her; he knew all too well that others around him responded the best to words that did not threaten them, but instead seemed to show concern. He had time and time again used these simple methods to gain the advantages that he desired over almost everyone and everything that he had come across, but this child, she was different. She was an Avatar, one of the chosen few who could channel the power of Gods, or in her particular case, a Goddess, the Chousein called Tsunami. And in time, it would be Tsunami that Sassami would become."Are we here?" He smiled down at her, as they stopped before the intricately decorated door. Lucifer had known it well; this was the only door in his Heaven that was to have never been opened until the days of Ragnarok came.

"So it is time," he muttered, "my Father has decreed this I trust?"

Sassami only nodded; Lucifer's words had brought the gravity of the situation back to her. Being taken from the Masaki Shrine by none other than Tsunami herself and then being thrust into the care of the Goddess of War called Rind was a harsh blow, but being told that the most powerful beings in the multiverses were being summoed to do battle for their respective worlds, that was, to her, even worse.

The door creaked open, Sassami ran ahead into the big, plush chair before the screen at the other end of the room. Lucifer approached with care; this was the office of a Chousein, another of the beings whom he had been told, was tasked with the orchestration of Armeggedon itself. He shortened his steps as the blue-haired woman appeared beside her Avatar.

"And you are Tsunami." He casually spoke, moderating his tone so as to appear unimpressed. The Goddess only smiled her reply.

"And my sister? Is she well?" his tone became stern, demanding.

"She is suffering." Tsunami's expression became one of concern. "She bears a great burden in these last days. However, other matters demand your speific attention and she will have to find the strength within herself if she is to pull through all this."

"You expect a child to handle such a task?" Lucifer supressed his rage; even though he had known his sister for only a short amount of time, he did remember her kindness, and how gentle she was. He also remembered how much value she placed on life. "Would it not b better if this task was left to him?"

"But he's..." Sassami found the Goddess' hand on her shoulder.

"He is a loose cannon, such operations must be handled delicately. Summoning him would be like swatting a fly with a planetary collision. It has been decided that he will sit this one out. The operation is too big to risk with the likes of him being around." The brown-haired Chousein appeared beside her contemporary. The Goddess Tokimi. Lucifer nodded; he knew full well the being which Tsunami was speaking of. Even though he was but a planetary-level diety, his skill in the use of his power was nothing short of amazing. Similarly with his disregard for authority. "You should direct your attentions to this matter in particular," Tokimi gestured at the screen which had just formed beside the Morning Star, who began to take in the scene before him.

"Now that, is simply impossible..." Lucifer's surprise shone through his veil of control as he observed the real-time transmission from one of the many audience rooms, where beings fresh to the Omniverse were interviewed. He watched as the man with white hair, a half-face mask and a white trenchcoat walked straight into the embodiment of hid Father's wrath, the green-cloaked Spectre, and walked out the other side...



*The interview from Hell...*

"Now, just how many of you do I need to kill before you yahoo's just LEAVE ME THE F*CK ALONE!?" The half-masked man spat through his mouthpiece as the Wrath of God crumbled behind him, still twitcing. "Trans-spatial phase variance, you're now crumbling into yourself three Continuities removed. Beyond the Fourth Wall, so there's pretty much squat that can be done about it." The trenchcoat swirled as the white-haired man spun around and seemingly, physically dragged a member of The Endless into the Material Plane. Lucifer recognised her as Delerium.

"Look girl," Nudoru shook her, "Seicross told me that I could have a chance to earn a place here, so open up that door and take me to the Goddess called Peorth." The fabric of reality shifted around him, just enough to be noticible. "Alright, the rest of you jokers too! GET IN HERE!"

Death, Destiny, Destruction, Dream, Desire and Despair simply became, and were met with a well-placed roundhouse kick which slammed them all into the wall behind them. "Lords of Disark you bunch sure aren't," the half-masked man muttered, slamming a seemingly scattered fist into the bright white light which had suddenly filled the room, causing a large golden, three-faced man to fall to the floor, his form de-rezzing continually. "Judge, jury and executioner. You must Heaven's High Inquisitor. Sh*t you can do when you've been three quarters removed to a multiverse you have no jurisdiction over, isn't there?"

Ultimate Force seals began to flow over the fallen, binding them in the positions they were in. "Where. Is. Peorth?"

The door burst open as the pint-sized Angel of extremely violent deaths skipped her way into the room, and presented Heaven's latest "guest" with an envelope. "Your express mail, Sir!" Dokuro-chan smiled.

"Huh?" Nudoru opened the envelope, not noticing the tattered edges that were consistant with Al-Quaida tamperings with registered mail.

"Damn you, moron!" the letter began, "who the f*ck told you to go and beat the living sh*t out of everyone you came across? You some kinda f*cking retard!? Now quit it and quit f*cking up! Lift the goddamn seals and just listen, damn it man no wonder you keep dying so often! You are a f*cking retard!"

The letter ended with only a brand, one he knew only too well. It was the seal of Seicross, and with it came all too often things that were bad. The golden circle interlaced intricately with whists of silver began to glow, and finally, impossibly thin tendrils of silver spewed from it, and dissapeared as they enveloped everyone in the room. Dokuro-chan approached him, with her impossibly huge spiked club grating across the floor behind her.

[M203]

Nudoru Kaarage quickly read through the rest of the letter as the little Angel hefted the instrument of impending doom over her head.

"These guys are on your side, moron! If you can't f*cking see it I'll explain it to you: you just kicked the sh*t out of The Endless, the wrath of that partiular continuitiy's God, and the Living Three-Faced Joke, uhh, I mean The Living Tribunal, all of whom you will be answering to if you f*ck it up," The glowing words screamed across the page and then vanished as Nudoru read them. "Get it straight, from now on you are working for them, and not for me. Since you want to find yourself so badly, these boys will guide you on your way in exchange for a little service; they all agree that Armeggedon is coming too early, and since the Goddess of the Present has been empowered by The Big Guy himself, there's squat they can do about it for now. Which is where you come in."

Nudoru looked up for a moment. The club was already screaming towards his head. He hastily sped through the remains of the letter.

"That's right, as of now you're a f*cking TOOL! So have a nice day and go fall in one of their coffee's when you feel the need to die, because you sure as hell aren't coming back here until you're happy! ~Your roomie, Seicross."

"Oh snap..." were the only words that escaped him as Nudoru's brains splattered across the wall, and the blue-haired Angel of Really Violent Deaths began to pound the rest of him into a bloody mess.


*In the next room*

"That's just...wrong!" Lucifer tried to control his urge to vomit, indicating that Heaven's High Inquisitor, the Living tribunal was already throwing up in three directions at once because of Dokuro-Chan's onslaught. Spectre was holding back his own sick wish his cape as he desperately tried to hum away the sound of breaking bones and ripping flesh at his back, and The Endless were just stading there in awe of Dokuro-Chan's pin-point bone-breaking abilities.

"I never knew that a human body could stretch that far before it broke in half...oh...I think that half just landed in front of Dokuro-Chan again...oh...oh my..." Dream whispered to Death, who kicked a small bit of spleen back in Dokuro-Chan's general direction. "Hey, this bit was getting away!"

"Don't worry, I got it!" the petite Angel beamed as she slammed the spiked club down hard, causing shockwaves to tear through the corridor outside.

Tsunami smiled, as she indicated the corpse of Nudoru Kaarage, which was being clubbed into consistantly smaller and smaller fragments, only to momentarily regenerate in order to be met with the same abuse over and over again. "Meet your new teammate!"

The Morning Star stood aghast at the debacle before him, watching as the envelope that the Godkiller recieved suddenly puffed a white cloud of dust over his remains.

"That isn't..." Lucifer began.

"Anthrax...spores." Sassami finished.

Destruction of the Endless noticed the flowings of unknown energies slowly making their way back to the envelope. "What's this?"

"it looks like..." Dream bent over to examine the flow more closely, "it seems that this being is having the better part of his power removed from him."

Everyone in the room began to smile wickedly as the Godkiller slammed into the blood-soaked floor at their feet, tumbling out of a portal which had opened up above them. "It's payback time!"

[Saint_007]

I was in fact pretty eager to start posting and all fired to go...

Until I saw the name of Tsunami and other such bigshots. Then I had a flashback to Yeoman's Crisis attempt.

Seriously, what the hell are the lower tier supposed to do? Sit pretty and let the adults play? Ryu, Kusanagi, Spiderman and such are going to be little more than walking targets later on in the tourney. And that officially killed my appetite. I'm going to be reading the thread, but it's doubtful if I'll join.

Talk about getting bummed pretty quickly. :rolleyes:

[M203]

Bro, I think that this is a bit more than a huge slugfest, there are going to be several levels of engagement, physical, emotional and political[for me, Tsunami and the other omnipotents will fulfill a political role and not engage in combat] Where the street-tiers will engage on the physical front. Overmaster and I did not intend this to be a slaughter[only Nudoru gets slaughtered] but rather, somthing else. :evilsmile

[Saint_007]

Bro, I think that this is a bit more than a huge slugfest, there are going to be several levels of engagement, physical, emotional and political[for me, Tsunami and the other omnipotents will fulfill a political role and not engage in combat] Where the street-tiers will engage on the physical front. Overmaster and I did not intend this to be a slaughter[only Nudoru gets slaughtered] but rather, somthing else. :evilsmile
Weeeellll.... since you put it that way... I'll give it a shot and we'll see how it goes...

[OverMaster]

I was in fact pretty eager to start posting and all fired to go...

Until I saw the name of Tsunami and other such bigshots. Then I had a flashback to Yeoman's Crisis attempt.

Seriously, what the hell are the lower tier supposed to do? Sit pretty and let the adults play? Ryu, Kusanagi, Spiderman and such are going to be little more than walking targets later on in the tourney. And that officially killed my appetite. I'm going to be reading the thread, but it's doubtful if I'll join.

Talk about getting bummed pretty quickly. :rolleyes:

Hey, on my side of developments, at least:

1) A major thing will happen soon (shortly after Akira's challenge to Earth scene) that will alter power balances in a major way, thus bringing people to fairer levels of power closeness (you can kind of think of it more or less like DC's Genesis event. But hopefully not so sucky). Hint: Both Belldandy and Nabeshin have part of the blame for it.

2) This is partly inspired by the MTCFF Ultra and Racewing Productions fanfiction fighters series, that didn't take themselves too seriously, and featured characters like Rayden, the Liquidator, War Machine and friggin' Kasumi Tendo fighting on more or less equal grounds. Sure, this one's intended to have more drama than those, but still, at the end of the day, it's going to have also a big dose of black and otherwise humor. It isn't intended to be as straightforward as the Crisis were.

Another thing to ponder is the Crisis had to rely on NPCs so much because the number of posters with PCs wasn't too high, but this is thought about from the start as a showcase of mostly previously established characters.

[OverMaster]

Somewhere else:

She sat bored in a bench, waiting for her father's meeting to end as she petted the head of the sleeping GIR resting on her lap. Then she yawned softly; her father had awakened her way too early that morning. And then there was the fact he had made her to sit down there to wait, for more than one hour now, as he talked with the visitor. And, then again, of course, there also was the fact she didn't like that woman any bit.

There wasn't a single thing the small, silvery white-long haired child liked about that lady. If you could even really call her a lady. She seemed to exhude treacherousness and evil out of every pore of her skin. And her smile was so unnerving, so...

Devilish.

There wasn't really any other word to describe it well. What was he thinking, making deals with her? This just couldn't end well, not at all, the little girl thought bitterly as she stopped petting the head of her alien pet.

Still, she couldn't question his authority. Just like she couldn't do anything but obey when she heard his commanding, but even so quiet, voice calling out for her.

"Bell? Come here, please".

She walked to the dark, huge throne room of the Council's Headquarters, carrying GIR in her arms. She stopped right before the majestic throne where the tall, massive and imposing figure of her creator sat. "Yes?" she asked softly.

"The time has come, Bell" he told her, gently. "You must go now with Miss Mara to your new assignment. I'm sure you'll make me proud once again".

From the back part of the room where she stood, Mara thought of how much of a weird kind of sense of humor her boss could have at times. Recruiting a Bell for the war against Belldandy. Cute, Hild. Cute.

The girlie had turned around to look at her, with those wide and huge round clear eyes of hers. It was evident she didn't like her at all. Although the feeling was most definitely mutual.

Neither of both of them said anything, though.

"I'm sure Bell will satisfy all of your expectations" Dr. X was saying for Mara from his royal seat, a strange shade of golden light shining in his eyes. "As I told you, her raw power is that one of a true Powerpuff Girl... potential almost on the Pre Crisis Kryptonian scale... and the heart of a warrior, as well. Don't let her appearance to fool you".

"I'm never fooled" the she-demon replied dryly. "So don't worry about that".

"Just remember... if anything, and I mean anything, bad ever happens to her..." he started to warn, now with bigger, more pressing tension on his words, "... no matter who you are, you can be sure you'll have Hell to pay".

Mara frowned at him. "You REALLY don't have to use that tone with me. Don't be afraid about the girl. We'll give her back to you safe and sound... along with your share in our prize, for course".

"I hope so, for all of our sakes" the mysterious sitting figure nodded. Then he gestured to the child. "Take care of yourself, Bell dear".

They hugged warmly, as Mara looked elsewhere. Such stupid displays of sappy affection made her to feel sick.

Then, the girl walked to her, saying nothing but "I'm ready".

Mara looked down at the creature she held on her arms. "Are you going to take that thing with you?".

"Girly is my friend" Bell shot back. "I'm not going if I can't go with him!".

"Okay, okay! Sheeesh" the demon shook her head, as the three of them disappeared in a cloud of yellowish smoke. "Seriously, you're almost as bad as the buffoon...".

Once they were gone, someone else, also small and female, cautiously approached the majestic figure in the throne. She asked, in a low tone, "So, what do we do now? Surely we aren't going to stay still as all of this goes on...".

"Indeed, not" Dr. X answered. "Call on the forces, Samantha. I want you to investigate something. Bell may be our best card in this whole affair..." he paused, "... but we would be foolish if we didn't have other aces under the sleeve".

[Saint_007]

It was just another day for your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, swinging from building to building, having just finished today's quota of photographs for your ever-friendly slave-driver at the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. Thing fighting Hulk (again), Random Ridiculous Loser Bad Guy of the Week #19827 comes crashing into New York (again), Webslinger beats Loser Bad Guy Senseless (again), but still winds up smeared all over the Bugle as "turning on his newest partner-in-crime" (noticing a pattern yet?).

But today, he was feeling realy good about himself. The bad guys seemed to have just taken a break for the week, leaving him with one good week of just kicking back and relaxing with Mary Jane, picking off minor thugs who he was pretty sure he can handle with both hands tied behind his back. Well, there's the organised crime section, but Petey was pretty sure Daredevil had that under control, what with him being the new head honcho of Hell's Kitchen and all...

And speak of the Devil (he chuckled at the pun). Blind Ol' Matt Murdoch was standing on the roof of an apartment building. Apparently waiting for someone.

Well, might as well drop in to say hi, thought Parker as he swung down.

"Hey there, Matt-" Spider-Man began as he made a ten-point landing on the roof, but the blind lawyer cut him off.

"Sorry to ruin your good mood, old friend," Matt started. "I can tell by your pulse and breathing that you're really excited about something. And given how rough your past few weeks were, you must have been looking forward to a good vacation."

"Okay, Matt, you can stop now. You're beginning to scare me."

"Funny, I haven't even started," replied Matt dryly. From the look on his face, he felt anything but humorous. He pulled out a white envelop with a red wax stamp on its back. "Some...one... dropped this at my office earlier today. He said he would have given it to you directly, but you were busy."

"What's wrong, Matt? You look really spooked when it comes to this guy."

"Well, if you had exceptional sense like mine and he only lets you know he's there when he gives you something, and that he seems to know an awful lot about us, what would you do."

"Okay, now I'm getting scared." Spidey tore open the wax seal and opened the envelope.
To Peter Parker, AKA the Amazing Spider-Man...

Congratulations! You have been chosen to participate in a grand tournament of champions across several Universes. However, a word of caution...

While you might have been a contestant in several such tournaments before, the stakes for this one are much, MUCH higher. It involves the survival of a giant mass of existance stretching across multiple dimensions and universes, namely the Multiverse. The details are currently too complex to get into, but you will learn them quickly enough as you go on.

What is of paramount importance is the fact that the fate of your world, your Universe, and that of many others, is up to you and a few others selected for this tournament. As such, you must be fully prepared in body, mind, and spirit.

You will find me waiting at the New Jersey waterfront, tomorrow night, at about 7:00 PM EST. There I will provide you with further information and necessary items. I hope you will be punctual.
"Great," Spider-Man muttered as he put aside the note. "My good mood has been officially killed."

"That bad?"

"Yeah. You know, Ragnarok times a bajillion, end of all existence across oodles of realities and universes. Fun stuff." He shot a web upwards. "Hey, Matt, I'm going to be gone a while. Mind covering up in my sections?"

"I'll manage," replied the blind man gravely. "What about Mary Jane?"

"I'll... I'll manage," Peter sighed under the mask. "After all, hey, what's the price of my happiness against the greater balance of the cosmos? I'll see you again, Matt - I hope..." With that, he leapt into the sky.

"Good luck, my friend," Daredevil replied, out of Peter's earshot.

Later that evening, Mary Jane was sitting on a couch, across from a tired Peter. She was dumbstruck.

"And you're going? This this... set-up?!"

"Yes, MJ."

"You realise this could be a trap?!"

"MJ..."

"Peter, when will you realise that you made a promise to me about quitting this super-heroism nonsense? And I made you make that promise for a *reason*?" The redhead got up angrily in her chair. "Do you know how many nights I spend each night awake, wondering if you'll ever be back? Do you know the amount of times I stay up late, afraid you'll be found in a ditch with your head split open, or even not return at all?!"

"MJ, please-"

"And now you want to go to this?! You realise how much this sounds like a trap?! God knows I might be the biggest fool around at times, but Peter..." her voice soothed to a pleading tone, "can't you see? Isn't this a trap?"

"Mary Jane... if it were a trap, then whoever sent it will make sure I'll have to go. And if it's the real thing, MJ," he looked up at her, "then *not* going would be worse."

"Please, Peter..."

"No, MJ," he spoke softly. "Please listen to what I have to say. All this time, I've been risking my life, so that nobody gets hurt. Especially not the ones I love. MJ... you said you're always worried about what would happen if I never returned home.

"What I can say is - you don't know the half of it. What I feel every time some maniac cuts loose in the city. For some reason, I know that if I don't stop him, nobody else can. People will get hurt. People will get killed. I owe it to their loved ones to save them; even if I never knew them, even if they're ungrateful.

"Because I know that sooner or later, if I don't help them, someone I know, someone I love, will be next." He got up and held the reluctant MJ in his arms. "And after Gwen, Uncle Ben, and our child, losing you would be the one thing that I couldn't bear.

"So I have to go. The thought of losing you... it's too much for me to bear..."

"Peter," MJ said sobbingly, "I love you..."

"And I love you too MJ..."

OOC: I'm using Spider-Man, and hope to make a team with Ryu, Kyo Kusanagi, and Ranma Saotome, if it's okay with you bunch.

[OverMaster]

OOC: I'm using Spider-Man, and hope to make a team with Ryu, Kyo Kusanagi, and Ranma Saotome, if it's okay with you bunch.

OOC: I have no problems at all with it.

Edit: Next from me: Akuma and Rugal!

[M203]

~The commentators from Hell, Heaven, Limbo and Beyond~

"As the Tournament will be broadcast live across every Universe with a Champion representing it," the Tribunal began its breifing, "we have decided that, since the rules will speak for themselves, that there will be a commentary panel to keep the audience apace of the stages." The face of Equity puffed up its veil in the direction of the table before them, and spoke in its turn. "Everyone gets a fan-pack with a rulebook, a big bottle of coke, some chips, and a Sensu bean in case things get out of hand." The face of Necessity then spoke. "And some fan-packs will have a Yaoi/Yuri original creator artbook too...hey, fanservice is a necessity!" "Will the two of you just be quiet? Just because we are out of a job for the moment doesn't give you the right to be a@sholes!" Just Revenge butted in, silencing the other faces of the Tribunal. "Now, as was being said, to keep the audience apace of the battles in every stage of the Tournament, there will be a panel of four commentators, and they will represent the good, the evil, the neutral, and the ignorant. As The Endless are basically embodiments of concepts with really nothing to do but have names that sound cool, they will be providing the interviews."

"HEY, F*CK YOU D!PSH!T!!!" Death screamed from her seat at the rear of the auditorium.

The men and woman in the room looked at each other, and began to murmur amongst themselves.

"Silence, please!" The Tribunal spoke. It had been a long day, since the number of them, perhaps the highest powers in existance besides the being whom they answered to had been suspended from their duties. "Here's the roll call, Lucifer, you'll be speaking on behalf of Evil, I will be speaking on behalf of neutrality, Spectre here will be commentating from the perspective of Good, and you, newcomer..." he raised a golden finger at the half-masked man who had earlier punched him in the face of Just Revenge and then displaced him from the concept of of the tangential vectors of reality, "since you're on loan, it might be best if you spoke on behalf of idiocy...uhmm...I mean, of the Beyond, as my Master has no power outside of this continuity. Yours will be the fresh perspective, as you are, obviously, clueless."

The men and woman in the room again began to murmur.

"The Endless, as they embody concepts that cannot be destroyed within this Omiverse, will be conducting the on-site interviews since some of the guests will have a penchant towards extreme voilence."

"HEY F*CK YOU, A$$HOLE!" Dream shouted from his seat, sticking is middle finger up high. It had been a while since he had been released from his binding, stuffy character role.

"Now, if you will all follow me, we will adjourn for lunch and then begin to familiarize ourselves with the entrnts who have already been recruited. Please note that only a small number have thus far accepted, and a great number are still considering their invitations." The Tribunal motioned towards a growing pile of dockets in the table at the center of the room, surrounded by plush lay-z-boys.

Again the others began to murmur.

"What in the name of The Prescence could be more pressing than the matter at hand!?" The face of Just Revenge screamed in frustration, as the others looked back at it.

"It's nothing really," Nudoru Kaarage snickered behind his mask.

"No, nothing at all," Destruction and Death replied as well, their hands over their mouths.

The tribunal sighed, and then motioned towards the antique door at the end of the room. "Please, this way. Luncheon will be Steak and potatoes..." He turned to leave, but the others again began to murmur.

"I didn't know he was into big hair..." Delerium whispered to the newcomer, the God-killer.

"That's some serious curls," Nudoru thumbed at the Tribunal's back as he exited the room, as The Spectre, Desire, Despair, Lucifer and Destiny carried on their own conversation on the same subject. "Man, I never knew you could hide an afro that big under a couple of veils!" Despair choked with shock.

:D

[OverMaster]

He snarled, looking at the coastline and the big ship anchored on it.

The tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean was the closest thing to a 'home' the dark errant warrior had. From time to time, he'd retreat there to train between his wanderings around the world. During those days, he'd discharge his rage, his power, at the elements. He had already destroyed several parts of the island in those displays of might, as a matter of fact. Nonethless, the place was only his to have. Having that ship around it was, in the human ogre's eyes, an unforgivable intrusion at his few moments of relative peace.

However, the most annoying part wasn't even that. It was the fact he actually recognized that ship. During his travels, he had heard about it and its owner.

The Black Noah.

"Do you like it? You have been looking at it with so much interest..." a strong male voice came from behind him.

"I have no interest in such things" he replied without turning around. "It's the mere fact I don't want it here that makes my blood to boil...". He finally turned around, to face the tall man in an elegant black suit surrounded by two shapely women of cold stares. "I had heard you were dead. Rugal Bernstein".

"You could say I was. More than once" the other man smiled a bit, wickedly. He had one of the dark Shotokan warrior's training dummies between his hands, and crushed it with his fingers, easily. "But Hell seems to be spitting out its dead lately. I am so pleasured to meet you at last... Akuma, Master of the Fist...".

"What are you looking for here?" Akuma growled, approaching the trio at a steady pace. "A new death? I'd be glad to grant you that, if you are so desperate for it".

"Actually, no" Rugal shook his head. "I just wanted to give you this". And he threw an envelope at the man in the dark dogi. Akuma caught it on the fly, ripped it open, and read its contents.

"A contest. How... pitifully ordinary".

"It's anything but ordinary" Rugal said, as a panther approached him and purred, rubbing against his legs as it looked at Akuma with barely contained ferocity. "It is the Ultimate Battle. A challenge really worthy of your attentions".

"I doubt it" Akuma snarled again. "Weaklings. It surely will have nothing but weaklings".

"I will be there" Rugal observed, with intention. "Care to try me? I'm as far from being a weakling as you could ever imagine".

"Fool" the Shotokan fighter readied his fists. "You are going to regret your stupidity".

"We shall see" Rugal took out his jacket and handed it to the blonde woman of the duo following him. "Take good care of it, Mature".

"Be careful, Rugal-sama" she warned.

"Oh, I shall be careful of not hurting him too much. He wouldn't be an useful teammate, otherwise". He gestured to the murderous errant. "Come to me, Master of the Fist. Let me see the power of your technique".

Akuma roared hoarsely, running towards him. Rugal did the same, then. The ground trembled below their combined, quickened steps.

And so it began.

[Saint_007]

Peter Parker was sitting alongside the New Jersey waterside, reading the note again. He had followed the instructions to the letter. He looked at his watch. It was 7:15 in the evening. The note had told him to be sharp, but whoever it was was either lazy or felt like leaving him hanging.

"Well, about that, Mr. Parker," came a voice behind him, "I really should apologise..."

"What the-" Peter turned to see who it was. It was a man with long reddish-blonde hair tied behind his back, wearing a black trenchcoat with a Phoenix design on the back. He also seemed to wear black boots and black leather gloves to finish the look.

"You see, Mr. Parker, you've been chosen as part of a fighter's team for the upcoming Multiversal fighting championship, but your team ran into a few rough spots," explained the mystrious gentleman. "Namely, a small problem of group harmony."

"Okay, what's that supposed to mean?" wondered the Daily Bugle reporter. "More importantly, how do you know so much about me?"

"All in due time, Peter. You do have your suit with you, right?"

Peter patted his duffle bag. "Right here. I figured I'll need it for whatever clown party you're throwing."

"Excellent. Now hold still-"

The man snapped his fingers, and Peter felt something on his face, even though his sight didn't reveal any changes. He felt his face - then noticed he had his mask on. He then saw his hands had the gloves and web-shooters ready. Out of curiousity, he peered into the duffle bag. Sure enough, his civillian clothes were there. Somehow, the man switched between his suit and costume.

"How-?!"

"Well, your teammates are almost here, which is why I changed your clothes. After all, you might prefer not to reveal your secret identity to them just yet."

Sure enough, a young Japanese man in odd clothes with a sun image on the back was dashing down the block, running away from a red-haired boxum woman in Chinese kung-fu gear. A man in a torn white gi and red headband was trying to catch up. The young man in front was trying to run away from the giant concrete beam the girl was swinging around.

"Come back right this instant, Kusanagi, and I'll kill you quickly!"

"Sorry, lady, but if my girlfriend finds out I've gone to another woman, she'll kill me!"

"Shut up, you punk! This is just me and you now!"

"Well, if you want me so bad, why don't you say so?!"

"THAT'S IT!! KUSANAGIII! COME BACK HERE AND DIE LIKE THE MISERABLE RAT YOU ARE!!"

A pillar of water suddenly gushed up fron the waterfront, and Spider-Man could see by the steam that it was rather hot. It suddenly surged up and splashed the girl - who promptly turned into a black-haired guy. The man, who had been standing next to Peter a moment ago, had teleported between the first two runners.

"Could you just stop for a moment and settle down?!"

Both Kusanagi and the guy holding the concrete pillar screeched to a halt. The karate master finally caught up to them, a little short of breath.

"Ryu," said the trenchcoated man to the one with the red headband. "I thought I told you to keep those two under control..."

"Forgive me, sir," Ryu said with a respectful bow, "but they're a bit out of hand."

"And in your defense, Kyo Kusanagi, why did you pick on Mr. Saotome's little 'problem' for the tenth time now?"

"Hey, just trying to lighten the mood..."

"Excuse me, tall, blond and spooky," Ranma cut in, "but who is this clown in the bug suit?"

"Just the clown in the bug suit wondering if you've got the recipe for your instant sex change handy," Spidey quipped, snapping out of his shock. "I can make a fortune with it."

"You wanna get squashed with this, bugboy?" Ranma raised the concrete pillar.

"As odd as you might find it, Ranma Saotome," replied the man, "Spider-Man is an accomplished superhero in this world. His list of feats and heroism is impressive. It's just that heroes of his world tend to dress... oddly, at times."

"So I noticed," responded Ranma.

"That coming from a man who fights with every sort of freak show ever imagineable," responded Kyo smugly. "And a few more besides."

"Okay, one question though - what's up with Kung-fu dude here?"

"*Sigh* Junsenkyo curse, alright?!" Ranma responded angrily. "Leave it at that."

"Basically, every time Mr. Saotome gets hit with cold water, he turns into a girl. When hit with hot water, he turns back."

"And when hit with lukewarm water - heh heh..."

"Kusanagi... you..."

"Hey, what the-" In a blink of an eye, Kusanagi changed - into a ridiculously buxom girl wearing nothing but a G-string and tiny bikini top that barely hid her massive triple E's. She found it hard to keep her balance.

"I'm waiting for you outside of the city. Be there in one hour." With that, the man in the trenchcoat disappeared.

"Damn you! You did this to me on purpose!!" Kyo screamed at the man no longer there.

"Hey babe," Saotome snickered, finding a chance to strike back at Kyo, "can I get somke fries with that shake?"

"Let me guess," Spider-Man asked Ryu, "he pulled pranks on Ranma far too often?"

"You have *no* idea..."

Later, when the gang met the man in trenchcoat outside New York (and Kyo got his old body back), he started giving them the details.

"First off, why'd you leave me in a major city walking around in a bikini?" Kyo growled.

"Simply because you've had your fun, and I warned you that you had to keep your mind on your mission. And it was just getting annoying after a while..."

"So why don't you use your powers to heal him?!"

"It was...messy," Ranma groaned. "Leave it at that."

"Yes. Apparently, the order of Ranma's world seems to have fixed it that any attempt to cure him would go horribly wrong. Believe me - I tried - and it was pretty much catastrophic. Furthermore, he spent a long time with this curse, making things more difficult as the curse has become somewhat ingrained."

"Aaaaanyways," Spidey cut in, changing the subject, "why are we all here?"

"As I said, the Omniverse is in danger. Its creators are no longer pleased with its progress, and want it destroyed so they can start anew."

"Sheesh, whatever happened to the six months eviction warning?" Spider-Man quipped. "Landlords, I tell ya..."

"So where does this tournament come in?" Ryu inquired.

"One of the ones in charge, Goddess Belldandy, was given the task of the destruction. Fortunately - for us, that is - she's the delicate type. The idea of mass destruction was too much for her. So she suggested an alternative.

"A tournament where the greatest heroes of the world gather round and prove to the Powers That Be that the Omniverse still deserves to stay as it is."

"Naturally," Spidey commented. "I'm sure it had nothing to do with the Pay-Per-View rights..."

"I'd admire your cynicism, but as someone once told me, 'cynicism only works if you're right'. Trust me, this is not pure entertainment.

"I disliked the order to recreate the Omniverse, and the idea of a grand tournament was no less palatable to me. Yet there was nothing I could do to influence their decisions. That would have been like a Marine Lieutenant going into the White House and ordering the Commander-in-Cheif about.

"The biggest problem with such tournaments is that renegade elements might attempt to use the loopholes in the rules to enforce their own agendas."

"Right," Kyo replied. "Bad guys using the tournament as a front...now why am I not surprised?"

"If you see a pattern, Kyo, you're right. Only this time, while you *will* run into old... 'acquaintances', the master threats this time are far, far more powerful and dangerous than you've ever faced. Even Orochi is nothing more than a miserable worm in comparison."

"So where do we come in?" asked Ranma.

"Simple. You are to be my Hero Team. Essentially, you're the individuals who might not have the power to match some of the higher ups, you certainly possess the fighting spirit and willpower to see you through."

"A grand tournament full of worthy opponents," mused Ryu. "I am greatly honored to have been chosen."

"You know, I'd be honored to fight for justice and all," Ranma replied. "But relying on us alone? Isn't that putting all the eggs in one basket?"

"Not really. While I see you as the most likely candidates, I do have two or three other teams in reserve, ready to support you by holding off certain competitors or carry on if you should fail. Still, you are my primary choice team."

"Yeah, well forgive us for not jumping for joy," Spider-Man replied dourly. "Seeing as how we're running to face certain doom and all..."

"Well, apart from your misgivings, Spider-Man, you have no choice but to help out. If you don't, your world may be in jeopardy. With Jason Voorhees as host instead of Alex Trebeck."

"Oh ha ha ha, ha ha ha... FUN-NEE!!"

"Enough pleasantries for now. We need to be at the tournament, post haste! I will take you there. Now just stand in the circle I'm forming..."

A glowing white circle appeared on the ground, and in a flash of an eye, the five were transported away.

[Saint_007]

Five minutes later, Spider-Man was looking in bewilderment at the scene with his three companions.

"Tell ya what guys," said the Webslinger. "We're not in Kansas anymore..."

They were looking at the tournament entry grounds.

[OverMaster]

"Excuse me... Can I come in?".

She was a blonde, nice looking young woman, with a freckled face and thick round glasses, wearing a tight green dress with short skirt and high heel shoes. In a hand, she had a brown briefcase. She looked around at all the superior beings sitting around the table in the middle of the room, feeling more than a bit intimidated.

"Indeed you can" the Spectre nodded, gravely. "Waste no time".

"Thank you, Mr. Wrath!" she replied, her voice bubbly and perky now. "Hello!" she said for everyone else. "My name's Callindra, and I'm an Angel! The Metatron sent me to assist you in anything you can need!".

"The Megatron, she said?" Nudoru asked to Destruction in a whisper.

"No, the Metatron. Supreme Ruler of the City of Angels. Big difference" Destruction whispered back.

"Oh".

"So, basically, um..." the angel girl continued, "I'm here to go and bring you anything you want, take your dictations, send your suggestions to the Almighty... polish your shoes, if you want...".

"Just don't ask her to make you anything to eat" Desire whispered to Lucifer. "She makes horrible sandwiches".

"I'll have it in mind".

"So, hmm..." Callindra twiddled her fingers togethers, "Let's begin with giving you a rundown of the contestants we have so far, okay?" she giggled nervously, then gestured towards a huge TV screen on the other side of the room. "If you are so gentle to do so, you can look at the list on the screen...".

Mara.
Leopold Goenitz.
Powerpuff Girl Bell.
The Joker.

"This is the team from the Nifelheim Hell!" Callindra noted. "Their sponsor, Lady Hild, was the first person to make a move in the recruiting activities".

"What was the Almighty thinking when He sent an invitation to that... Devil?" Spectre growled angrily.

"Well, they are old flames, after all..." Desire just smiled.

"What's that clown doing in there?" Despair asked. "I thought he couldn't fight to save his own life".

"With Hild, who knows" Lucifer replied with dryness. "But just having him around usually results in bad news, one way or another. And she has someone with Orochi connections in this, too... I don't like this at all".

Dan Hibiki.
Sakura Kasugano.

A collective groan was heard then through the room.

"Dan Hibiki?" Death stamped a hand on her face. "Tell me you're joking...".

"We should have imposed certain standards, after all" Dream said. "I have seen that man's dreams, and... you don't know how ridiculous a human can get until you have seen those".

"Mr. Hibiki and Miss Kasugano are currently on their way to recruit their third teammate" Callindra announced. "We should have further developments on that soon".

[OverMaster]

The screen showed the next names on the list.

Skuld, Norn of the Future.
Beenuel, the God of Animals.

"Now, normally we wouldn't allow any gods to take an active part on this, but since Miss Skuld and Lord Beenuel are such low level deities for the moment, the Yggdrasil System accepted their inscriptions" Callindra added. "Currently, they are looking for other members for their team as well".

"A child and the simpleton who talks to animals" Lucifer pondered. "How promising".

"As you can see, there was some tension between them at first over who would be their team's leader... but Miss Skuld ended up having a very convicing argument for her cause" Callindra pointed to an image of Skuld hitting Beenuel in the head with her mallet. Everyone else sweatdropped. "Now, the following team is also currently incomplete...".

Angel Trainee Flonne.
Drake W. Mallard, alias Darkwing Duck.

"Flonne-chan was allowed to take a part on this thanks to Master Seraph Lamington's intervention. She is decided to form a 'Justice Team' and really give it her best effort" the Assistant Angel said with obvious admiration.

"She has recruited... a duck?" Nudoru blinked incredulously.

Slade Wilson, alias Deathstroke the Terminator.
Gracia Naga of Seyruun.
Baby Bonnie Hood, also known in some circles as Bulleta.

"This team is only lacking to induce on its final member. However, there is something that has us nervous about it" Callindra admitted. "Its sponsor... we don't have him in our databanks at all. We think he might come from... beyond the Fourth Wall".

Lucifer, the Endless and the Spectre made an uneasy, tense silence.

Nudoru just blinked in surprise. "Really? Oh whoa, this could be interesting!".

Setsuna Meioh, also known as Sailor Pluto.
Chizuru Yata Kagura.
Lady Rose.
Lady Kikyo.

"More Orochi fuel for the motor..." Morningstar huffed.

"And a Sailor Senshi" Desire observed. "I knew they wouldn't be able to stop nosing in all of this".

Peter Parker, alias Spider-Man.
Kyo Kusanagi.
Ryu.
Ranma Saotome.

"I like this team" Dream said. "They might have what it takes, spiritually speaking, to stand a chance".

Rugal Bernstein.
Vice.
Mature.

"Yet another ones with ties to the Orochi. Are we seeing a pattern here?" Destruction asked.

"At this moment, they are trying to convince a fourth member, the man known as Akuma, formerly Gouki, to side with them" Callindra pointed to a broadcasting of Rugal and Akuma fighting brutally, pummeling each other mercilessly, as Vice and Mature watched in mild horror. "We should have a definitive result of that in a couple of hours or so. Well, that's all for now. Any questions, honored ladies and gentlemen?".

"Where's the bathroom in here?" Nudoru Kadaage asked.

"At the end of the corridor, at your right hand when you step out through that door" Callindra sighed, sweating just a tiny drop from her head.

[OverMaster]

Saint Canard:

"Ah, Dad's here!".

She had heard the familiar rumbling of the motorcycle stopping, and then the "Wheeeeeeeeeeee" of the ascending ramp resounding through the quietness of the Tower. Immediately, the petite redhead jumped off her chair, where she had been playing with her Game Ducky Advanced, and energically ran towards the ramp.

"Hello, Dad!" she started. "How's my dear daddy tonight? How many thugs did you catch? Do you want something? Cocoa, maybe?".

The caped duck's blue eyes looked straight at her, as he jumped off the vehicle. "You broke another window playing baseball, didn't you?".

She blinked, then looked aside, half pouting. "Ahhh... it was only an accident. Those things do happen, you know...".

Then she lost her voice for a moment. She had just saw her. A small, sweetly smiling blonde sitting in the motorcycle's sidecar, all clad in white.

"Dad? Did you bring... a human... here?".

From where he was still working in the reparations of the oddly duckly-looking aircraft at the other side of the Tower's inside, a much taller humanoid duck was shocked by those words, and raised his head from his job to look at the newcomer as well. "Darkwing! Who's the little lady?".

The caped figure cleared his throat a bit. "Ahem. Miss Flonne" he said for his new acquaitance, "this is Gosalyn, my daughter, and that duck over there is my friend Launchpad Mc Quack".

"Pleased to meet you!" Flonne beamed her most radiant smile, grabbing one of Gosalyn's small hands and shaking it friendly, much to Gosalyn's annoyance. "I'm Angel Trainee Flonne, Messenger of Love and Justice!".

"Messenger of What--??" Gosalyn raised her thin eyebrows.

"Gos" her father sighed. "We'll need to be out of town for a few days".

"Oh, yeah? Great!" she replied. "Where are we going to go? To the beach? To the woods? Or we're just going to kick some bad guys' butts?".

"No, no, no!" he shook his head. "I don't mean *we* like in you and me. I mean *we* like in Launchpad, Miss Flonne and me".

Gosalyn's disappointment was evident on her face. "You're going to leave me behind?".

"Listen, it'll be for nothing but a few days. The places we are going to are way too dangerous. I don't want *you* there, risking your life for kicks".

"Oh, yeah? Why can't I go, but that Little Miss Goody Goody Two Shoes can?".

"Oh, I'm an Angel" Flonne noted, innocently. "I'm not in such a big of a risk".

Gosalyn shot her a distrustful look. "An Angel. Yeah, sure. Just like I'm Godzilla in disguise".

"Believe her, Gosalyn" her father noted. "She gave me a showing of her power". Then he took out his hat, revealing the burned area below it on his head. "See?".

"Oboy" Launchpad said, blinking twice.

"I'm so sorry... I really didn't want to make it so big" Flonne apologized.

"She did this to you...?" Gosalyn Mallard asked as she touched the still hot area on her Drake's head. "Well, even so...".

"No buts" Darkwing replied sternly. "You'll be staying with the Muddlefoots while we're away. And that's my last word on it".

"Where are we going to, anyway?" Launchapd asked, curiously. "And why?".

"Oh, our first stop will be in Korea!" Flonne answered. "We are going to talk with a gentleman named Kaphwan there!".

"This is so... stupid!" Gosalyn almost spat in rage. "How could you expect--". Then she had to fall silent.

The caped figure was hugging her tightly against his chest. And there was something in his eyes now... something so unusual... so deeply sad, in a way...

"Dad?" she doubted. "What's wrong...?".

"Please, trust me. Please" he begged, in a half choked tone. "If you love me at all, just do what I say, just this time. That's all what I'm asking from of you".

"O-okay..." he was actually beginning to scare her, in a way. "I'll do it...".

Launchpad looked down at the Angel, concerned. "Is it really that serious?".

She had to nod, now with some sadness of her own painted on her blue eyes. "It is".

[Saint_007]

Somewhere near the ruins of Midgar
Some time after the events FF7 Advent Children:

The Tyrannosaur was a perfect specimen of the viciousness and brute strength of its kind. With teeth the size of hunting knives and jaws capable of crushing a Humvee, it was the ultimate predator.

Yet this monster was trying feebly to protect itself against a target that stodd barely up to its ankle. The small creature was a human, but held three swords - on in his teeth, one in each hand - that flashed like fire in the afternoon sun. His speed and skill were phenomenal, even his short green hair was flattened by the wind, such was his speed. Every strike hit with a new meaning of pain, every move of his a single frame in the dance of death. The Tyrannasaur was mortally afraid.

In a desperate lunge, it tried to bite down. Zoro had seen that coming - he merely dodged to one side only after-images could be seen. Then, deciding this game had gone long enough, he jumped at the beast's exposed neck. With one mighty strike, he decapitated the monster. The body, deprived of the head, swayed a bit, spraying massive geysers of blood, before crashing down backwards. It twitched a bit, then stopped.

"30 seconds, 89 degrees. Not bad, friend," replied the man in the running suit with the traditional Japanese haircut, looking at his stopwatch. "If you didn't waste time showing off, however, you'd have needed only 15 seconds."

"Heh, you're right, Jack," replied the youth with the spiky blond hair and gigantic sword. "Though I really don't think he'll beat my 16 seconds."

"Heh," Roronoa Zoro replied, wiping his sword. "I'd outdo you any day of the week, junior. Don't try comparing your amateur brute hacking to my style."

"Hey, it takes less time than your showing off," Cloud replied confidentally.

"As much as this conversation is interesting to you two," Samurai Jack cut in, "I must remind both of you that we were hunting for dinner. Somebody wake Crono up and the other get the fire."

"Yeah, I'll get the sleepyhead," Zoro shrugged. "So where's mysterious Angel swordman already? He said that once we found Junior here, we're set to join the Grand Tournament."

"The name, buddy," Cloud interjected, "is Cloud Strife. And I was hoping he'd show up."

"Gentlemen, Gentlemen, please..." came a voice from the nearby woods. "Have some patience. I'll answer your questions soon enough."

Alaniel* stepped out from behind the bushes, but hardly made a sound.

"Greetings," Jack replied. "We were hoping you'd arrive. Maybe you'd sit down for some Tyrannasaur Sautee? I have an impeccable recipe."

At that moment, the snoring Crono, who wouldn't wake up no matter how hard Zoro tried, sniffed some roast meat and sprung up, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes to get the sleep out. Seeing that the meat was real, he licked his lips, pulled out his katana, and cut a big chunk for himself. All without saying a word.

"Don't mind if I do," replied Alaniel. He looked around. "But since we're all here, allow me to enlighten you as to why I sent for you."

Samurai Jack sat attentively, absorbing everything patiently. Zoro leaned back, looking at the speaker sideways. Cloud was leaning on his sword. Even Crono was looking up from his meat, chewing a big mouthful.

"As I have said in my letters to you, a Grand Tournament has been set up that will decide the fate of the Omniverse. As such, it was necessary to choose the finest warriors across the multiple realities that made it.

"As cliche as it sounds, I chose you all for a common theme. Obviously you are all master swordsmen, with great powers of your own, through skill or other source. This will be your edge to victory - pun not intended.

"However, you will not be the only team I chose to send. I have sent for two other teams; one has already reached the tournament, the other will be joining you and the first team.

"Keep in mind, your presence is not just support. You will have the eyes of the ominverse on you, so prepare yourselves well. I will give you a chance to rest tonight, so that tomorrow morning I will transport you to the tournament."
* * * * *
Abandoned Shaolin Temple, Earth Realm:
The blue-robed ninja carefully scaled down the stairs, looking around for any possible signs of a trap. Reaching the main chamber, he looked around carefully, sensing for any possible danger.

He suddenly felt a movement behind him. Turning around suddenly, he let forth a blast of ice from his hands. The Shiruken coming his way now encased in ice, he shattered the brittle metal with a punch.

There was a blur of motion to his right. He barely parried a sword strike with the metal gauntlet on his arm, then parried another katana hit with his ice axe. Holding the axe in both hands, he began countering the flashing katana with blinding speed, dodging high and low attacks in a flurry. He backflipped at an attack, then fired an ice bolt at his enemy. The enemy flipped forward and high over the blast, finally coming into the light of the lamps.

The blue ninja stopped fighting and looked at his opponent. His enemy was a black-garbed ninjad, only his eyes showing. A long, red scarf flowed behind him.

"So, Shinobi of the Oboro clan," he made a slight bow. "To what do I owe this honor?"

"Simply put, Sub Zero of the Lin Kuei," bowed his opponent back, "the same matter that brought you."

"I am no longer of that dishonorable clan. To me, the Lin Kuei are dead, as I am dead to them."

"Then we shall get to the point," Shinobi replied, standing up, arms folded. "I was informed that I would find my third and fourth teammates here."

"Third and...?" Sub-Zero looked around, and saw a man in a purple ninja suit, red scarf around his lower face, meditating. "I see. So this is the legendary Strider Hiryu I've heard so much about?"

"Indeed," intoned the meditating man. "I was impressed by your skill, Sub-Zero. I would be honored to fight with you at my side."

"So would I. Another Tournament, I gather?"

"Yes," Shinobi replied. "And one far grander than any you've been in. Yours involved a few connected realms. This one involves many, many universes."

"Then it must be a mighty tournament indeed that requires people to fight as teams, if we are to fight together," pondered the loner ninja. "But if we are to be four, who will complete us?"

"That, gentlemen," came a woman's voice from up the stairs, "would be me."

All three looked up, to see a Japanese woman in a blue leotard, flowing purple hair, and a bust that seemed to be too big to be real.

"My name is Psylocke," replied the X-Man, "and I too received an invitation and a request to meet you here."

"I see," Strider Hiryu responded, getting up to clean his sword. "And I presume you were chosen by our mysterious benefactor?"

"Well, in a sense, I was a first choice. Though the man who gave me the invitation did say something about it was either me, or someone by the name Shiranui..."

"Shiranui... I heard of that name," Sub-Zero pondered. He noticed that Shinobi and Hiryu shuddered. "Is anything the matter?"

"Shiranui?" Shinobi asked. "As in Mai Shiranui?"

"Yes, I believe that's what he said."

"Then it is settled. Our team is complete as it is," Shinobi replied decisively.

"What's wrong with this... Shiranui...?" Sub-Zero was overcome by curiousity.

"Let us just say, if there were more like her, the Ninja would never again be respected," Hiryu responded with a cold shiver.

Somewhere Else

"AN-DEEEEEE!! I forgot my lotion! Can you pack it for me?"

"Yeah, sure...dear God, how did she sucker me into this marriage?! And a three-month honeymoon in the Bahamas?! Better pack some more Ginseng and Viagra, just in case..."

* - my original character from Crisis.

EDIT: If it's not clear, this is the second Sub Zero; the one with the scar around his eye.

[OverMaster]

OOC: When doing the "Teams so far" recap, I forgot the Celestine sponsored Kenshiro-Nausicaa-Naru-Raven team. I'm sorry for that, M203. I promise I'll have them in the next Team Recount.

[Saint_007]

OOC: When doing the "Teams so far" recap, I forgot the Celestine sponsored Kenshiro-Nausicaa-Naru-Raven team. I'm sorry for that, M203. I promise I'll have them in the next Team Recount.
About that (I swear, I'm almost done with my teams), how many teams will there be? Rough guesstimate?

Alaniel's done sending out his choices (Team Hero, Team Ninja, Team Swordsman), but I have two more team ideas, Team Vendetta (Iori Yagami, Scorpion {Mortal Kombat}, Venom {Marvel}, *fourth member undecided*) and Team Bosses (Jedah Doma, Sephiroth, Justice, SFA3 Master Bison). They'll both be chosen by evil forces, so I'm not sure who their sponsors will be.

Furthermore, how will the matter of "secret bosses" be handled?

[M203]

Furthermore, how will the matter of "secret bosses" be handled?

Oh don't worry about that, the Commentators and Interviewers will have it covered, with some really, really retarded results! :D

[Saint_007]

Oh don't worry about that, the Commentators and Interviewers will have it covered, with some really, really retarded results! :D
Well, the reason is, I'm thinking of having Alaniel sign up as a Special Contestant/Secret Boss.

EDIT: Okay, that last line of yours is getting me very, very worried...

[OverMaster]

Well, the reason is, I'm thinking of having Alaniel sign up as a Special Contestant/Secret Boss.

EDIT: Okay, that last line of yours is getting me very, very worried...

Oh, don't worry about that line. That's just his way of talking.

From what I have thought of and heard about so far, the bosses should be the Goddesses (except Skuld), Akira and Orochi at some point. I think M203 might be adding Thanos too, but I'm not really sure.

Although, if I have it my way... that line about Hild and Emperor Joker duking it out in the trailer? It's there for a reason.

[OverMaster]

About that (I swear, I'm almost done with my teams), how many teams will there be? Rough guesstimate?

Alaniel's done sending out his choices (Team Hero, Team Ninja, Team Swordsman), but I have two more team ideas, Team Vendetta (Iori Yagami, Scorpion {Mortal Kombat}, Venom {Marvel}, *fourth member undecided*) and Team Bosses (Jedah Doma, Sephiroth, Justice, SFA3 Master Bison). They'll both be chosen by evil forces, so I'm not sure who their sponsors will be.

Furthermore, how will the matter of "secret bosses" be handled?

Check your PMs.

I had thought about having 32 teams to fit in a Tournament setting.

Lessee, so far, we have (counting some ideas I've had but not posted yet)...

1) Team Justice (Angel Trainee Flonne, Darkwing Duck, and (SPOILERS) Kim Kaphwan and Amelia Seyruun).

2) Team Hearts of Fire (Kenshiro, Princess Nausicaa, Naru Narusegawa, Raven).

3) Hero Team (Spider-Man, Kyo Kusanagi, Ranma Saotome, Ryu).

4) Team Nifelheim (Goenitz, Mara, Bell, The Joker).

5) A Boss Team (Rugal, Akuma, plus Vice and Mature).

6) Your Boss Team (Jedah, Bison, Justice, Sephiroth).

7) Swordsman Team (Zoro, Samurai Jack, Cloud Strife, Chrono).

8) Ninja Team (Sub-Zero, Shinobi, Strider Hiryu, Psylocke).

9) Vendetta Team (Iori Yagami, Scorpion, Venom and whoever you think of for completing it. You already have my two cents on it).

10) Shin Sacred Treasures Team (Sailor Pluto, Chizuru Kagura, Kikyo, Rose).

11) Dan Team (Dan Hibiki, Sakura and (SPOILER) Karin Kanzuki and B-Ko Daikotouji).

12) Skuld Team (Skuld, Beenuel and (SPOILER) Dr. Occult and Nakoruru).

13) Another Evil Team (SPOILER: I was thinking of making it Darth Vader, Negaduck, Prometheus and Bizarro Superman, although they won't use Bizarro until things get really hard for them. However, if you want to use one of these for your Vendetta Team, I'll get replacements).

14) Mercenary Team (Deathstroke, Naga, B.B. Hood and (SPOILER) Deadpool).

15) Yet Another Evil Team (SPOILER: Members not decided yet. One of them might be the weakened current Juggernaut, if I come up with a way to make him truly evil again. Maybe Agent Smith as well? Mmmm...).

16) Nabeshin Team (Oddest combo in the block, maybe. I was thinking of Nabeshin plus (SPOILER) Wolverine, Motoko Aoyama and the Mars People from Metal Slug).

17) Vampire Team (I was thinking of (SPOILER): Demitri Maximoff and three females turned into vampire concubines by him. One or more of them might come from the Ranmaverse).

Other teams are left for you guys, I guess, although I could come with ideas for others later on. Let's keep the feedback until we complete the list, OK?

[OverMaster]

Nabeshin's Team, Part 1:

The air seemed to suffer just a little disturbance around him when he fell down from the skies, landing on his feet on the grass. However, that had been merely the effect visible to human eyes. In truth, its shockwaves had been felt through the whole upper mystic and cosmic halfs of the universe.

In the limbo where Belldandy was looking for the entity known as Akira, she could feel it. "What was that...?" she blinked.

In the snowy mountains of Hokkaido, where Skuld and Beenuel were approaching to the wooden cabin of a certain fighter priestess of nature, they could feel its sting as well. They looked up to the clear, cold skies, surprised, but they couldn't see anything up there anymore.

In the conference room of the Supreme Beings, Delirium raised her head and babbled, "He's heeeeeereeeeeee...".

"Who?" Nudoru asked, intrigued.

Delirium shook a finger at him. "Can't tell you, sorry...".

And back in the coast hills of the south of Japan, the thin man in the 70s style clothing, complete with red jacket and yellow tie, smiled as he walked towards the small restaurant, hands inside of his pockets. He'd teach them all a lesson. But first, he needed a meal. And after that, maybe he'd go with Kumi Kumi and Poemi for a while...

He pushed the door open. "Hello...!" he called out. "Masato, are you here?".

There were lots of clients in the place that day. And it was obvious the owner was really busy, but that didn't stop him from leaving what he was doing and going to meet the man with the huge afro, with open arms.

"Nabeshin!" he patted him in the shoulders. "You old dog! It's been years!".

"Nice to see you're doing well, Masato" Nabeshin smiled back as he lit up a cigarette. "How's your wife doing?".

The fat man's face darkened then. "Ah, Nabeshin... She ran with my assistant a year ago...".

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear 'bout that. With which one of them, the tall and blonde, or the muscled with black hair?".

"The midget".

"Unh..." Nabeshin grimaced.

"That's why I hired another boy to help me!" Masato said, now with more enthusiasm. "Someone who doesn't talk a lot, is obedient and hard-working, and will never steal your woman from you, at least not now that he doesn't have his ship!".

And he gestured towards a strange alien creature serving to a short, hairy man at a nearby table, a bowl of hot ramen. It was a being with a huge, bulbous head from which sprouted several long, thin tentacles, some of them used as legs, some others as arms. Tied around its head had a yellow bandana.

Nabeshin blinked in mild surprise.

"Allow me to introduce you to Maa-pi* kun!" Masato beamed a wide smile. "Hey, Maa-pi kun, c'me here just a moment, willya?".

The thing looked back at them with curiosity, emiting a "Beep boop?" sound. The man he was attending to looked at Nabeshin as well, a small column of smoke floating up from his cigar.

Nabeshin recognized him, and grinned a bit. Now this was a bout of luck.

"Hey, Mr. Logan!" he said, walking towards the alien and the short man. "We finally get to meet!".

'Logan' seemed surprised of being recognized by that stranger. "Who are you, bub?" he asked, distrustful.

"Ah, there's no reason why you should know my name" the guy with the afro offered him a hand, which Logan shook briefly and not convinced. "I'm in the show business. You can call me Nabeshin".

"Boop boo-dee-pio?" asked the alien creature, which translated would mean "Can I take your order, Mister?".

"Okay, Nabeshin..." Logan growled again, narrowing his eyes and sniffing the air just a bit. The stranger didn't smell like Mystique or a bloody Skrull, but that still left a lot of unpleasant alternatives. "... how the hell do you know my name? And why do you seem so happy to see me?".

"Oh, those explanations will take a while" Nabeshin said as he took a seat at the other side of the table, without having been invited to it. He turned his attention to the being from another world for a moment. "You, ehh, Maa-pi, wasn't that?, bring me some of the same kind of ramen he's having. And stay for a while after that. I've a lot of thigs to say to you, too".

"Pi-pi-poo beeeep?".

"Just do what he says, Maa-pi kun" Mr. Masato suggested. "Normally it's useless to say just 'No" to this old bastard..." he chuckled with some dry nostalgia in his voice.

Buncha freaks I keep running into in Japan nowadays, Logan thought. I miss the days when I only ran into ninjas willing to kill me here. What's this country come down to?

Little did he suspect the worst was still to come. Outside, grim shining green eyes observed the restaurant, and a slight, evil hissing was heard...















*Japanese abbreviation for 'Mars People'.



OOC: Scene adapted from "Neo Geo Battle Colisseum". ;)

[Saint_007]

Check your PMs.

I had thought about having 32 teams to fit in a Tournament setting.

Lessee, so far, we have (counting some ideas I've had but not posted yet)...

1) Team Justice (Angel Trainee Flonne, Darkwing Duck, and (SPOILERS) Kim Kaphwan and Amelia Seyruun).

2) Team Hearts of Fire (Kenshiro, Princess Nausicaa, Naru Narusegawa, Raven).

3) Hero Team (Spider-Man, Kyo Kusanagi, Ranma Saotome, Ryu).

4) Team Nifelheim (Goenitz, Mara, Bell, The Joker).

5) A Boss Team (Rugal, Akuma, plus Vice and Mature).

6) Your Boss Team (Jedah, Bison, Justice, Sephiroth).

7) Swordsman Team (Zoro, Samurai Jack, Cloud Strife, Chrono).

8) Ninja Team (Sub-Zero, Shinobi, Strider Hiryu, Psylocke).

9) Vendetta Team (Iori Yagami, Scorpion, Venom and whoever you think of for completing it. You already have my two cents on it).

10) Shin Sacred Treasures Team (Sailor Pluto, Chizuru Kagura, Kikyo, Rose).

11) Dan Team (Dan Hibiki, Sakura and (SPOILER) Karin Kanzuki and B-Ko Daikotouji).

12) Skuld Team (Skuld, Beenuel and (SPOILER) Dr. Occult and Nakoruru).

13) Another Evil Team (SPOILER: I was thinking of making it Darth Vader, Negaduck, Prometheus and Bizarro Superman, although they won't use Bizarro until things get really hard for them. However, if you want to use one of these for your Vendetta Team, I'll get replacements).

14) Mercenary Team (Deathstroke, Naga, B.B. Hood and (SPOILER) Deadpool).

15) Yet Another Evil Team (SPOILER: Members not decided yet. One of them might be the weakened current Juggernaut, if I come up with a way to make him truly evil again. Maybe Agent Smith as well? Mmmm...).

16) Nabeshin Team (Oddest combo in the block, maybe. I was thinking of Nabeshin plus (SPOILER) Wolverine, Motoko Aoyama and the Mars People from Metal Slug).

17) Vampire Team (I was thinking of (SPOILER): Demitri Maximoff and three females turned into vampire concubines by him. One or more of them might come from the Ranmaverse).

Other teams are left for you guys, I guess, although I could come with ideas for others later on. Let's keep the feedback until we complete the list, OK?
Some pretty neat ideas, but the Nemesis/Vendetta Team has to have an enemy in a separate team, as it was in KOF '95. I'd say that Negaduck and Venom switch places to make it more distributed. And just to top it off, I'm adding either Ash Crimson (Chizuru Kagura's nemesis) or Sabretooth (Wolverine's nemesis). Alternatively, I can add a Robots Team with Megaman, Nuku Nuku, Lime, and Astro Boy, and have Forte/Bass in the Nemesis Team.

[M203]

Well, the reason is, I'm thinking of having Alaniel sign up as a Special Contestant/Secret Boss.

EDIT: Okay, that last line of yours is getting me very, very worried...

Alaniel as a secret boss? LOL, since you want it so bad...please wait for the next post! :D

[Saint_007]

Alaniel as a secret boss? LOL, since you want it so bad...please wait for the next post! :D
Well, not *that* badly. I'll think a bit more about it.

Overmaster, check yuor PM's.

[OverMaster]

Some pretty neat ideas, but the Nemesis/Vendetta Team has to have an enemy in a separate team, as it was in KOF '95. I'd say that Negaduck and Venom switch places to make it more distributed. And just to top it off, I'm adding either Ash Crimson (Chizuru Kagura's nemesis) or Sabretooth (Wolverine's nemesis). Alternatively, I can add a Robots Team with Megaman, Nuku Nuku, Lime, and Astro Boy, and have Forte/Bass in the Nemesis Team.

Ah, I'd love to write Lime (I've written Cherry a lot in the past, specially in the Crisis, but not Lime) so I'm all for the Robots Team.

As for the Rivals Team, the main thing is to think of who will be the one gathering them. I'd say it should be someone who wants to manipulate the power of the Orochi for himself, thus forming the team around Iori, a key piece on it (Neron is still my first choice for it).

Maybe we can get two Vendetta Teams out of this? Let's see, with Iori, Venom, Forte, Ash, Negaduck, Scorpion, Sabretooth and any other given rival in this, we could pull that off somehow.

[OverMaster]

OOC: And, since it has been a while since we started Episode 1, maybe it's time for a... next Episode preview (I edited my IC last post to leave it at a somewhat better cliffhanger)!

IC:

NEXT EPISODE...

(Images of a horde of shadow demons attacking Masato's restaurant).

Flonne's voice: Hello! Angel Trainee Flonne here! Um, normally, Miss Etna would do this, but she won't be showing up in a while... Anyway, in our next episode, we all will meet a lot of new people!

(Images of Wolverine going in a berserker rage against the demons).

Flonne's voice: Oh, oh, but sadly, not everything will be nice... why can't they all just be good to each other?

Urd's voice: That's why we're in this jam in the first place, kid...

(Images of Akira hovering above Tokyo, raising a challenge to the world).

Flonne's voice: In the next episode of Mugen Universe, "Culture Clash". The preparatives for the tournament will be over! Don't miss it!

Callindra's voice: Or we'll be out of a job!

[OverMaster]

Episode 2: Culture Clash.

Prelude:

In an out of continuity quickie, we see Nabeshin kneeling down and praying in front of a small statue of a goddess at a shrine of a temple in the middle of the mountains of Japan. A cold autumn breeze blows all around him, carrying dry, brown leaves flaoting in the air. The skies above him are gray and cloudy, and there are distant faint thunder rumblings heard from time to time.

He sighs, deeply.

"Please, O Goddess... Help us to carry this project to a happy, satisfying conclusion. I'm betting a lot on the outcome of this series...".

Suddenly, from the statue, a column of silver smoke raises, taking the shape of a goofy man with glasses, dressed just like Belldandy was at the start of the Oh my Goddess OVAs.

"Oh crap..." Nabeshin blinks.

"Hello! I'm Belldandy Koshi Rikdo, the Goddess of Manga!" the apparition announces with a falsetto. "I'm here to grant you one wish, any wish, by the Will of the Heavens!".

"I wish this comes to be the best fanfiction series in the Internet!" Nabeshin replies, without hesitation.

"Ehhh..." the 'goddess' frowns, shaking his head. "I don't think I can do THAT... I have my limits, after all... But I'll do what I can! I, Koshi Rikdo, hereby give my approval for the start of a new episode of Mugen Universe!".

And he stamps a huge seal on a legal paper Nabeshin offers to him.


*STAMP!*



Nabeshin nods, satisfied. "Excellent! Now go and put on something else... Your crossdressing is startin' to creep me out...".


And so, we return you to our normally scheduled story!

[M203]

~Fanchar Death Quota Omaki #1~

The heavy, spiked club in Death's hands pulled her downwards, and she fell to a knee with its weight amongst the splattered brains and half-disintegrated spine of Heaven's newest "guest," the God-Killer Nudoru-Kaarage, amongst other bodily parts. "DAMMIT, WILL YOU STOP BEATING THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE WHO LOOKS AT YOU FUNNY! IT'S NOT FUNNY!!! AS IN AT ALL!!!" she screamed, and the muttered to herself. "Lucky me I borrowed this from Dokuro-Chan..." She rose, looking at the unconcious forms of The Sublimed strewn across the room. Around her, pieces of Nudoru still kept falling, she had put that much power behind the club before swinging it. "I swear Dream, keeping him out of the mess that's going on was a pretty good move, if we'd had'im in the tournament proper, we'd be watching slaughter upon slaughter!"

Dream but nodded his reply. "Indeed. It has been but a day, and I am pretty much fed up with seeing this man's entrails exploding across rooms, his head exploding after having his lips frozen to a cold drinking fountain and the fountain becoming stuck on, him being sucked down into the toilet bowl after tampering with the flushing mechanism, choking to death on Callindra's sandwiches, being poisoned to death by Callindra's sandwiches, boiling himself from the inside out by heating his own bloody coffee with Hellfire, and the best bloody part of it all was when he went and tried to open the latest memo's with Light Hawk Energy weapons. That little nick on his finger sure hit the spot!"

Dream was silent for a moment.

"If he had been put into the tournament proper, I am sure that the audience would simply grow tired of him dying and simply leave."

"Yup!" Death sighed again.

"No kidding, that was just...retarded!" Death sighed as she recalled Nudoru slicing his own finger open with a minitaurized Light Hawk blade, and then being, albeit very temporarily, returned to nothing.

The God-Killer smashed into the ground before them, forming a rather large crater. "UghuhuhuHH..."

"Damn it, man! Can you not just simply stay alive!?" Lucifer laughed from across the room, musing at Nudoru's seemingly endless supply of tasteless means of self-evisceration. "Here! We have fresh memo's." The First of the Created lightly chucked the slip of fax paper at the half-masked man, causing his head to leave his body and fall to the floor.

"WHat in Hell!?" Death screamed in horror as Nudoru's body slumped back agaist the wall spewing blood from its neck, and the memo descended slowly and landed before his severed head. "That's some papercut!"

Nudoru Kaarage really stupid death count: 13/100 :D

[Golden Darkness]

Well, I've been reading this, and I know I'm going to be joining this, sooner or later, as soon as I can get myself to write something.

However, I have some teams conceived.

Team Smash: Mario, Link, Samus, and Kirby

Team Duelist(temporary name. Will replace if any of you or I have a better name): Ash from Pokemon, Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh, Takato from Digimon, and Lan from Megaman Battle Network/NT Warrior

Team Troubleshooters: Adult Jade from Jackie Chan Adventures, MEGAS from Megas XLR, Lina Inverse from Slayers. Have not yet come up with a suitable fourth member.

Un named team: Squall Leonhart from FF8, Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia, Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, and Karone from Power Rangers

Team Darkside: Evil Coop and his mech from MEGAS XLR, Queen Beryl from Sailor Moon, Astronema from Power Rangers. No fourth member for this group yet. Am thinking between either one of the bad guys from JCA or one of the Xiaolin Showdown villians

Team Nuisance: Team Rocket, Bowser, Wario. No fourth one for this one either.

[Mr.Sandman]

Maaaann....Why didn't anybody tell me about this. I am soo pissed I could kill something!!

Instead I'm gonna be more evil and make a team.....a team I'd like to call.

TEAM CHAOS
Excel Excel
Mihoshi
DeeDee
Osaka

TEAM EVIL SCIENCE
Mandark
Sandy
Eggman
Wily

(Note: I may make ajustments if theres something I'm missing or got wrong since I was just trying to join before somebody picked one of these. :p)

[Saint_007]

Here's the Teams created so far. I'm afraid we're going to have to trim them if we're to keep the target of 32 teams:
Team Justice: (Angel Trainee Fionne, Darkwing Duck, (SPOILERS)Kim Kaphwan and Amelia Seyruun)
Team Hearts of Fire (Kenshiro, Princess Nausicaa, Naru Narusegawa, Raven)
Hero Team (Spider-Man, Kyo Kusanagi, Ranma Saotome, Ryu)
Team Nifelheim (Goenitz, Mara, Bell, The Joker)
Boss Team/Rugal Team (Rugal, Akuma, plus Vice and Mature)
Boss Team (Jedah, Bison, Justice, Sephiroth)
Swordsman Team (Zoro, Samurai Jack, Cloud Strife, Crono)
Ninja Team (Sub-Zero, Shinobi, Strider Hiryu, Psylocke)
Neron's Nemesis Team (Iori Yagami, Scorpion, Negaduck, Forte/Bass)
Malebolgia's Nemesis Team (Venom, Violator, Ash Crimson, Sabretooth)
Shin Sacred Treasures Team (Sailor Pluto, Chizuru Kagura, Kikyo, Rose)
Dan Team (Dan Hibiki, Sakura Kusagano, (SPOILER) Karin Kanzuki, B-Ko Daikotouji)
Skuld Team (Skuld, Beenuel, (SPOILER)Dr. Occult, Nakoruru)
Mercenary Team (Deathstroke, Naga, B.B. Hood, (SPOILER)Deadpool)
Nabeshin Team (Oddest combo in the block, maybe. Nabeshinm, (SPOILER)Wolverine, Motoko Aoyama, Mars People (Metal Slug))
Vampire Team ((SPOILER): Demitri Maximoff and three females turned into vampire concubines by him. One or more of them might come from the Ranmaverse)
Team Robots (Megaman, Astro Boy, Lime, Catgirl Nuku Nuku)
Team Smash Bros/Nintendo (Mario Mario, Link, Kirby, Samus Aran)
Team Duelists (Ash Ketchum, Takato, Yugi, Lan/Netto Hikari)
Team Chaos (Mihoshi, Osaka, Excel Excel, DeeDee) Though if we're going by the PPG Doujinshi (http://bleedman.snafu-comics.com/), I'd say Pinky in Brain's mechanical body instead of Dee Dee.
Team Evil Scientists (Mandark, Dr. Tomoe, Dr. Albert Wily, Dr. Eggman)
Team Troubleshooters: Adult Jade from Jackie Chan Adventures, MEGAS from Megas XLR, Lina Inverse from Slayers. Have not yet come up with a suitable fourth member.
Un named team: Squall Leonhart from FF8, Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia, Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, and Karone from Power Rangers
Team Darkside: Evil Coop and his mech from MEGAS XLR, Queen Beryl from Sailor Moon, Astronema from Power Rangers. No fourth member for this group yet. Either one of the bad guys from JCA or one of the Xiaolin Showdown villians
Team Nuisance: Team Rocket, Bowser, Wario. No fourth one for this one either.
Yet Another Evil Team (SPOILER: Members not decided yet. One of them might be the weakened current Juggernaut, if I come up with a way to make him truly evil again. Maybe Agent Smith as well? Mmmm...)
Reserved space. This place is reserved for an upcoming team by OM (SPOILERS)Batman, Sailor Venus, Spawn, Dexter
...On second thought, it appears we still have space for 5 more teams. Though I think that I've done enough peronally (I've contributed 5 teams, I'd say that's enough for me :cool: )

[KingEli]

I got a few teams,hopefully they can be added on.
USA Team-Captian America,Terry Bogrard,Ken Masters,Heavy D!(KOF)

Doom team(aka the team that may kill each other)-Dr.Doom,Magneto,Myseique(sp),Kagato(power levels to at least match the fighters)

JLAvengers-Iron Man,Spider-Woman,Booster Gold,Blue Beetle

Howard Team-Gesse Howard,Billy Kane,Yamazaki,Wolfgang Karuser

an idea for a hidden bosses-Darkseid and Thanos

[OverMaster]

Maaaann....Why didn't anybody tell me about this. I am soo pissed I could kill something!!



That's what you get from not reading and following the link in my signature! MWA HA HA HA!

Seriously, though, if any of you want to join, you're welcome with open arms.

[OverMaster]

I got a few teams,hopefully they can be added on.
USA Team-Captian America,Terry Bogrard,Ken Masters,Heavy D!(KOF)

Doom team(aka the team that may kill each other)-Dr.Doom,Magneto,Myseique(sp),Kagato(power levels to at least match the fighters)

JLAvengers-Iron Man,Spider-Woman,Booster Gold,Blue Beetle

Howard Team-Gesse Howard,Billy Kane,Yamazaki,Wolfgang Karuser

an idea for a hidden bosses-Darkseid and Thanos

If you can write the intros for them, then it's okay.

[KingEli]

Scene-Seattle,Washington 9:00PM

There were numorous blow being landed,grunts,groans and...laughter then.....
HODUKEN!!!!
POWER WAVE!!!!
The two special moves clashed in a spectacular show, and a man wereing all black with black sunglasses started clapping
"Not bad boys we may be ready for this thing after all"

"Thank you,please hold your applause."Stated a man in a Red Karate gi,His name is Ken Masters,U.S. Martial Arts Champ

"You ain't all that great you had to work for that Draw"said the man wearing a Brown Jacket,Blue pants and brown shoes his Name is Terry Bogard warrior of Southtown, a Champ of the King of Fighters Torunament asked,"yo D! how long was that?"

The man know as Heavy D! said,"Six hours straight."

Ken asked "So when our teammate is arriving to compleat this "USA Team"?
the Invatation he got staed it will be the tourney of a lifetime and he knew his buddy Ryu is gonna be there.....so that Ken can beat him.

Terry-"I think thats him right there".

He came in on a mortorcycle colred in red,white and Blue. His costume and Shiled where colred the same he is Steve Rogers the Star-Spangled Avenger from World War 2 now in present times-Captian America

And all D can say-"What the hell is this the circus is in town? Whats you name Flag Man?" he said in a laugh

Cap-"No it's not,it's Captian America and I'm your fourth member"

Ken-Well "Cap" do you have any info on this tourney hmmm?

No I do. said a short man wearing all purple.

Terry- you are?

"Mr. Mxlyplkx the name and your my team to save the Omniverse!"

The three Fighters stared at him in disbelief while a hidden camera wacthed them all...... To be continued.

[OverMaster]

Five minutes later, Spider-Man was looking in bewilderment at the scene with his three companions.

"Tell ya what guys," said the Webslinger. "We're not in Kansas anymore..."

They were looking at the tournament entry grounds.

Mount Fuji could be seen not too far in the distance. "The hell..." Kyo said, gritting his teeth. "Don't tell me this is going to take place in Tokyo...".

"Efectively, we are in the outskirts of Tokyo" a tall, energic man with long silver hair and clear eyes, completely clad in white, approached them, hands crossed behind his back. "I was not totally satisfied with this choice of setting, either, but it came from the Highest Source. There was nothing I could do about it".

"Sure, sure" Spider-Man replied. "And by the way, Mister, your name is...?".

"You can call me Lord Rayden. I am going to be supervising the first stage of the Tournament. Spider-Man, Kusanagi Kyo, Saotome Ranma and Ryu, I pressume? Alaniel has told me about you".

"Yep, those are the names" Ranma nodded. "So, I guess you too are some sort of--".

"You could say so" Rayden was quick to answer, cutting Ranma's words short. "I come from... that plane of existence, as well. But remember, please, don't talk too much about that around here, at least not for now. Has Alaniel told you how much is at risk here?" he asked, lowering his voice a bit.

"Yeah. A lot" Spidey replied. "This is not your standard WWE Wrestlemania, or anything like that" he quipped.

"Very well. But keep in mind, not everyone who has come or will come here knows as much as you. Some are going to come with less knowledge of the sitaution than you... even if others shall have MORE knowledge than you. Eventually, everyone must learn the truth... but I trust you are going to let me handle that matter".

"Whatever makes you happy, pal!" Ranma huffed.

"Then follow me" he turned around and began to walk away. "I am going to lead you to your rooms for the time the Tournament is held in here. Also, you might be interested in meeting with some of the people that already is here. You are the first team to arrive, but still, we already have some visitors and... entertainers for the general public. I think you know at least one of them, Mr. Kusanagi".

Then, a female voice began to sound through high speakers, singing the newest sensation that was sweeping through Japan's teenage population.

"Athena Asamiya..." Kyo recognized the voice, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me... she's going to be PERFORMING here?".

"Well, I guess someone needs to give the masses something to watch between fights" Parker replied. "Who knows, maybe we'll run into Dazzler at some point, too...".




OOC Notes:

Since your post said only the four of them were transported there, Saint, I supposed Alaniel wasn't going to go with them.

The "Christopher Lambert" look of Rayden came because he isn't intended to be fighting in the Tournament, just keeping an eye on him and making sure there are no breakings of the rules. If he needs to fight at some point, I'll make him change to his videogame look.

[KingEli]

Ken-Wait save the what?

Mxy-Save the Omniverse or lack of better terms every earth in exsitance!

Terry-Yo Cap your not freaked out by this.

Cap-In my line of work I call this "Monday".

Mxy-Listen up the higher ups aka Heaven has decided to End all thing ya know the end of the world.

D-Your kidding right?

Mxy-If I was I wouldn't be hear now would I?

Cap-So we go to win this fight because all things Good and Evil are involed.

Ken-Well you got me I got a family to care about.

Terry-Same here!

D-I'm STILL freaked out by this....but I Participated in the KOF so I ain't gonna tun down a good fight,I'm in.

Mxy-So what are we waiting for Lets go.

Meanwhile in Lavateria-

We see the notorious Dr. Doom watching the conversation from his monitor:
Doom-So my interdimentional cameras work and so the end draws nigh,but a tournament to save creation....this intrest Doom but my "team" distrub me.Why in their infinate wisdom would they pair Doom with one of my most heated rivals? Bah! No matter victory will still be mine.

Magneto-You mean ours Victor.

Doom-So you have arrived Magnus.

Mags-Yes but one thing has preplexed me who is this Kagato fellow?

A being step out of a portal and sates:That will be me gentelmen

Doom-How did you get in here?

Kagato-Well the gate of Hell have been opend and......well you know the rest.

Mags-So above and below are effected.

Doom-It appears so Gentalmen let us depart we shall dicuss at our destination.

Mags-Mysiquie are you ready?

M-As I'll ever be.
They disappear via Dooms teleportation device...

Part 3 coming later and I'll will add a new team as well a team from The new TMNT cartoon.

[SAMAS]

How about an Ultratech(not Killer Instict) team?

KOS-MOS, Gally, one of the Mega Men(I'm thinking Rock or X), and maybe Lime.

[Golden Darkness]

How about an Ultratech(not Killer Instict) team?

KOS-MOS, Gally, one of the Mega Men(I'm thinking Rock or X), and maybe Lime.

Someone's already got Lime and the original Mega Man.

And oh... if someone still wanted to use Darth Vader, go ahead. The inclusion of Anakin on one of my teams shouldn't preclude someone from including Vader.

[pirulaso]

MUGEN was an awesome game....I made like a samurai fighting game out of it....Fond memories

[Saint_007]

Somewhere over a generic US Metropolis, 20XX:

Rockman, or Megaman as he was more popularly known, was surfing the skies over the city on his K9 companion, Rush. Even if it was strictly patrol duty, Rock enjoyed the view. Maybe it was programmed in his circuits, maybe it was because of his near-human personality, or maybe the simple fact that flying in itself gave the feeling of no limits. Maybe all three. Rockman gave up trying to figure out what it was; he just started relaxing and enjoying the feeling.

Though Surfing songs were out. Rush made that pretty clear. Every time he'd start singing a surfing song, Rush would start growling and even swinging roughly. He especially hated "Surfing USA". When he asked Dr. Light about that, the old scientist would say:

"I guess he felt insulted being compared to a board of wood."

So Megaman stopped singing it. Instead he just downloaded it into a music player in his helmet and listened to it, out of hearing of Rush's hearing.

He was listening to "Surfing USA", a catchy favorite of his, when he felt something on his radar. A Robot Master? Here?! He looked down - and saw a small robot lift a bus

"Dr. Light, I've got a sighting of a probable Robot Master. Can't tell what kind of power it has."

"Rock, this is Roll. I'll get Dr Light right away; he's in the lab. Please be careful, bro..."

"Gotcha, sis..." Megaman turned his arm into a gun in preparation. He glided in low with Rush.

To his surprise, the 'Robot Master' looked like a young boy, no older than he was. He had slowly landed with the bus, and put it down gently.

"There," the kid shouted. "Is everyone okay?!"

He was greeted by a chorus of thanks and prayers from the bus and the surrounding citizens. Embarassed, the hero scratched his head.

One kid looked up at the robot boy. "Gee, you're looking different today, Megaman..."

"Megaman? Oh, no, I'm not Megaman..." explained the newcomer.

"That's right," Megaman said, dropping in. "He isn't." Rush morphed back into robot dog form. "So if you don't mind me asking; who are you?"

"So you're Megaman?"

"Yes. Why?"

"That's great! I'm Tetsuwan Atomu, but people call me Astro Boy." Astro put out a hand for Megaman to shake. "I've been looking for you!"

"Really? Why?" Megaman was so curious, he forgot his caution.

"Rock, you hear me?" came a voice from Rush. Rush turned on the holographic communicator. The blue 3D image of the plump scientist, in his white lab coat and thick white beard and hair, appeared. "What's happened, Rock?"

"Well," Megaman mumbled, not sure how to answer. "This guy here says his name is Astro Boy. And that he's been looking for me..." Megaman took off his helmet and scratched his spiky brown hair. "Though he doesn't look or act like a Robot Master."

"Are you Dr. Light?" Astro asked the hologram. "Dr. Thomas Light, PH.D. in nuclear physics and robotics?"

"Why... why yes I am," answered Light, part flustered, part flattered. "You seem to know an awful lot about me, but who sent you?"

"Well, I've been sent by Professor Ochanomizu, from Tokyo. He's-"

"Who did you say?"

"Professor Ochanomizu. Why is there a problem?"

"Well, why didn't you say so sooner!?" Light boomed over the commlink, evidently glad to hear the name. "How's the old dog doing? It's been years!!"

"Well, I came here sooner, but Professor Ochanomizu is coming in the next flight over."

"Bah! We'll talk more later!" Light turned to Megaman. "Rock, take Astro here to the lab. We'll talk plenty there!"

The next morning, Dr. Light, Astro, Rockman, Rush, and Roll were all waiting at the arrivals booth at the airport. Dr. Light seemed particularly impatient, looking at his watch and stamping his foot.

"Why's Dr. Light so worried about?" Astro inquired. "I told him when the flight would arrive."

"Ah, he's been excited about this all morning," Rockman answered, now in his civvies rather than his regular blue battle suit. "It appears that Proffessor Ochan and Dr. Light are old college buddies. It's been years since they last met, and Light's really looking forward to it."

Soon enough, a small girl in a pink dress, who had a haircut remarkably like Astro's, came walking out the arrivals door.

"Uranium!" Astro shouted as he waved. "Hey, Uran! Over here!"

"Astro! There you are," chirped the little girl. She ran over, and saw Rockman. "And who's this?"

"Uran," Astro replied, "meet Rockman. We're probably going to work together for a while."

"Hi, Uran," Rockman replied. "I'm Rock-GAH!"

"Ooh, look ain't he cute," Uran squealed as she pinched Rockman's cheeks. "He's cuter than you are!"

Astro Boy sighed in frustration at his sister's antics, while Rockman tried to free his face from the inquisitive fingers of a delighted Uranium. Uran stopped, however, when she heard the clearing of a throat behind her. She turned to find a blonde girl, about her age and size, wearing a black shirt and red apron/dress.

"What are you doing with my brother?"

"Really?" Uran had taken a dislike to this one. Apparently, she was a robot too, but somehow the fact there was another cute robot girl made the dislike worse. "Who are you? And what it is to you?"

"I'm Roll," replied Roll challengingly. "And this is my brother, Rockman. I especially don't like it when a hussy starts messing with his face."

"I'm a hussy?! Well, you're.. you're a little rat!!"

"WHAT?! Why you..."

"Uran! Roll! Stop it both of you!!" Dr. Light's nerves were already frayed by the delay. Uran and Roll both stopped squabbling, but looked at each other angrily, crossed their arms, and turned around angrily from the other. Dr Light looked back at the arrivals gate. "Where is Ochan already?"

Sure enough, a couple of robots emerged accompanying an elderly rotund man who was bald but nevertheless had thick curly hair around the sides. He spied Thomas Light and cheered.

"Hey, Thomas, you old fool! Over here!!"

"Hakase, old dog! Where've you been?"

"Busy, old friend. Busy."

"My God," Thomas said, patting the other's balding pate mockingly. "Dear Hakase, you're hair's disappeared faster than I thought."

"And you!" Hakase responded, feeling Light's wooly head. "Hmmm, it's not a toupee!"

"Hah! You wish!" Both laughed heartily.

"We'll take this stuff, Proffessor," Astro said, him and Rockman helping with the luggage. Roll and Uran helped, but whenever they faced each other, they just huffed and looked away.

"So, old friend, where do we start?"

"Bah, it's been so long, Thomas, so long I don't know where to start... So how's Albert, that project buddy of yours?"

"Eh, you were right about him, Hakase. One big, bad apple."

"Don't beat yourself up, Thomas. People like him always show up..." Ochanimizu sighed. "Say, mind if we continue this over brunch?"

"My pleasure, friend!!"

Over brunch at Light's laboratory complex, the two old friends compared skills and methods, swapped stories, and recalled old times. Rockman noticed that Astro was mentioned as not being a creation of Ochan, but as a sort of adopted son. He also noticed, with a sweatdrop that Roll and Uran just spent most of the time eyeing each other, as if they were fighting a battle of wills. Even Rush was scared.

After brunch, the old men pulled out a couple of good smokes and continued their talk about old times.

"Ah, that Albert Wily," Ochanimizu sighed. "I always knew he was the shifty type."

"Eh, he gives me trouble every now and then," replied Thomas philosophically. "But recently it's been relatively quiet... until now..."

"Yes... the now," Hakase replied, pulling out an envelope with a broken red seal. He showed it Dr. Light. "I presume you got this?"

"Why, yes, friend," Light responded, pulling out a similar one. "Yes, I have."

To be continued...

[Saint_007]

OOC Notes:

Since your post said only the four of them were transported there, Saint, I supposed Alaniel wasn't going to go with them.

The "Christopher Lambert" look of Rayden came because he isn't intended to be fighting in the Tournament, just keeping an eye on him and making sure there are no breakings of the rules. If he needs to fight at some point, I'll make him change to his videogame look.
Well, yeah. He transported them there by themselves since he had other teams to attend to. He will be back shortly, though.

[KingEli]

Location New York City 12:00PM 616 Marvel U
Baxter Building-

We see the home of the world famous Fantastic Four inside we see Tony Stark,Owner of Stark Enterprises aka the armored Avenger Iron Man and teamate Jessica Drew, the Spectacular Spider-Woman talking to Reed Richards,leader of the Four about the werid things going on.

Tony-So Reed you got any anwsers?

Reed-No I don't,I mean Cap have been missing for two days now like they disapereed off of this earth.

Jess-Well Spidey has been gone too and his wife he had to do something very improtant puls some strange invites me and and tony got to some tournament,did you get one Reed?

Reed-Can't say that I have.

Ben Grimm aka the Ever loving Blue Eye Thing-Yo Strecho we gots some two jokers and a young girl demanding to talk to youse guy there,they say it's a Emergemcy.

Reed-Send them up Ben.

Guy 1-Hey step off!

Ben-nothing doin'.

Reed-What seems to be the problem?

Girl-Thank you,My name is Boton,the Grim Reaper and I have Come for Iron Man and Spider-Woman

Tony-Wait a minute YOU the Grim Reaper?

Botan-Yes you see you have recruited to fight for all reality in a combat torunament.

Jess-So this What these invites are for>

Reed-So who's hosting this fight?

Botan-Well....Heaven itself you see they have decreed that the End of All things are coming and you fight with a team of four.

Jess-Two Questions 1:How are we suppost to belive you? and 2:who are our teamates

Guy 1-That where we come in,I'm Ted Kord,the Blue Beetle.

Guy 2-and I'm Micheal Carter,Booster Gold and were for a diffrent universe

Reed-Fastinating.

Ted-Yesh we didn't belive it at first ethier btu ms. Botan here showed us some funky stuff......hey what are you doing?

Reed with a device-Just checking you out,well there not from here that for sure.

Tony-well your story checks out.....But why us?

Botan-Well you see mr. Stark,you and ms.Drew hear are part of your premire team on your earth,the Avengers while these two are part of the JLA on their earth.

Ted-So she got hte Best of the Best!

Jess-Well....if it is true then you got us 100%

Botan-Great! Well let's get ready to go.

Tony-Reed wish us luck.

Reed-godspeed my friends.

Botan-oh Oh your friends Captian America and Spider-Man are compeating also.

Jess-So that where they are.

Botan-Hold on!(They diisappear.)

[Saint_007]

OOC: Just read through something on the net. Apparently "Hakase" isn't a name, but a title, meaning "Dr." or "Professor" in Japanese. As such, I'm not sure if Dr. Ochanomizu actually has a first name. If anybody knows, tell me.

IC:
"So, about these...'invitations' someone sent us both?" Thomas inquired.

"Well, not much information was written upon them," Professor Ochanomizu replied. "But evidentally, by the writing on the accompanying letters in the same envelopes, I'd say that by *not* going, we'd risk a great calamity."

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Ochan! We can't possibly 'leave'! I've got Wily to worry about. Heaven knows what mischeif he'd be up to if I don't keep an eye out..."

"But Thomas, this looks serious. I know I have problems like Dr. Tenma's possible rampages, and Skunk is still at large. But something tells me this shouldn't be overlooked."

"But, seriously, Ochan!! For all we know-"

"Yes, I know. It could be a trap. But I'm asking you to trust my judgement on this one, Thomas."

The bearded scientist sighed.

"Fine, Ochan, you got me there. You've always been right about that judgement of yours."

"Thank you for your trust, Thomas."

"Just one question," Thomas said looking at the letters. "How do we get to this...'championship'?"

"Well," Astro spoke up, "the two letters seem to have some sort of schematics imprinted on them that's visible by X-Ray."

"Yeah, I noticed that too," added Rockman. "Though you were too busy reading them, so I couldn't get a good look..."

"That's great," Thomas boomed. Then he pondered something. "Wait a second... you two knew there was something on the papers, and didn't tell us?!"

Megaman and Astro sweatdropped as everyone turned this gazes on them.

"Uhm, we kinda forgot the whole 'humans don't have X-ray vision' thing?" Astro replied weakly.

"Eheheh," Rockman laughed weakly. Then he looked at his wrist with an odd look on his face. "Oh, gee, look at the time! Better get packing for the trip!!"

And before anyone could tell him he didn't carry a wristwatch, he had zoomed out of the house.

"Uh-oh," Astro muttered, sweatdropping more as everyone's gazes concentrated on him alone. "Hey, Rock!! Wait for me!!"

With blinding speed, Astro followed Megaman.

"Kids," the old scientists commented simultaneously.

Later, when they got to building the device based on the hidden schematics, it turned to be a handheld teleportation device of sorts. There were also a few more instructions.

"Hmmm," Thomas said, reading the instructions. "It says here...'By now, the first two members of your team, Rockman and Atomu, have joined forces. This device will home in on the locations of your 3rd and 4th teammates. They will have the coordinates for your final destination...'. Huh. Pretty Cryptic."

"D-did it say 'Final Destination'?" Uran gulped. "Like that movie where people die in creepy ways."

"I think it meant 'wherever we're going'," Roll replied. "...idiot..."

"I knew that," Uran replied. "...twit..."

Rush sweatdropped.

"Okay, everyone," Dr Ochan announced. "This thing's almost done. Rockman, Astro, get ready. Rush, you're going with them."

"W-What about us?" Roll asked, with big eyes.

"Yeah, what will we do?" Uran replied, mimicing Roll, not to be outdone. She felt it wasn't fair for the boys to hog all the action.

"We'll wait here and see what happens. Megaman and Atomu will send us reports." Thomas gave the device to Rockman and Astro. "Good luck, boys."

Everyone stepped away from the two robot boys and Rush. Rockman pushed a button - and nothing happened.

"Uhm, Rock, any day now?" Astro said.

"It doesn't seem to work!!" Megaman replied, frantically pushing the buttons.

"Hold on, let me see," Astro replied, taking the device. "Ah, there's the problem - we forgot to put this chip here."

Everyone fell down comically.

"*Sigh* here, let me get it," Dr. Light mumbled, taking the last chip. He walked over to the bench, and everyone crowded to see. He then lifted the thing up for all to see. "Aha! There it is! Now all I got to do is-"

*KER-FLASH*

Six seconds later, both doctors, Roll, Rush, Megaman, and Uranium found themselves on the street of an unfamiliar city.

"Thomas..." Ochan said. "Anyone told you there are some things you shouldn't do?!"

"Shut up..."

"Hey, who are those two?" Roll piped up. Everone looked up.

There was a pink-haired girl with robot ears and schoolgirl outfit perked up at one end of the street, and another with blue hair under a yellow bandanna at the other. They stood there tensely for the longest time.

"Dr Ochan," Astro exclaimed. "These girls - they're both robots! With incredible power levels!!"

"He's right, Dr. Light," Megaman replied, checking his sensors. "And neither fit any sort of robot either of us know."

Suddenly both girls gave a battle cry and rushed at each other.

"Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........."

"Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........."

The two girls approached each other near the middle of the roads, and both swung their mighty fists forward.

"JANKEN!!"

Everyone watching had tiny eyes and sweatdrops.

"They were...playing JaJanken?!" Uran asked.

The pink-haired girl leapt for joy. "Yoohoo! Paper beats rock!! I win!!"

"Aw, mittens," the blue-haired one sighed, hanging her head in frustration.

"Please forgive those two," came a voice from next to Roll.

Thomas noticed that there was a small boy with a pink streak amidst his spiky brown hair playing cards with a blonde teen.

"I'm Ryunosuke, and this is Mamiya Otaru," said the boy, looking at his hand. "My dad went out to look for a Dr. Thomas Light and a Professor Ochan nearby. He'll be back soon."

"Hey, wait a second, that's us!" Thomas blurted.

"Really?" The boy looked up. "Oh, so you must be here with the rest of the team! Here's our invitations."

OOC: OM, if you want to continue, feel free.

[OverMaster]

Japan:

"You want ME to team up with YOU??".

The blonde girl in the red bikini raised her golden, thin eyebrows in incredulity, looking down at the girl in the school fuku sitting next to her reclinable chair, where she had been taking the sun.

Sakura just nodded. "Yes, Karin-chan. I know it must sound... odd to you, but--".

"Why aren't you asking this favor to one of your friends?" Karin Kanzuki, heiress to the Kanzuki financial empire, almost huffed in annoyance. "Maybe that girl named... Hinata, wasn't she?... or that boy named Kyosuke...".

"Well, I don't exactly know where they are right now, but I've not been able to find them..." Sakura said a bit meekly, "And besides, my mom said she wouldn't allow me to go if I didn't have someone who would look after me in the Tournament... and you have such a nice security ring...".

"So, you only come here because I was the last one available, and because you want to take an advantage of me? The nerve of you!" Karin replied quickly.

"I told you, Sakura, this is just useless..." Sakura's best friend, young Kei Chitose, whispered in her ear from where she sat behind her. "Kanzuki still holds that grudge against you, she'll never help you...".

"No, no, wait!" Sakura, ignoring her, was fast to answer to the blonde. "Karin-chan, it's just that I-- didn't want to bother you unless I really had to... I'm sure you must have already another team of your own, but still... I had to try...".

Karin stopped what she was about to say then right there. She actually didn't have a team. As a matter of fact, she had not even got an invitation.

She narrowed her blue eyes a bit. "Aand... you say your... friend Dan got this?" she looked at Sakura's entry ticket, still not believing it could be indeed real. Then she looked over to the other side of the Kanzuki Manor recreation grounds, where Dan Hibiki was having a discusion with one of her bodyguards, who didn't allow him to get near the girls.

"Yeah" Sakura nodded. "He got it in Hong Kong".

Karin blinked a few times, puzzled. How could such a low class idiot get an invitation to a World Tournament while SHE was ignored for it?

She would have to make them regret for that. She'd show them her true value as a Street Fighter!

... Not to mention, Ken Masters would have to be there as well.

"Ahem" she cleared her throat. "Well, Sakura, since you put it that way and I'm feeling generous today... I'll accept your offer".

Sakura's big eyes shone with an anxious spark. "Really?! Oh, Karin-chan, you're so nice...!".

"Ohh ho ho ho ho!" the rich girl laughed. "Of course I am! Don't worry, leave the rest all to me! I'll even get us our fourth member...". And she yelled to her bodyguards, who were currently pummeling Dan, "You there! Leave that man, now!".

"I can't believe it... she accepted!" Kei whispered to herslf, half-gasping.




Minutes later, when Karin was alone, she took out a cellphone. "Hello? Beiko-chan? It's me. You remember the bet we had last month, right? You promised you'd make anything as a favor for me if I won... and I won. Now, this is the itsy bitsy thing I want you to do for me...".

[KingEli]

Southtown,USA
Gesse Towers

Gesse Howard-Thank you gentelmen for coming today,you have heard that I got a invite to a huge tournament and I need a team of four....that's where you three come in.

Billy Kane-So boss is like KOF huh?

Gesse-Yes and from what I can see it's gonna be something huge behind it as well

Ryuji Yamazaki-It dosen't matter to me as long cut people up and get paid

Billy-Why did have to ask your crazy ass to come anyway?

Yamazaki-Watch your mouth Lap dog.

Billy-Hey if you want to fight lets go!

Gesse-Hold it I don't want my office wrecked AGAIN by you two so laeve

Billy-Sure thing boss.(They laeve)

Gesse-Whats the matter with you?

Wolfgang Krauser-It's.....just that I have a bad feeling about this......but I can't put my finger on it.

Gesse-So your chickening out are yu Wolfgang?

Krauser-No i'm not I just got a bad feeling thats all I'll be ready by tommarow Good night Gesse.

Gesse-Hmph.Looks out side a window thinking "soon Bogard your ass will be mine and you can join your pitiful father in heaven soon enough."

Apakolips,DCU-A Hellhole where the evil New god Darkseid reign supream we go into his chamber

Desand-My lord Darkseid I come with news it seems that the stars themselves
are changing, I fear a Crisis is coming

Darkseid-I Know

Desand-you do?

Darkseid-Yes It seem the higher power is doing this,It must have something to do with this messege that I got for this Torunamet.

Desand-Will you Compeat?

Darkseid-Of course not you sinviling fool I will just wait and see what is going on and if need be act for you see the Omniverse will fear the name of DARKSEID THE DESTROYER!!

Space Marvel U

Thanos-So demon you tell me that Heaven it self will end life as we know it if somebody wins this contest?

Blackheart-Yes that is true.

Thanos-Why tell me?

Blackheart-You have as much as stake as any of us.

Thanos-You speak the truth for you see as flawed this exsictance is I cannot allow this to happen.

Black heart-Why is that?

Thanos-Fo you see without life there is no Death So to win I must save my love as well, now brgone I must prepare.


And Prepare he Does.......

[KingEli]

OT Ques.-So how will we decide the format for the tourney matches and how will the fights go down?

[M203]

~The Champion of Heaven, the Man from Beyond [or Omnipotents get the runs too!]~

The dark weighed heavy in Heaven these days as the end approached, the Angels, the lesser Gods and the Goddesses, all of them went about their business sombrely, saying little. Others put up their fronts, pretending, shutting themselves into their own little worlds, trying painfuly to cast from their memories the fragile beings of the Earth. The darkness weighed heavily upo them all, especially in these early hours. Lights out.

His measured steps fell soundlessly, the neatly, impeccably pressed tuxedo he wore moving muted in the soft wind that blew through the darkness of the hall. He moved from shadow to shadow, not inches away from the Guardians who made their rounds. He waited, it seemed an eternity, until he was alone.

"You here?" The Morning Star whispered, seemingly at the expanse of nothing. "Hey, not dead again, are you?"

"Diahorrea......" the voice gurgled painfully from down the hall, where the restrooms were. Together with the foul stench. "Sand....wiches..."

Lucifer Morningstar butted his head agaist the wall of the Mens Toilet, before putting his handkerchief over his nose and nudged the door open. And almost fell over because of the stench. "You didn't..." he muttered, unsurprised.

"Callin...dra.........sand...wiches..." the moan came from the other side of the exquisite oak door, its handle adorned with gold. Gold which had begun to corrode from the smell.

Lucifer sighed and lit up two cigarettes, slipping one under the door. "Smoke. It will deaden this...stench." That was the best he could describe the pungent odour. He heard puffing coming from the other side of the unlit Men's Room.

"Ahhhhhhh....." The relieved sigh came through the oak. "Almost....there...."

"Listen, Nudoru." The Morning Star began. "You are here for a reason, you know. And that reason is not to eat our food, drink our coffee, beat up our Elder Races and stink up our toilets." He paused. "And no, the reason is NOT for you to spew blood all over the place everytime you feel the need to die one of your increasingly ghastly deaths either."

The God-Killer doubled over in pain behind the rotting oak of the door. "Then....what...." he moaned, the disgusting plops and splashes came again to the man utside. "...do you want me here for...uRRgHGRHErrgH..."

Lucifer opened his wallet, and slipped an old, browning picture out from behind the one of Mazikeen. "Here," she straightened it out a bit and slipped it under the door. "My sister."

The sound of flushing, and a zipper being fastened came from the other side of the door, which slowly creaked open. "I think I dropped my guts back there..." Nudoru muttered, as a low light filled the room. Lucifer was astonished; the rules of reality in Heaven were absolute, but here by his side with a severe case of diahorrea was a man who had simply bent them as easily as he had earlier guzzled down several dozen of Callindra's infamous sandwiches.

"Will you stop being so disgusting! Just look at the pcture!" Lucifer fumed quietly. "My sister!"

Nudoru looked closely at the browned piece of paper, the little girl in it in the arms of her mentor smiling brillaintly, yet the triangular facial markings she had sat undistorted under the four prominent antennae bangs exiting her immaculatly permed hair.

"Cute. Haven't seen her around though. How long ago was this..." Nudoru turned the picture over. Across the back of it were smudged letters, a name. "Right. Belldandy. Little Miss Apocalypse herself. Lucifer, if you're going to ask me to kill your sister, you're seriously..." A frying pan made from the mystic Uru Metal fell upon Nudorus head, splitting it open and spilling his brains on the foor yet again.

"No, you idiot!" Lucifer began to fume again. "Do you simply not understand it all? She is going to get herself killed for the sake of this world, I cannot and will not allow her to do such a thing!" He calmed down for a moment, and looked over at the remains to Noduru's head, missing its top half, but whose mouth continued speaking even though its tongue swung about by its roots. "I have seen her only once, but I have heard time after time of th Goddess she has become. I will not see her killed, Nudoru. She is powerful enough as she is, having dominion over all withi the realm of the Present, but I fear she has not the skills to survive in this...tournament, even if it is of her own making." The Morning Star smirked. "My father has always been...impulsive about some matters, and this time, it seems that he has even gone so far as to forsake the life of his most precious daughter."

"Dominion over all within the present, that's a fair bit of punch." Nudoru stated flatly, almost bored. "You sure she can't hold her own? I mean all she needs to do is a local reformat and boom, its over for anyone in the immediate area of effect!"

Lucifer shook his head. "She has invited the most powerful beings from this side of the Fourth Wall to her great battle, I do not know what she was thinking, but rest assured that a local reformat will not always be the answer. Some of the beings she has invited, they may not be as adversely effected by such a thing as you might imagine."

"Right, so? She invited them, she can deal with them. I'm just here to sling shit at people from behind these babies!" Nudoru grinned, several tiny Light Hawk Wings manifesting within the palm of his hand. "Oh yeah, I can be even more obnoxious than Simon Cowell and no-one's gonna do squat about it!"

"Damn it, put those things away!" Lucifer yanked hard on Nudoru's regenerated ear, "remember the last time you played with those things!? You fell on top of the Tribunal and gave Just Revenge a black eye! He's still whining about it!"

"Alright, so what the hell do you want me to do about it? None of my business that your sister can't fight for nuts! I mean if all she can do is fly around and cast, shes pretty much a coroner's case already given who we saw on the invitations list!"

"Exactly!"

"Exactly what, you want her to bite it or you dont want her to bite it, make up your mind!"

"Dammit!" Lucifer grabbed a hold of the hand which Nudoru had the Light Hawk Wings orbiting, and smacked the God-Killer's forehead several times with it. "I....do...not...want...to...see...her...get...hers elf...killed!"

"Alright already, so, what, given your rep you already have a plan handy, right?" Nudoru asked, his face looking like a profusely bleeding hamburger pinchshion.

"You are the plan, idiot! Look, I had to et into bed, several times, many of those times literally, with some very, very annoying poeple in order to get my Father to bring you here. You know the kind of inferiority complex he has, and you know he'd never want anyone..."

A vice formed out of Light Hawk Energy appeared over the Morning Star's head, and promptly began squeezing. "Yeah so what? Dude, I think I gotta go again!" Nudoru began to look queasy. "Hurry it up!"

"Look, bottom line, if you agree to this you can go back to sh!tting your guts out, I don't care, but you are the one bloody being in this entire Omniverse that my Father has no control over, you are the only one being in this Omniverse who..."

By this time Nudoru was almost doubled over in pain, with crossed arms, and crossed legs. "Say.....it....sandwiches.....attacking.....!!!"

"Damn it, I need you to...giver her a few pointers for her match, I know it's against regulations, and that every competitor must fight according to the sum of their experiences and abilities, but could you please do just this one thing? She is the kindest, most benevolant Goddess I have ever known, will you save an innocent..."

The rotting, oak door slammed shut as the soft light died and the disgusting sounds of splashing and plopping began again.

"Lucifer, you do realise that you're gonna be the one who is Judged, and not me if they find out about this? Uurgrhr..."

Lucifer again lit up two igarettes, and passed one under the door. "Hmph."

Then let's see what she's got, just to establish a start point."

[M203]

~Rocky XXXXIIXVV, or The Making of a Special Final Boss!~ :D


The soft, sweet-smelling breeze flowed over the arena floor, singing its melody to the young woman in the bed at its center. The black granite of the surface, ground polished to a mirror finish reflected the stars of the Mirror Heaven, the pocket reality brought into existance just for the night.

She sensed somthing was not right, and blinked herself awake, tiredly tugging the sheets away from herself as she sat up, and muffled her own scream at the sight of the man before her. He was not the biggest of men, certainly taller than most others, well built certainly, she could not tell if he was handsome or not; the lower half of his face was obscured by a white mask with black reinforcements running along the side of the jawplate, coming together at the chin, which protruded a bit of a ways. His eyes were hidden behind black goggles with chrome lenses, and his silvery-white hair and eyebrows were the only other features visable. His pale white trenchcoat fluttered in the breeze, revealing the similarly coloured suit, almost as if it were from a catwalk in Milan under it. Think straps of pale leather wound themselves across his chest, and yet more straps entwined his forearms and fists, coupled with even thicker bands across his knuckles and over the backs of his hands.

The screen behind them flashed to life, and the man spoke.

"Belldandy?"

The Goddess nodded her reply, the sleep leaving her quickly as the adrenalin began to pump. Her intuition was telling her to prepare for the worst. It was right. The bed, and most of the arena floor vanished, returned to absolute nothingness as the man opened his hand. "Antmatter Bomb," he muttered from behind the chin-guard. She threw up the shield instinctively, barely in time to block the charging knee kick which knocked her backwrds, spralwing her across the remains of the arena floor, the shockwave from the impact demolishing several pillars a split second later. "Observed attack #94134, subject: Akuma."

She jumped back to her feet, struggling to matain her only defense as the half-masked man drove his fingers through the shield, and began pulling it open. "Bridging the Phase Space, Eva Unit 01" he explained. She took to the air, only to find him at her back, bearing down toward her with lighting speed , a reversed double-axhandle screaming towards her skull. She dodged, but still only managed to avoid having the blow crush her skull. "Instant Transmission, Son Goku, and several others. Watch out for it!" She slammed into the dust below, rolling with the impact. She felt several of her ribs jarring about; she knew they were broken form the bad fall as she coughed up a mouthful of blood. A lung had been punctured. She half-rolled herself out of the way as her assailant landed where she was but a fraction of a second ago, the ground beneath him exploding violently. "Heaven Dive Bomb, Akuma. Do NOT get hit with this!"

And so it went on, until the sky began to glow with the rise of the Sun in the Mirror Heaven, and the breeze began to grow warm. At long last, the onslaught ended, and she was left clutching painfully to a broken arm with her other shoulder badly dislocated. The pain was so great that she could not even whimper....and then she found herself back in her bed, dripping with cold sweat, a small bruise on her left arm where she thought she would find a broken bone, a sign that it was not just a nightmare. The memory of it seemed burned into her mind. As she turned slowly to where the jar of water was by her bedside, her hand instead fund a set of notes, on which were scribbled very basic stances, ideas and tactics, many illustrated with very badly drawn stick figures.

~Report Card~

The dark weighed heavy in Heaven these days as the end approached, the Angels, the lesser Gods and the Goddesses, all of them went about their business sombrely, saying little. Others put up their fronts, pretending, shutting themselves into their own little worlds, trying painfuly to cast from their memories the fragile beings of the Earth. The darkness weighed heavily upo them all, especially in these early hours. Lights out.

"How'd it go?" The morning Star whispered, quietly reviewing the footage on his mobile phone; the data had just reached him.

"Not good," the voice on the other end wasnt amused at all, "her reflexes, her tactics, practically zilch. She doesn't know how to react to a physical attack either, she can get her shield up quick enough, but against a speedster it's still too slow, and a lot of these guys and gals fight for a living or just to live, her biggest problem is that she doesnt know what to do if someone gets past the shield, its pretty damned strong, but against some of the higher-tiers, it is going to fail. She can't hold up against a sustained attack either, she has a lot of trouble with close-in fighting, and it's tactical fighting that she's worst at, especially when the opponent changes combat ranges at the drop of a hat. She tries to get out of range if things get to hot, and with a lot of these guys, if she uses that as an escape route, it's gonna open her up to soak a much bigger attack, face it man, she's a coroner's case just like I told you earlier. She just doesn't have the skills for it!"

Lucifer slumped into his seat. The hands-free Bluetooth uit in his ear again crackled to life. "To you, three munites. To her, six hours. She's got the stamina and heart for it, but if you give me five sets of three minutes every day, she might get good enough to pull through, what do you think? The other commentators can't read her since she's been pretty much "doped up,"she might get good enough for the final, what do you think?"

Lucifer brought his hand to his head as he watched the tiny screen before him, the God-Killer teleporting behid his sister's shield as she retreated and then almost gutting her with a copyright-defying Shin-Shoryuken.

"Do it, make sure she comes out of this alive, or you will answer to..." He stopped midway through, watching the screen as the man on the other end collapsed the sum of several disjointed multiverse's worth of compressed energy into Belldandy's shield just to test its limits. "Never mind, just....just please make sure she doesnt get herself killed, alright?"

The answer came as a horrified scream amid the violent splashing of water.

"Bloody mutated sewer rats," he sighed, adding another tick to the "Fanchar Really Stupid Death" tally. :D

[OverMaster]

He felt strangely at home there. The crimson red skies, through which huge squads of grotesquely smiling flying fishes passed by in a migration to the South; the twisted, dark streets of the city in which he was, surrounded by impossibly tall buildings shaped like pretzels; the dead, grinning Robins hanging from each lamppost as far as he could see.

It was the perfect place.

"That is because you are dreaming" a calmed voice told him.

Joker turned around to see the pale, black haired man in black clothes, staring intensely at him with his sharp black eyes, a raven perched on his right shoulder. The Clown Prince smiled at him. "Oh, are you a fan of mine? I'd say you are, considering the tint you use on your kisser... Either that, or you're a Goth... If that's the case, please leave. Go bother Kadaver, or someone else...".

"We aren't going to get anything out of him" the talking raven said to the unknown man. "He's too far gone, and besides--".

"Hush, Matthew" he commanded. And then added, for the Joker, "You are in the lands of the Dreaming. My name is Morpheus, former master of this country".

"Former?" Joker looked at him with some incredulity. "And what happened, did the Mob make you an offer you couldn't pass for the sale?",

"I died" Morpheus replied, as if nothing. "My replacement as the Lord of Dreams was..." he waved a hand, and showed Joker a dimensional window through which they could watch the current Dream with the other Endless, all laughing while watching a marathon of 'Nudoru's Funniest Death Scenes' tapings on a huge TV screen, "... that one, Daniel. The one who is now choking on his nachos in foolish laughter...". A pause. "Wait a second, please". He stepped inside of the window and bonked Daniel/Dream on the head, yelling "Start acting somewhat In Character, dammit! You're disgracing the role!!". He went back with Joker quickly. "... Ahem. Anyway," he continued as he closed the window "by now, you surely know how the End of All That Is is near".

"Yeah, I've heard about it. Oh, no more Rodney Dangerfield comedies on cable TV!" Joker feigned an exaggerated sob. "Ohhh, the pain...!".

"This is no laughing matter" Morpheus answered. "Yes, the End is coming as fast as it can. So, as you could see, the supreme beings of the Omniverse have been called to the Heavens to overview the whole process. Still, even in the final days, humans shall continue dreaming. So I was asked to take over my old role for a few days, once more, as my replacement is... handling other matters".

"Of course" Joker nodded, grinning. "Who better than a dead man, or whatever you are, to rule over the dreams of an already practically dead universe? Still, what in heck does that have to do with me?".

"You are a part of that proccess, too. There is a reason why Hild chose you for her forces" Morpheus told him. "And what she plans to do... is something I can't agree with. Believe me, I have seen her dreams".

"So, what do you want from me, Spooky? You want me to turn against her and play the hero for the good, the wellbeing of everyone, and Aunt Lydia's apple pie? Hah! What a joke!".

"I told you so!" Matthew the Raven crawed.

Morpheus just gestured him to shut up again, then continued for Joker, "Even for you, her plans are extremely dangerous. Trust me, you do not want her to succeed. Look for the key in your past. That is going to give you the answers you need".

"What the fudge?" Joker blinked quickly.

"When you arrive to the Tournament grounds, sooner or later you are going to meet a child, and Skuld is her name. Ask her to bring you with her eldest sister. The Goddess of the Past can give you the answers I can't provide...".

"Eh, eh, wait! Why should I even--" the sinister clown began to protest, but then the whole world crumpled around them, suddenly, and Morpheus wasn't there anymore.

Joker had been awakened. He was sitting on a chair right outside of Hild's office, wearing a blood crimson version of his standard purple suit. And Goenitz was standing next to him.

"Come with me, poor lamb" Hild's follower told him, sternly. "It is time for you to meet our final partners in this sacred assignment, and then to go to enact it".

Joker rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and yawned. "I had the weirdest dream...". He paused, and pondered it maybe would be better to stay mum about it. "Never mind!" he stood up quickly, and stretched his arms. "Let's put this show on the road! I'm feeling lucky today!".

[KingEli]

Northen England,U.K

We see the house of Mask home of the famous Mask wrestling dynasty and right now we see four people who are their country's best.The Man in the Mask is Kevin Mask,a top Chojin wrestler and heir to his family,s name,the young Gril in the MI6 uniform is Cammy White,Street Fighter and one of the best soiders in her majastey armed forces,the well dressed man is Dudley,The world Famous Boxer and top nocth gentelman, and last but certinly not least is Brian Barrdock aka Captian Britian the famed super hero and famed protector of the British Ielse.And Merlin the Magician who bestowed the power on Brian.

Dudley-So what you are saying old bean is that Crsis is coming and we need to stop it?

Merlin-Yes,for you see my Magic has showed me that a Crisis is coming and combined with this strang invataion to this Torunament that Brian got it must not be a coninsence.So thats why I got Britan mighteset warriors to defend her and the World

Cammy-Well if it as major as you said Bison IS have his nose in it so I need to go.

Mask-But why us? Wans't anybody form your Earth able to help you? Plus with your power can you do this alone?

Brian-Yes but the rules stated I needed a team of four to compeat and Merlin said it would be better if we got fellow Britons to help us.So will you hlep me?

Kevin-I'm never one to shy away for a fight and the house of Mask will be on your side Captian.

Cammy-It's my Duty to Helpe defend my country if she need it you got me.

Dudley-Yes you have my fist as well, May God save the Queen!

All-May God save the Queen!

Brian-Thank you,Team England is ready Merlin

Merlin-Indeed it is.

[Saint_007]

Okay, with the 5 teams KingEli set up (Team USA, Team UK, Team Latveria/Doom, the Geese Howard Team and Team JLAvengers), we've officially hit the 32 team number roster. The reserved places have been decided by Overmaster, and as such, I don't think there's any more space for more teams.

[OverMaster]

Lucifer Morningstar straightened his tie before knocking on the door to Callindra's room. He waited for a moment then, until her bubbly "You can come in...!" came from the inside.

And he went in, to find her working at a small computer, accessing the Ygdrassil data banks. He smiled to himself. It was good to know he still had that charm that made him get anything he wanted from most girls, not to mention he still could manipulate most angels (especially the naive, novice ones) to his will.

Enough of that, the Morning Star told himself. There were serious matters to worry about. The main current problems (not that weren't a bloody LOT of others of them, by the way) were:

1) His sister's survival.

2) The Orochi at risk of being awakened.

3) What in her Hell was Hild planning, anyway?

The first one, he had to grudgingly admit, he partially relied on that stupid Karaage for it. That was not a comforting thought, but it still was better than nothing. The second one was apparently less pressing... the deities, especially the Choushin, still were insisting they wouldn't dare to use the shirtless bastard for the Ragnarok Operation, but he knew better than to stop thinking about it. And the third one... well, he had only a hunch, but even so...

"So, what did you get?" he asked to her, approaching her while making the petite blonde to blush slightly.

"Ah, well, Mr. Morningstar, you see..." she began, "about what you asked me to investigate concerning the Orochi, it seems like a new descendent of that bloodline has been recruited for the tournament". She showed him a picture of a madly grinning Yamazaki on her computer screen. "Mr. Ryuji Yamazaki, under orders of Mr. Geese Howard of Southtown".

Lucifer frowned silently. Howard, if he remembered it correctly, had some knowledge about the Orochi, and enough ambition to try to control such powers beyond his reach.

"Mr. Yagami Iori, nemesis of Mr. Kusanagi Kyo," Callindra continued, "is still living his usual life in Japan, and has not been drafted into the event yet. But I figure it's only a matter of time for that. Especially since he's going to burst there, one way or another, as soon as he learns Mr. Kusanagi is there".

"Too true" Lucifer nodded. "How about the others?".

Callindra seemed slightly concerned then. "We can't get a pinpoint location of Leona Heidern's whereabouts".

"How so?".

"She's just disappeared without leaving a trace. The last time we saw her, she was in a mission with her partners in the African jungles, but they... simply vanished without leaving any clue. Her adoptive father has sent some agents to look for them, with no results".

"And you tell me Ygdrassil's tracking systems can't locate her, neither? Obviously, this is--".

"Some job from someone with a lot of power rivaling ours, yes" she replied meekly. "A similar thing looks to have happened with Miss Shermie and Mr. Nanakase Yashiro. Dead or alive, we can't find them or their souls anywhere".

Lucifer almost cursed. The descendents of the Orochi were either enlisted for the tournament or snagged by unknown forces. Obviously, someone else out there had a plan for them.

"I'll send someone to Africa to look for the girl" he decided. "Someone with lots of resources. Now, about Hild...".

"Ah, yes, that. I'm afraid my search couldn't reveal much more than we already knew" Callindra offered. "Mr. Goenitz, leader of the Descendents of the Orochi and his High Priest, reconverted for Lady Hild for her cause. Miss Mara, one of Lady Hild's most known right hand women. Miss Bell... aww, she's sooo cute... em, I mean, we have little data about her in our files, but she seems to be a superpowered living weapon... And then there's Mr. Joker...".

Yes, the Joker, Lucifer pondered. All the others made sense. The highest ranking child of Orochi, one of Hild's own loyal agents, and a Superman level being. All those had evident usefulness for Hild, especially if she wanted to take a part in the awakening of the God of Destruction for her own goals. But the choosing of the Joker made no sense. He was annoying, powerless, backstabbing, and the ultimate loose cannon... too mad and wild to be controlled easily. More problems than he was worth.

However, Hild wasn't dumb at all. She had to have a good reason for wanting him on her side. "I want a deep investigation on the clown's background" he said. "Every detail you have on him, even the smallest bit of information... anything that could make him useful to Hild. Would you do that for me?".

She nodded, eyes shining. "Of course, Mr. Morningstar!".

"Just make sure you aren't caught doing it. I don't want anyone else finding out about this. It could be... inconvenient for both of us".

"Oh, don't worry. No one'll know about it. Now, don't you want anything to eat or drink?".

"Eh, actually, no. I just ate. The Living Tribunal called for pizzas for everyone".

[KingEli]

USA Team:

Mxy-Well here we are you schmoes,

Terry-Thanks...I think.

Mxy-Think nothing of it now if you'll excuse me I got to go back to 5d land to deliver the good news.....oh and don't get yourselves killed.

Heavy D!-Yo Masters,whats wrong?

Ken-Just thinking about,well you know,if we fail.

Cap-Don't think like that,We'll win this thing and nobody is gonna stop us.

Terry-Het Ken man I know how you feel I got a brother,friends and a ..son myself back at southtown.

Ken-Thanks and your right we'll win for sure because you got me on this
team!

Guy-I know that loud,braggin mouth any where.

Ken-Ryu,where the hell have you been man! (Gives Ryu a noogie)

Ryu-Hey get off! (Trows him off ala SFA3) You know fighting in this tourney as well and saving everybody.

Ken-Well I see you herd about it as well, come meet my team. This is Captian America, a Super Hero from a diffrent Earth.

Cap-It's great to meet you Ken, speaks highly of you.

Ryu-Likewise and Thanks.

Ken-You know Terry and D.

Terry-Hey Ryu haven't seen you since "The Mark of the Menllenium" Contest hows it been?

Ryu-Traveling the world Traning the Usual,Hey Ken what,s the name of your team anyway?

Ken-USA Team,What else?

Ryu-Hey Come on I would like to meat my team......

[Mr.Sandman]

"Haaail Ilpalazzo!!!" Excel was the first, as usual, to perform the standard greeting before the glorious leader of ACROSS. Ilpalazzo, also as usual, ignored her completely. "Hail Ilpala...zz..zz.." Hyatt turned a dark blue in the face and collapsed, a pool of blood forming around her lifeless corpse.....as usual. So, to sum things up everything was as it usually way.

"Hmmm.......Excel, Hyatt" Lord Ilpalazzo put aside the random magazine he had been flipping through and eyed the two agents with his fingers steeped. "I assume you wish to hear about today’s assignment?"

"Whatever it is your loyal lackey Excel will do anything in her power to see it done Lord Ilpalazzo-sama, even perform unmoral acts of shame in public and insane acts of danger only a druggy would attempt!" Excel stated with a sudden surge of energy. Ilpalazzo on the other hand raised an eyebrow, not sure wither to take that as good or bad. "It is good your optimistic. Tell me Excel, do you know what is planned for today?"

"The same thing that’s planned everyday Ilpalazzo-sama. Trying to take over the..*click*....woorrlldd........" Excels voice echoed down the trapdoor which closed as Ilpalazzo released the rope with a sigh. "For once, No. I have a very important task for you.....Excel"

Hyatt's body twitched for a few moments, then she slowly pushed herself off the floor and wobbled back to her feet. At the same moment the door to the chamber flew open and a soaking wet Excel ran back in and assumed her usual position. "Oh Ilpalazzo-sama! To trust your excellent servant with such a important mission! I will not fail or surrender even under pain of Intestinanation!"

"....thats....not a word." Ilpalazzo reached for the rope once more, but managed to resist this time and simply adjusted his glasses. "You will be working under a un named group who is current providing our organization with resources in return. The information you need is contained in this document." Ilpalazzo rose from his throne of sorts and produced a large folder which he passed to Hyatt. "You will accompany Excel on this mission.....to supervise."

"Hai Ilpalazzo-sama" Hyaat gave a quiet bow while in the background Excel put on a depressed look with her finger in the air. "Umm....Why do I get the feeling he doesn't trust me on my own."

"Shall we be on our way?" Hyatt held the folder to her chest and smiled at Excel as she staggered past and out the chamber door. Excel, still with a rejected look on her face followed soon after.

Left to his own devices, Lord Ilpalazzo sat once again upon his seat and poked around the sides until he pulled out a small compact video game. "....Love Puny 2. Hmmm....." With a flick of the on switch Ilpalazzo was soon engrossed in yet another dating sim.

[Saint_007]

Forte was standing just outside of Wily's Fortress, gazing at the outside world.

"Rockman," he whispered to nobody in particular. "One day, I will show you who indeed is the best. I have outdone you in power, but eventually, I will show you who is the better warrior!"

"Forte!" came Dr. Wily's voice over the loudspeakers. "I don't know where you are, but you come in hered *right now*."

"Okay, fine, old man," Forte grumbled. "But this better be good."

Inside, he saw the evil scientist observing the screens, extremely interested in their output.

"What is it, you old fart?" Forte was not really pleased at being Wily's lapdog. "This better be a good one."

"Why, my dear Forte, it is," Wily snickered. "I'm pretty sure you'll be as keen to know what I know as I am in telling you." Wily's grin usually wasn't good news, but it did seem he was very happy about something.

"Oh? Another plot of revenge? Please, your last dozen didn't work so well..."

"Bah, I'm not going to do another plan. I'm... rather busy for the moment..."

"Doing what?!" Forte asked suspiciously.

"What's it to you?" snapped Albert angrily. He thrust a card out. "Here, this is for you."

"What is this?!" Forte began reading it. "'To Forte Wily - Congratulations, you have been invited to a grand tournament-' What the hell is this crap?!"

"Exactly what it says, Forte," Wily said with a grin. "Read it some more."

Forte grumbled some more before continuing.

"'You will be pleased to know that the winning team will get their wishes granted. Also-' Wait, what's this?! 'Also, your rival Rockman will be there as well.'" He turned on Wily. "This better not be a joke, Wily!"

"Well, I'd like to think so, but it really seems genuine," Wily responded, turning to his computer screens. "It would seem there's a large flux in the time-space continuum spreading through several dimensions and realities. All of them seem to be leading to one point - which, unfortunately, is out of range of my sensors..." Albert rubbed his chin. "Furthermore, there seems to be no sign of Megaman these past few days. Witnesses report that he met up with a flying boy robot, someone called Astro Boy from Japan. Then shortly after, Light and his robots disappeared with their guests."

"So, it's true," Forte pondered, a grin on his face. "Hmph. Very well, I'm going to this... championship. And Rockman better watch out..."

With that, Forte summoned Treble with a whistle. He then flew out of the fortress.

"Heh, that fool," Wily grinned. "I seemed to have forgotten the fact that I too was invited." He pulled out his own invitation from his lab coat. "Heh. And it would appear that my old... 'friend', Dr. Eggman was invited too..."

Wily laughed sinisterly as he walked to his skull-shaped Wily-copter...

[Golden Darkness]

- Space, near the vicinity of the planet Mirinoi -

"So, that's the planet Mirinoi. An idyllic looking place, don't you think R2?"

"Bleep bleep beep boop."

"Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids."

In the space surrounding the surrounding the forested planet, a lone Eta-2 Actis Interceptor flew through its emptiness towards the planet while the craft's pilot, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, took in the stillness of the scene.

In the past few years, visiting such planets was a rare event, as the Clone Wars overtook the galaxy, turning many peaceful system into battlezones. For Anakin Skywalker, seeing planets untouched by war was a breath of fresh air. While he enjoyed testing his skills on the front lines, he wanted a break from the battles from time to time.

However now was not the time for such thoughts. Obi-Wan Kenobi's long dead master, Qui-Gon Jinn, has sent a message from beyond the netherrealm of the Force. The message told of a great calamity that was about to befall on the entire Universe, threatening the existance of everything including the Galactic Republic. However, the message did not elabrate further on the danger, and instead requested for the Chosen One to leave Coruscant alone. A warp in space was to bring him to the planet Mirinoi, and from there he was to allow the Force to guide him to a chosen meeting place, the shrine of the Quasar Sabers.

He didn't want to go at first, considering he felt the war was near its end since he had defeated Count Dooku and thrawted Chancellor Palpatine's abduction, and he wanted to help ensure it. Not to mention he wanted to be near his pregnant wife. But the device the message was in was imbuded with Force energies. He could not ignore it.

"Bleep bleep boop boop beep boop bloop."

"Only one spot of civilization amongst that green? Must be a colony then," the Jedi answered, taking note of the readings his R2 unit was providing him. "Looks like that's a place to start looking for the shrine."

"Bloop bloop beep boop boop."

"I agree. Let's hope the locals are friendly."

- Pallet Town, Pokemon World -

"Morning mom."

"Morning Ash. Did you sleep well?"

The young Pokemon Master hopeful faced his mother, allowing her to see the bags under his eyes. "Not really. I had a lot of weird dreams, and I wonder if they were trying to tell me something."

"Really? What kind?" Delia asked.

"Well..." Ash began, putting his pointer fingers together, "there was this one dream involving an older version of Misty in some kind of weird cheerleader outfit (http://thesoldierpage.free.fr/Fan2/OceanSoldier.jpg) with a short skirt and lot of ribbons (http://thesoldierpage.free.fr/Fan2/OceanReveuse.jpg), and she was firin' attacks like water Pokemon (http://thesoldierpage.free.fr/Gif%20soldier/Ocean%20attack.gif). And there was this one dream where Pikachu was wearing black (http://img126.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc244&image=290_Pikachu_With_a_gun.jpg) and shooting at clocks (http://www.logopresents.com/Submissions/NeoPikachu-PikaReturns-AFD4.asp). And there was this one dream where I turned into a Pikachu and end up wondering through a bunch of dungeons and..."

"Ash," Delia interrupted, "did you watch any bad movies?"

"Um, I don't think so. I thought the movies that I managed to see were pretty good. Why are you asking?" Honestly, Ash was glad his mother stopped him from continuing on. If he had kept on going, he would have soon told his mother about the dream about an older Misty in a bikini (http://thesoldierpage.free.fr/Dessins/Photo06.jpg), which would undoubtly be an embarassing moment for both him and his mom.

Sighing in realization that her son didn't know what she meant by 'bad movies', she replied, "I'll explain at the breakfast table. Mimie has some pancakes ready."

"Ooh... pancakes." With that the Pokemon trainer headed off to the kitchen, leaving his mother alone.

But before she could join her son, the ringing of the doorbell stopped her in her tracks. "Now who could that be?" she pondered as she answered the front door.

On the other side of the door was a man of average height dressed in black. His jeans were black. His shirt was black. His light jacket was black. His shades was black. The only thing that wasn't totally black was his skin and his long flowing hair, which was actually black with a golden blond lightning streak going through it. "Is this the Ketchum residence?" he inquired.

"Yes, I'm the lady of the house," Delia said.

"I'm looking for your son, Ash Ketchum. I heard that he was heading home from the Battle Frontier and I wish to speak to him about another tournament."

"Oh my. Come in then." Delia motioned the man to come in and closed the door behind him. "Ash just came home with his friends last night. He's having breakfast right now."

"That's good. Should I speak to him at the breakfast, or should I wait till he's finished eating?" the man asked.

Before Delia could answer, the doorbell rang again. "Who could be coming here at this time of day?" With that she moved to answer the door, but the man stopped her.

"Mrs. Ketchum, let me take care of this." Before Delia could protest, the man opened the door to reveal a certain trio disguised as door-to-door sales people.

"Hello, masters of the house!" went the male with the short blue hair.

"Do we have have a deal for you!" went the woman with the red hair.

"A deal 'dat makes youse truly masters of the house," went the badly diguised Meowth.

"With this ultimate remote control," explained the man with the short blue hair, as he pulled out a boomerang shaped device with many many buttons, "you can control anything you want!"

"It's the hottest device ever! TVs, DVD players, computers, the fridge, the thermostat, your lawn mower, and even your hairdryer can be controlled by this miracle device," added the woman with the red hair.

"And the greatest thing of all, its totally cheap!" finished the Meowth.

The man rolled his eyes. "Sorry, but I got the ultimate remote control, and it can truly control anything." With that he pulled out the said device (http://media.cube.ign.com/articles/651/651275/img_3073869.html)(1), which was remarkably less complex then the one held by the fake salespeople. "Besides, yours was built for only one thing, capturing the boy's Pikachu." With that he hit the pause button, causing the trio to freeze in place.

"Gwaaaaah!" exclaimed the trio, as they were immobilized.

"Time to blast off Team Rocket," the man stated as he pressed another button and waved the remote. However instead of sending them to the skies, only their clothes were, leaving the human members naked and the Meowth without fur.

"Eeeeeek!" declared both human members, as they attempted to cover up their parts but couldn't due to their inability to move.

"MMYYYYY FFUUUUURRR!" cried Meowth.

"Whoops! Pressed the wrong button." With that the man repeated the motions, pressing a different button. This time his got the desired result, the three low-leve criminals flying off to the horizon. "Now that's settled," he remarked, closing the door. "Sorry about that Mrs. Ketchum. I hope that won't cause..." he stopped after seeing that Delia was on the ground, having fainted. "Aw hell...."

**********************************

"That nerve of that man! He strips us of our chance to capture the twerp's Pikachu, then he had to strip us of our dignity!" whined Jessie.

"What are the chances of this plan getting out of control?" whined James.

"A very remote one, if you ask me," answered Meowth.

POP. "Wobba, wobbuffet!"

"He was definately in control of the situation for sure," remarked Jessie.

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF IN THE BUFF!"

"WOBBUFFET!"

--------------------------------------------------------------

=Notes=

I have made changes in my Teams.

Troubleshooters has a fourth. Kane Blueriver from Lost Universe.
Anakin's team is named Saviors for now. I'm replacing Lloyd with Usagi/Sailor Moon.
Dark Side now has Darth Vader, if no one else wants him.
Team Nuisance has a fourth as well. It's Happosai for the moment.

All the links I place are things I just found on the net and/or wanted to integrate into the episode somehow.

The guy with the super powered remote is my fan made character whose purpose is only to get the good teams together, wokring alongside Qui-Gon and a third I have yet to reveal.

[OverMaster]

Nerima, Tendo Residence:

Akane Tendo grumbled to herself as she laid down on her bed, gazing at the roof above her. She couldn't sleep. Not because she was worried about that jerk, of course. She was sure he could hold on his own in that tournament he had been invited to.

What really irked her was how he left without even inviting her to tag along. She had not even asked for a place in the team: she was totally aware she wasn't in Ranma's league anyway, and going by what little she had seen of those Ryu and Kyo fellows, they would make her to look useless next to them. Still, Ranma at least might have allowed her to go as a possible benchwarmer replacement, and a spectator. She was a fighter, after all; of course she had interest for seeing those bouts. And what did he say? "That's no place for you, Akane. Now stop asking for it!".

Jerk.


The yells from downstairs took her by surprise. It was her father's voice. As quickly as she could, she jumped off the bed and ran for the Dojo, taking a bamboo sword from her belongings on the way. In the way, she ran into Kasumi, looking very concerned, and a similarly pijama-clad Nabiki, rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of a hand.

"Did you hear that, too?" Nabiki asked her, with a half yawn. She knew how much of a heavy sleeper Akane was.

"Yes" Akane whispered, nodding, as she approached the Dojo's door with extreme stealthy caution. "That wasn't Dad's usual way of yelling when he's just having a tantrum. Something serious is going on here...".

She was startled when someone threw the unconscious bodies of Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome (in his panda form) through the door at her feet. Akane gasped, as she saw the tall, huge man with dark old styled clothes and sharp facial features floating in the middle of the Dojo, smiling down to her in a sinister, twisted fashion.

"You don't need to worry about them" the stranger told her, in a powerful, calmed and elegant tone of voice. "I thought their blood wasn't worthy of staining my hands. They are going to awake in a few hours... The beast actually gave me something close to a good fight...".

"Oh my" Kasumi gasped, going pale.

"Who are you?!" Akane demanded, staring at the stranger with burning eyes. "What are you doing here?!".

He bowed formally to the sisters. "My name, dear ladies, is Lord Demitri Maximoff. I am here to make you an offer you should listen to".

"What?" Nabiki blinked, confused, before being suddenly grabbed by powerful arms from behind, and pinned down against the wooden floor. "Hey, what's the big idea?!".

"You silent, Nabiki" a purring, mischievous female voice sounded in her right ear, as Shampoo leaned against her, still holding her in a strong grip. The young Chinese amazon looked somewhat different... somehow darker in attitude, more dangerous... Nabiki noticed, as a similarly changed Ukyo grabbed Kasumi appeared behind Kasumi and caught her in a strong hold as well.

"Sisters!" Akane screamed, and was about to charge against her rivals to attack, but Demitri stopped her grabbing her by a shoulder. "Wait, please. I mean you no harm at all. Far from it; I only wish to give you the greatest gift of them all... Eternal life and beauty, with strenght and youth for all eternity. You should count yourselves as quite fortunate. I only recruit the most perfected humans for these purposes".

"What are... you?" Akane hesitated, already dreading the answer.

"Only your future beloved Lord and Master, of course" he grinned softly but cruelly. He gave her an envelope with a red seal. "Do you know what does this mean?".

"Y-yes..." she replied.

"Your fiance got one of these, if Shampoo's words ring any truth. Am I right?".

"Y-y-yeah..." Akane stammered, almost hipnotized by those piercing eyes fixed on hers. "R-Ranma got... an invitation...".

"I am interested in his services as well, you know" Maximoff continued. "I need not only beautiful concubines to serve me, but also powerful warriors who fight for me... an Overlord can't do it all by himself, I'm afraid... especially not handling the lowest annoyances, when a minion could do it".

"You want... Ranma...?" Akane babbled, as he approached his mouth to her neck... Then something snapped inside of her. NO. She wouldn't allow him to have Ranma!!

Akane charged forwards, striking Demitri as fast as she could several times in his chest and stomach areas. The bamboo sword soon broke clashing against him, but she continued the task with her own hands and feet... becoming almost a desperate blur as she punched and kicked him as many times and as strongly as she could, despite feeling it was like striking at a thick steel wall. It didn't matter; apparently, she had a speed edge on him, and she was going to exploit that at its most. She finished with a mighty high kick to his chin, before backing away, panting, almost exhausted. Surely, he HAD to feel that...

He merely grinned again, rubbing his chin. "Heh. Impressive. You almost made me feel that". Then he saw one of her knuckles bleeding, and with a swift, quick motion, he took her hand by surprise and licked the blood off it. "Hmmm. Delicious".

Akane struggled to free herself, but he was too strong for her.

"You have such a high, passionate spirit... I like that. I see I wasn't wrong to choose you as my third teammate. Please, my dear, surrender. Become one of my ranks, and you shall keep your incredible beauty and charming youth forever... you will be even much stronger than you are now... and you shall be reunited with Ranma...".

She felt somehow dizzy, influenced by his soft words. "R-Ranma... Y-Yes... I could.... I guess...".

She felt so weak right now... Surely, getting a little of extra strenght couldn't harm her, she barely could think as she felt the fangs being buried in her throat. Funny, it actually didn't hurt that much.

It was more like a final kiss.

[M203]

~Big Trouble in Little Tokyo~

The scream of the Borgo Panigale twin-cylinder engine split the heavy darkness, the red and white Italiano missile screaming through the smooth paved marble streets of Heaven, the taillight flashes trailing behind it, as if they were themselves too slow to keep up. The rider snickered menicingly as he swerved through the streets in the dead of night, the Ducati 999R straining to keep up with its owner's demands, streaking through the night towards the decripid old building at the end of the celestial city. Heaven. There were no emmissions rules here, he didn't care about them either; why would he? He had a reputation to mantain.

The dual calipers radially mounted on magnesium race wheels shed their paint as they went into thermal shock, the rider slamming on the front brakes so hard the bike stood on its nose and cruised in to a stop, letting the rear down hard, careful not to allow the box strapped to the rear to fall. He did not care; after all, the bike came free. A brick, the glass panel window at the Ducati dealership, an keypress left unlocked, and an unchecked portal into Heaven itself. That was all he needed. The white trenchcoat adorned with the Kanji "Really painful debacle" across its back and the blood-red scarf fluttered in the soft, warm breeze as the rider approached the door and pulled the training sword away from his back, using it to push the doorbell. The eyeslot shot aside, the pair of bloodshot peepers peering through at the man outside through cigarette smoke.

"'Bout time you got back, did you get it?" the man on the other side asked.

"Yeah, here!" The rider held up the box. "Tax-free too!"

The door was thrown backwards forcefully, and the hairy form half-walked and half-jumped out, pandering at the box. "Give a little here, I haven't had a fresh one in decades!" Sun Wukong insisted, tyring to snatch the box away from its owner, only to find the wooden training katana levelled at his face by the man appearing to be a member of a Kansai bike gang.

"We'll divvy it all up later, I sent a lot more back but I had to do it through the Hellmouth, it's gonna get here tomorrow so sit tight." He handed a pack of Marlboros to the Monkey King. "That enough, or..."

The Monkey King was already happily puffing away.

"Man, you're an addict," the man observed and brushed past. "So how've things been these last few months? I'm about ready to finish up in the Middle East, it's pretty f*ckin' hard gathering up fighting Ki these days, everyone's so weak."

"You mean you didn't hear about it?" Wukong huffed, exhaling a plume of smoke. "I know what you mean, things have sure changed since the old days, modern warriors prefer guns!"

The white-haired man stopped before the black carbon-fiber door before the both of them, the polished aluminium letters set into the base material shining in the low light: "Office of Area Reclamation and Redevelopment" He took out a small keychain and squeezed, two beeps sounding off before the door opened with a click and a hiss. "Heard about what? I don't really get many memo's these days, especially after what Rind went and did to me back in '97."

Wukong laughed, he remembered all to well that the Goddess of War did not like playing second-string to anyone. "They want to bring back Ragnarok," the Monkey King began, "things are already going full speed ahead, the forces of Heaven and Hell and everything in between have been in disarray for a month!"

The other man squeezed the keychain again, the flat plasma screens in front of the pair flashing to life and tuning themselves in to the latest episode of "Pootan." The Monkey King wandered over to the glass table next to them, and the touch-sensitive buttons beneath the glass slab flashed to life. He punched in a sequence, and the screens began to show the story so far.

The man beside the monkey threw the trenchcoat over the minimilast, stainless-steel chair which contrasted sharply with the exquisite design-language with the rest of Heaven. Hell, everything in the Office of Area Reclamation contrasted everything else in Heaven, from the black mesh walls with chrome steel girders, the exposed air ducts and matte-black furniture, its open-plan interior design and it did help that every single bit of furniture in the place had been jacked from the wharves on Earth. "Yeah, like theyll ever give me a fax about anything like this," he spat in frustration.

The woman in the lower levels sitting before the walls of screens swung her tail and twitched her neko-ears. "Ah, Orochi, you're back! Did you get it?Did you get it?" Shader smiled expectantly, recieving the packs of cigarettes and candy gratefully.

"So what's going on?" the God of Destruction asked, lighting up a Marlboro of his own, "heard the shit's really hitting the fan from 'Kong here."

"It's hitting the fan in a big way, all the higher-ups are in an uproar. I'm surprised that you haven't even been informed about this." The Sinner Aion huffed, indicating the screens again. It had been a while since he had been re-assigned and demoted after getting his ass kicked.

"Huh, like they'll tell him about it anyway! Last time they wanted him to cleanse the planet he didn't even bother with Judgement, he just hit the Earth with an Asteroid!" The Monkey laughed, the screens showing scenes from the last Great Extinction.

The God of Destruction huffed, the screens now showing security camera footage from Heaven, Earth and Hell. He re-wound the footage from Heaven, and pointed to a newcomer. "Who's this idiot? And why the hell does he keep dying? It's really disgusting, I mean can't he just drop dead isntead of exploding and spraying blood all over Tokimi?"

"He's the new guy that Lucifer brought in, there's no data anywhere about him in the entire Yggdrasil system, it's as if he doesn't even exist!" Shader indicated the digitization of Yggdrasil's operating system and it's memory banks. "I do have the data logs from the mian grids though, it does seem that the primary system has been trying to place him within it's operating parameters, but so far it's still been processing. Time: eleven days, three hours and six miuntes, give or tak a few seconds. Doesn't seem too smart either, from the looks of things."

"He's listed as a guest commentator," Aion noted, reviewing the combat footage, "So he'd be prohibited from taking any action of his own by whatever powers he answers to. However, this worries me." The Sinner zoomed into the image of Belldandy at the breakfast table, explaining away the bruises that had appeared on her overnight.

Other demons and lower-level Gods joined them, each recieving the contrabad that they had ordered in the months before. Drugs, cigarettes, porn, pirated DVD's and Hentai, the God of Destruction smuggled it all.

Aion woud back the footage to the Goddess getting out of bed. "Those bruises weren't there before breakfast, its...interesting."

Shader brought up the temporal logs. "Nothing funny going on here," she concluded, "temporal rifts are expanding as per calculations for the Dimension Tide, but there's nothing else wierd about it at all."

"Well nothing he can do about Ragnarok if he's on temp loan, how about the other players?" the Orochi asked, flicking ash into the crystal dish at Shader's side. She brought up footage throughout Heaven.

"Temporal, dimensional and spatial distortions are all over the place, it's the Omega Initiative alright, everything in the Multiverse is coming together into one focal point. From there it can either reset, or delete. The main players at this point seem to be the Choushin, the Norns, Hild from the Nifelheim Hell, The High Inquisitor, Wrath, The Endless, and several other low-tier factions who are on the move. No word from the Celestials, the Titans, and no movement apparent from the Lord of Nightmares, she's still neutral at this point. The Culture is still deliberating, so are the Jurai, the Heart of Gold has been incapacitated in Phase Space, and several other advanced races have scrambled fleets, but have been caught in the Dimension Tide. Yggdrasil is dealing with them as per operating parameters." Shader concluded. "Everything's stable."

"We'd better keep an eye on things Earth-side," Orochi began. "That's where the physical confrontations will be, but where the real action is gonna be, that remains to be seen ad it's anyone's guess. Keep tabs on the new guy, I want to know every move he makes. If Lucifer brought him here, there's no way he's as dumb as he acts."

"Keep tabs on this Alaniel character too," Aion indicated. "I smell a wall-buster here. And he seems to have an agenda of his own."

The gods and devils returned to their stations after coffee and biscuits, the Orochi watching over them all. This was his office, the Office of Area Reclamation and Revelopment, the unspoken, the forbidden part of Heaven. This was the place of necessity. The covert. The currency here information, the rewards, knowledge and favours. They were the CIA, the FBI, the Mafia and the Yakuza of the celestial world.

These were the ladies and gentlemen who Kami-Sama called upon when things got out of hand, and no-one among its personnel was too happy about being left out of the Omega Initiative.

[Golden Darkness]

- Liberty City, USA -

Everything was totally destroyed.

Sure, Liberty City was considered a place rife with corruption and death, but few would agree that the city deserved the fate it was dealt.

The organized crime paradise was replaced with a total warzone. The majority of the city's buildings reduced to rubble. Pieces of metal from U.S. Military hardware and alien warmachines littered the streets, with alien goo covering everything with its ickyness. Anything that wasn't flattened burned in flames. The populous ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

And in the middle of the carnage was a giant robot. A giant robot with a custom paint job and a car for a head.

And its pilot was happy with his work.

"Well, that's the end of those alien gangsters," said the pilot, a fat, somewhat unkempt man with blond hair and a goatee.

"Too true," answered the skinny man sitting next to him.

"You know Coop, it was technically your fault these gangsters set up shop here in the first place," noted a red haired woman who sat in the back seat.

"And I keep telling you Kiva, how I was supposed to know they weren't tourists? Sure, San Andreas, Vice City, and Liberty City aren't exactly the best vacation spots on Earth, but I did know they were crime-filled like they wanted. Besides, at least I tested out Dexter's new upgrades to MEGAS," Coop said.

"Yeah, good thing too. Those new weapons did pull us out of a pinch or two. I thought we were definately goners," remarked the skinny man.

"Don't you worry about that Jamie. I'm always going to come out on..." Before Coop could finish his sentence, a bright green light appeared before the car-cockpit.

"Kiva, please tell us this isn't another alien attack," went Jamie, who backed into his seat as far as he could.

Kiva tapped onto the holographic console, trying to get a fix on the light. "It looks like a rift in the space-time continuum."

"Oh no... that better not be the evil version of me trying to break out," Coop groaned. Thankfully for the pilot of MEGAS, instead of his worst nightmare, a female figure in a black skintight outfit popped out of the rift, landing on the hood of the car with incredible ease.

Jamie whistled. "Nice. I always wanted a girl to pop out of thin air."

"Jamie," berated Kiva, "we don't know what her intentions are, or if she is truly human."

"As far as I can tell, I've been human for over twenty-six years, unless my parents lied to me," the girl responded, breaking into the conversation. "I'm Jade Chan, head of Section 13," she introduced, pulling out her ID.

"So you're with the government?" Jamie asked, wide-eyed. "Look here, it's not my fault all those cities got destroyed. Coop's the pilot!"

"JAMIE!" cried Coop. "Look here miss, no one going to take MEGAS away from me. I found it, I repaired it, and only I can pilot it!"

The head of Section 13 sighed. "I'm not here to arrest you or confiscate your giant robot. I'm here for something else."

Kiva blinked. "What are you here for then?"

"Your assistance in an important matter. A Norse Goddess seeks to test the universe, and I need MEGAS to join me in fighting her."

[Golden Darkness]

- Princess Peach's Castle, Mushroom Kingdom -

"Are you sure that this Ultimate Warp Pipe will work perfectly?" asked an aged Toad retainer, twirling his white mustache. The Ultimate Warp Pipe did look like nothing more than a normal Warp Pipe with a lot of gadgets and electronics attached to it.

The short scientist named Elvin Gadd turned to the worried steward of Princess Peach, giving one of his one-tooth smiles. "It'll work fine, Toadsworth, I'm sure of it! If not, I'll guarantee that Mario's chance of reaching his target dimension is 99.999999999999999999999999999 percent."

Toadsworth was only more exasperated after hearing that from the mad scientist. "That's what you said about your time machine! We can't afford to lose Mario like we nearly lost the Princess!"

"Toadsworth," interjected Princess Peach. "Mario will be fine. Speaking of which, shouldn't he be here by now?"

"Here I am," called out an Italian sounding voice. In the doorway to the room, a middle-age plumber wearing a red shirt with blue overalls stood. Behind him was his brother, a taller thinner man who wore green instead of red, carrying a suitcase.

"Thank goodness," went the princess. "You have everything you need for your journey?" The man in red nodded. "I guess that it's goodbye then."

"Don't you-a worry about it. I'll be a fine-a," Mario reassured. "I'll try to see-a if I can contact you-a there."

"Everyone," called out E. Gadd, "Stand back. I'm inputing in the coordinates to Mario's destination."

As everyone gave the scientist some space, E. Gadd started fiddling with the numerous dials, buttons, switches, and levers. Soon, a rainbow light was shooting out of the Ultimate Warp Pipe. "The gateway is now open, Mario," he announced.

"Goodbye, big-a brother," said Luigi, as he hugged his brother. "Go get them."

"I will-a, Luigi," replied Mario, exiting the hug and taking his luggage. With that Princess Peach walked up to him.

"Here's a kiss for good luck," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Hopefully you'll win the tournament."

"Don't worry about-a it. I'm-a gonna stomp the goddess and protect-a the Mushroom Kingdom." With that said, Mario took a leap into the Warp Pipe, heading toward worlds unknown.

- Bowser's Castle, Mushroom Kingdom -

"Sir Bowser," a Koopa Trooper cried, "our spies have returned from the Princess' Castle!"

Bowser, the surpreme king of the Koopas, turned to his minion. "What do they have to report?"

"They found out what that Professor Gadd's been building. It's some sort of dimensional gateway using a Warp Pipe. And Mario just used it to leave the Mushroom Kingdom."

"What?!" exclaimed Bowser. "That's great news! Princess Peach is vulnerable now!"

"But sir, the spies also found out why Mario left, and it isn't good news for anyone!" With that the minion handed Bowser a piece of paper.

Bowser, displeased that his minion failed to see things in a good light, took a look at the paper, which was a letter addressed to Mario. However, once he read it, he would be even more displased than before.

The letter read:

Dear Super Mario,

You have been chosen by me to participate in an tournament of great importance. This isn't a Super Smashing affair. The stakes are high, and the future of many worlds are in danger, including yours.

Now, I guess your are wondering who's trying to endanger the Mushroom Kingdom. I'll tell you, the entity involved is no picnic, compared to all those nasties you faced before, Smithy, Cackletta, the X-Nauts and the Shadow Queen, and not to mention those Shroobs. No, the source of this danger is the gods and goddesses that control everything from the heavens, and what they wish for is to destroy everything they created in order to replace it with a more 'purer' world on their terms. In short, everything good and evil that ever existed or will exist till be annihilated in the storms of the apocalypse.

So, you must be wondering, why I'm choosing you to participate in this tournament. You see, in order to avert the end, one must defeat the goddess the Heavens chose to represent them. And I believe you are capable of challenging the goddess.

Well, actually, you won't be fighting her alone. You'll be fighting as a part of a team I'm forming. I have picked three others to be your teammates, all of them capable in battle.

So on the final note, please note the attached instructions. It should allow your Professor E. Gadd to build a device that will bring you to a place where I'm going to have you and your teammates meet. From there, I'll bring you to the tournament grounds.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,
The Player, Lord of Games

"Blast it! This ruins all my latest plans!" growled Bowser, as he crumpled the letter in his hand. "Even if we carried them out, everything's going to be destroyed by those gods! Looks like I'll be joining Mario in this tournament in order to teach those gods a lesson!"

"How are you going to accomplish that sir?" asked Kammy, one of his trusted Magikoopas.

"You there," Bowser yelled at the Koopa Troopa that brought the letter. "Do you have the instructions?"

"Um... no sir. They were not recovered, sir," the lackey timidly replied.

"THEN GET THEM!" Bowser ordered. Trembling, the Koopa Troopa rushed out of the throne room. With that Bowser turned to Kammy. "Kammy, prep the Koopa Cruiser. We're going to visit Diamond City."

"What for sir?"

With a glint in his eye, the Koopa King answered, "I hear Wario knows a scientist that helped him on his microgames projects. I'm going to have Wario acquaint him with us. It's the only way we can acquire a device and follow that plumber."

"Yes, my lord."

[Saint_007]

OOC: I promised Sandman I'd do the intro for his Evil Scientists team. Mandark is taken from the PPG Doujinshi (http://bleedman.snafu-comics.com), just before the series beginning. Sandy is a fan-created character by Sandman, taken from the "You vs the Anime World" Thread (only this is her from 150 years after the thread events end). And I need to intro some other bad guys too.

IC:
Somewhere in the vicinity of Angel Island
Wily smoked his pipe, looking nervously at the other two and their machines. He already knew (and disliked) Dr. Eggman. The two had helped each other in the past in attempting to detsroy their nemeses, Rockman and that infernally fast blue hedgehog, Sonic. Yet, as was expected, it came to nothing. Neither scientist had spied, sabotaged, and in general completely mistrusted the other side, with plentiful reason. And the infernal Blue Duo, the Fastest Thing Alive and the Blue Bomber, had foiled their plans again and again. In general, neither really liked the other.

But then there was this scrawny kid in short pants with the bowl cut hair and annoying laugh. His name was Susan, but any mention of that would send him into a raging tantrum, proclaiming that his name was Mandark. Wily and Eggman stopped calling him Susan (mainly because he also brought a large array of weapons with him). So he was Mandark, the third member of the team.

Wily noticed that this kid, Mandark, ranted about someone called "Dexter Dexter", who seemed to be another whiz kid. Yet this was no angry rain of verbose steam-letting. It seemed it was very, very personal, and that Dexter had caused him some immense emotional harm. Whatever it was, Mandark longed for blood. Wily had considered taking advantage of that, but dismissed the thought. Taking advantage of the mercurious Protoman and blackmailing the hapless Dr. Cossack was one thing, but his sense of self-preservation told him that toying with this Mandark on the matter of this one Dexter was like playing with fire.

"So, where is Dr. Tomoe?" grumbled Dr. Eggman. "I've got plots to hatch and engines to build. This is taking far too long..."

"Your world domination attempts can wait, Eggman," huffed Wily on his pipe. "After all, they're all pretty much the same. Build giant machines, steal Chaos Gems, attack Angel Island... you know, the same old loop..."

"Shut up, Albert," grumbled the rotund scientist. "Like your plans to take over the world were any better!" He scoffed as Albert grew red. "Build Robot Masters, take over world - and get your sorry behind whupped yet again by a small blue robot!!"

"Enough of your inane ramblings, you old clowns," Mandark shouted in his high-pitched voice. "Your pathetic ramblings are only getting on my nerves and doing absolutely nothing constructive! Why either of you is classified as a 'scientist' is a joke! And not even a funny joke! If that's all you two have to offer, then I, Mandark, will have to do this alone! I-"

"I'm afraid, Gentlemen, that none of you are going *anywhere*," came a sultry voice behind them. "Or at least, not without me."

Turning around, the three saw a shapely redhead in a skintight black jumpsuit and a dark grin. She also appeared to have an advanced prosthetic arm. She appeared to be in her mid-20's. Wily had considerable effort popping his eyes back into his head.

"Who... who are you?!"

"Me?" The woman played innocent. "Why, I'm just your fourth teammate!The name's Sandy."

"BAH!" Wily snorted. "Our fourth teammate is Dr. Souichi Tomoe. You can't be him! I've known Tomoe since college, and you're NOT Tomoe!!"

"Tomoe, Tomoe, Tomoe," chanted the woman, as if trying to remember the name. "Hmmm... Oh, wait, he wouldn't be that white-haired idiot whose sorry ass I kicked while taking this," she pulled out an invitation. "Now would it?"

"W-What?!" Wily gaped. "You... you beat Tomoe and took his invitation?!"

"Face it old man," Sandy replied, face souring. "The way I beat his sorry chauvanist butt, he really wasn't cracked up to it. I was doing him a favor; all those goody-two-shoes would have pound him to a paste.

"Besides, why would an old coot like him get invited to the Big Bang at the End of the World, and not me?!" Her face was now visibly contorted with wrath. It suddenly cleared up. "So, I just... paid him a visit and set him straight... Well, okay, he might need a body cast or two to straighten his *bones*, but I'm a mad scientist, not a nurse." Her grin was wide. "So, how about we just make our greetings and kiss and make up like a good little team?"

"Pshaw!" Eggman scoffed. "A woman? I'm surprised yuo even managed to get here! Why would we even need you?!"

"Let me give you some advice, fatty," Sandy replied, noticeably less friendly. "You either go quietly with me, or I just might decide to give your invitation to a more congenial friend. And I know a few who'd just *love* to take your place..."

"Okay, that's it, you little brat!!" Albert had enough. He didn't especially like Tomoe, but evil mad scientists had to stand up for each other against upstarts like these (unless of course it contradicted their own well-being). And now this little girl had the audacity to threaten them. "Gutsman! Get her!"

"Yes, Boss!" Gutsman jumped out of the Wily-copter's eye. He charged at the redhead.

Sandy grinned as the scanners built into her eyes profiled Gutsman and analysed his rash attack. She stood perfectly still, smile still on her face.

Gutsman, roaring loudly, swung to hit. Sandy ducked with blinding speed under the massive punch, grabbed the Robot Master's arm by the wrist, and tossed him like a rag doll. While he was still flying in the air, her arm tranformed into a singularity mini-cannon, and aimed at Gutsman.

Gutsman was sent flying by the powerful blast until he was no more than a twinkle in the sky. Sandy's arm turned to normal.

"Now, then," the red head smugly commented. "Any other acts of idiocy?"

"Wily!" Eggman exclaimed. "She's completely robotic!"

"Huh!?" Wily's jaw hit the floor. Sandy just laughed.

"Ah, robotics," she chuckled in a dreamy voice. "A girl's best guide to eternal youth." She turned her gaze to the older scientists. "You see, I found it awfully convenient to simply transfer my consciousness to a robotic form. Stronger, faster, easily customizeable. And no need for such pesky things as life support."

"Enough of this toomfoolery!" Mandark's nervous energetic self had recovered fastest from the shock. "Sandy, I do not care in the least what goes on, as long as I am given the chance to avenge myself on my arch-enemy, Dexter! If we are to join this tournament, I do not care who joins us, as long as they are not a burden! Is that clear?!"

"Ooh, I like your spirit, little boy," remarked Sandy. "What did you say your name was?"

"Mandark! My name is-"

Sandy held a finger to his lips. "Very well then, Mandark. I suggest that we've had our jollies for today. Come, old men, we have work to do."

Eggman turned to Wily. "Are you just going to stand there and take it? From her?!"

"Are you trying to trick me to getting my ass kicked?!" Wily hissed back. "We've got no choice but to agree to her. I say we just play along... for now."

[OverMaster]

Nifelheim:

Joker took a good, hard long at the girl standing in front of him, then looked back to Hild in her child form, who had just arrived to send her team to the tournament grounds.

"Hmmmmm" he humphed, arching his green eyebrows. "What's with you and teeny weeny girlies down here in Heck? I didn't think you had such a liking for the Lolita stuff...".

Hild looked offended, but contained her desires to turn the clown into a Brazilian frog. At the same time, GIR approached Joker without any caution and tugged on his pants, repeating "I wanna balloon animals! I wanna balloon animals!".

Joker stared down at the sort-of-dog. "And what's this thing? No, no, don't tell me, I'll guess. It's our secret weapon, hiding a planet destroying bomb inside of his pure and innocent heart of gold!!".

"It's just the brat's pet" Mara snorted.

"Oh. What a letdown".

"Enough of that" Hild said, walking to the Clown Prince of Crime. "Now, it's time for you to get your farewell gift from me, Mr. Joker".

"If it's a kiss, I want it with tongue" Joker quipped.

"Such a kidder" Hild chuckled as she patted him with a hand in a knee, making him to feel an intense heat in that part of his leg, as if something was boiling inside of him. "Luckily, you're someone who can take on any handicap with a smile and a joke!".

Then he felt his affected leg to fail him, and he fell to his hands and knees. "Hey!!" he protested. "What's with you?! You want to see me killed there?! What did you do to me?!!?".

"Here" Hild chuckled again, passing him a walking cane with a fine golden handle. "You'll need this!".

Joker blinked, staring at her with wide eyes. "What the f--?? You want to send me as a cripple to that stupid fighting event of yours?! Honestly, kiddo, what's wrong with your empty head!?".

"Eh, eh, eh" the small dark skinned figure shook a finger at him. "Don't be so quick to judge, you little moron. True, I gave you a handicap... but also something that more than compensates for it. Trust me, you'll love it...".

"What do you mean?".

"Just raise a hand and point it at that wall" she told him. After a moment of hesitation, Joker did so. "Now... just think about it blowing up".

He indeed thought about it. And a second later, the wall blew up in hundreds of small pieces. Joker blinked in confusion.

Even Bell was evidently impressed. Hild was the only one in the place that just smiled.

"See?".

Joker grinned slowly at her. "You gave me... magical powers?" he asked, a tingle of dark hope in his voice.

"Highly destructive offensive and defensive potential, silly little thing" Hild talked, with a glint in her eyes. "Basically, I unleashed a source of powers inside of you. Use it wisely...".

Ignoring her, Joker was already blowing up walls to his left and right.

"Yahoo! Yahooo!" he laughed as he rampaged with his newfound powers through the interdimensional launching room, limping on a leg as he did so. "Who's the man now? Who's the man? Just wait 'til Ol' Bats gets a LOAD of this...!!".

Then, suddenly, he turned to Goenitz, pointing the palm of a hand at him, and grinning demonically. "Hey, Leo! I have something I really want to share with you!!".

But then... nothing happened.

"..." Joker's eyes went all tiny for a moment.

"I put a safety lock on your powers, Mr. Joker" Hild explained with a soft smile. "They won't work at all on your teammates. I have to worry about their safety as well, after all...".

Goenitz walked to Joker and gave him a slight slap on his head. "We still have to work a lot on your discipline!".

"With discipline, no decline!" GIR piped up stupidly.

"Now, you can't kill anyone in the matches themselves, at least not in the first stages..." Hild continued, now for everyone. "The event's organizator is... very much the squeaky clean type. She wanted to have as little bloodshed in this as possible, so anyone who kills an opponent in the first rounds of the Tournament will be disqualified".

"I understand" Bell nodded.

"That's a cryin' shame" Joker grumbled, rubbing his head where Goenitz had hit him. "She should have gone with a chess challenge instead, then. With pink pieces with nice ribbons tied around them".

"However, there are a few loopholes..." Hild cautioned. "For instance, nowhere in the rules it says you can't... take charge of certain troublesome cases... outside of the ring".

Joker got the idea, and smiled again. "Oh, I see... It's so sad accidents do happen so often, isn't it?".

"True" Hild nodded. "Even so, there are guardians there who will try to enforce their own notions of 'fair play' in the tournament's grounds... and there's nothing against that, neither. So, try that... sort of stunts... only if it is really needed to deal with troublesome parties, and if you can find your way around the guardians". She took the envelope with the invitation out of one of her pockets. "I trust this team's leadership to you..."

Mara extended her hands to her to receive the invitation, but Hild gave it to Goenitz instead.

"... Mr. Goenitz. I know you won't disappoint me" Hild continued.

"I'll honor your most benevolent trust in me, Mistress" the former Orochi priest knelt down in front of her. Mara made an extremely sour disappointed face, but said nothing. Joker chuckled to himself. Bell just didn't care.

"Now, it's time for you to go...".



The outskirts of Tokyo:

Ryu was leading the USA Team to where the rest of his own group was, when the skies darkened for a moment, and a loud thunder resounded in the distance.

They stopped. "What's this? It came from nowhere...!" Heavy D asked.

Rayden walked his way next to them, a grim expression on his face. "The first wave of the evil is here".

BOOOOOOOOOOM


In an intense, blinding flash of light, and the fall of a lightning that shook the ground, Goenitz, Mara, the Joker, Bell and GIR appeared in front of Team USA, Ryu and Rayden, surrounded by several of Goenitz's wind manifestations as powerful, swirling bursts of hot air.

"Our blessings to all of you" Goenitz smiled confidently to the others. "We have come to take a part in your event...".

"Wakka wakka..." Joker just chuckled madly.

[Saint_007]

OOC: If any of this seems inflammatory, I apologise :o

IC:
Iori Yagami was prowling the streets of Tokyo, his odd clothes even more unkempt than usual. In one hand, he held a large but almost empty bottle of sake, and with the other, he balanced his groggy self along the walls. The usual signs of drunkenness had set in; blurry vision, incoherency of either thought or senses, and complete inability to walk in a straight line.

But as always, he hated being drunk. He always got drunk for a reason - to forget Kyo Kusanagi, or just to console himself over his miserable being. And drunkenness failed him every time. And yet he continued drinking heavily at times. He hated everyone and everything around him, himself included, for the misery of his existence. But none more than Kyo himself.

"Kyyyyoooooooooooooo," gurgled Iori in a half-moan. "K...Kyyoooo Kusana-*hic* Kusanaaagiiiii... You miserable punk..." He took another tug at the bottle. "Kyyyyooooo...you cow...you *hic* coward!! Come out and face mee!! *hic* WHY DON'T YOU FACE MEEEEE, KYYYOOOOOOO!!"

He felt an upsurge in his stomach, and bent forward, puking over the street. The effort gave him a headache, as he grabbed his throbbing temples in the hand not holding the whisky bottle.

"F***ing bastard, f***ing chickens*** bastard, Kusanagi!! So, you ran away? What a f***ing coward! You can't even face death right!!"

He flashed back to two days ago when he sought out Kyo at the Kusanagi Dojo. The only ones present were those two wimps, that gorilla Goro Daimon and that puny faggot, Benimaru. He was so furious to find them instead of Kyo that he simply trashed them both and threatened to kill them unless Kyo showed up. Then that old fart, Saisyu, simply responded that Iori could search the Dojo."In fact," explained the old Kusanagi venerately, "you can search the entire *planet* if you want, Mr. Yagami. But you won't find him, no matter how hard you tried."

"What?! What do you mean by that, you old loon?!"

"I mean what I said, Iori," the old man replied. "You will never find Kyo on this world..."
Iori ran that meeting through his head a million times. But no matter how he tried to skew the memory, Saisyu wasn't lying. And nor was anyone else of the Kusanagis. They just watch him retreat from the dojo in his horror and shock.

So, Kyo was dead? Dead, before he had a chance to fight him and kill him? No, Iori reasoned, Kyo was still alive. He felt it in his blood; Kyo was still out there. But where? Where was Kyo Kusanagi? And the question drove Iori into despair.

Others would have gloated that their enemy had fled. But Iori was of different mettle. Victory was something he felt in his veins as the blood of his enemies flowed through his hands to the floor. Kusanagi's escape left him not as champion of the field, but dishonored. His life, without Kusanagi, was without meaning.

In his drunken stupors, Iori began to wonder if his whole battle was Kyo was pointless. Eventually, one of them would win, the other would die. If Kyo won, then it was the end of Iori; it would also mean the end of his misery. If he, Iori Yagami, won, then Kyo would die. Then that would leave Iori as empty as he was now. No rival, no purpose to live for.

No, Iori decided later, this wasn't it. Kyo's death meant nothing. All Kyo was is his rival, an incarnation of the thing he hated most in the universe. If Kyo won, then Iori would die in battle, a glaze of glory! If Iori killed Kyo, then Kyo would return in a different form. Yes, though Iori in his drunken haze. Kyo cannot die! Kyo MUST not die! For as long as I, Iori Yagami, walk this miserable orb, Kyo is immortal!!

He took one more swig from the sake bottle, only to find it empty. Cursing, he threw it away. He felt as if he wasn't drunk enough.

All of a sudden, he heard a sound in the alleyway. Still swaying, he put it up to his drunkenness.

Then something dug into his shoulder, releasing a wave of pain throughout his body. He heard a sinister laugh from the shadows, and say two glowing eyes in the darkness.

"GET OVER HERE!!" sounded a gruff, hellish voice, as Iori felt himself being forcefully pulled from the shoulder by that painful harpoon. Suddenly a fist exploded in his face, followed by a blow to his midriff. As he stumbled backwards from the blow, Iori felt something connect to his jaw. He was sent flying into a dumpster.

Crawling out, Iori shook his head against the nauseating wave of drunkeness, pain, and dizziness, barely regaining orientation when he felt movement behind him. This time, his vision had cleared just in time to see a void open behind him, and a ninja, garbed in yellow and black, like a desert scorpion, punch him in the face.

Iori began flying back with the force of the impact, but something sharp struck his already wounded shoulder and tugged him back.

"GET OVER HERE!!"

No sooner than Iori had been dragged back than a new combo of hits exploded in his face and torso, ending with a roundhouse that sent him flying back into the grimy alleyway again.

Iori began standing up, shaking with rage. His drunkeness had passed, his senses regained. He felt the boil of rage in his blood. He looked at his enemy. It was indeed a curiously garbed ninja, face hidden by a mask, but evidentally smiling at the weakness of his prey.

"So who are you?" snarled Iori. "One of Kisaragi's friends? Come to pay me for what I did to him back in '95? Pfah! What a coward! He was lucky! Next time I meet him, I'll be sure to send him to Hell! That way, you can have a little chat with him! 'Cause I'm sending you there first!!"

"Then I must apologize, Iori Yagami," spoke the strange ninja, touching his mask. "I've been to hell and back!" With a flourish, the ninja pulled his mask off. Iori saw under the flare of the nightlights, that the man's face - indeed his entire head - was no more than a skull. There were flames licking out of the edges of the mouth. Then the death head spewed a massive wave of fire.

Iori would have liked to put this down as a hallucination, but something told him to get out of the way. He barely dodged it, and felt the intense heat from the flames.

"So, an undead, huh?" Iori sneered, landing on his feet again. "I don't like dead people. Especially those too stupid to realise they're supposed to *stay* dead!"

He rushed at his opponent in a Dark Crusher, but the ninja teleported away at the last moment. Iori spun around and blocked a kick, then fired a Dark Fireball just before the ninja landed. The dark flames exploded, knocking the undead one over. Iori then capitalised on it with an "Eight Wine Glasses" move, leaving his enemy still. Seeing the ninja helpless, Iori struck with his signature "Maiden Masher Forbidden Style". He slashed and tore at the yellow ninja, then finished with an explosion of purple flames.

Panting, he stood above the body of his fallen enemy. The fool put up an excellent fight, but Yagami was supreme!

Then, to Iori's suprise, the undead ninja's body self-healed with the dark red flames of Hell, and the one named Scorpion stood up again. He straightened himself up, chuckling at Iori's shock.

"So, you want another round," Iori snarled, preparing his purple flames again. "This time-"

"Okay, you clowns," came a sinister, gruff voice from a side-alley. "Knock it off. The fun's over."

Out of the shadows came something that made Iori wonder if he was still drunk, despite his clearly sober senses. There was a duck in a broad-brimmed black hat with matching cape, and a strange yellow jacket. With him was a robot in purple-black armor and strange markings on his human-looking face.

"So, this is Yagami Iori, huh?" snickered the robot. "He doesn't look like anything more than a drunk has-been."

"And you're probably nothing more than a hallucination I'm having," Iori grunted. He got a face full of ice-cold water spray, which left him soaked, fully sober (if he wasn't already), and very, very *angry*.

"There, sober enough, 'Yagami'?" Forte clearly liked annoying Iori.

"You know guys," the duck spoke again, "I'd enjoy this freak show better if we didn't have more pressing matters to attend." He turned to Yagami. "Listen here, Yagami, despite what you might think, we're your teammates."

"I don't *like* teammates," replied Iori.

"Yeah, our sponsor told us about what you do to them, human," Negaduck replied. "So we're careful. Besides, we're here to help *you* as well..."

"Meaning...?"

"Well, as I always say," Negaduck answered, reaching inside his coat for a folder, "one picture's worth a thousand words!"

He through a bunch of pictures at Yagami's feet. Yagami gently bent down and carefully picked them up. He felt his pace quicken as he pored over the photos.

"Kyo..?"

"Yeah, he's still alive. You in or not?"

"But that old bastard-"

"Yeah, we know... our sponsor showed us that too. He has his...methods," Forte explained. "And in a way, that human, Kusanagi, was right. Kyo is not on this planet. He's on a celestial plane. But that doesn't mean you can't get to him."

"How?" Iori glared hotly at the odd trio. Negaduck pulled out an envelope on a red seal. "An... an invitation?!"

"Let's say to the same big tournament your old pal Kyo went to," explained the evil canard. "So, you in, or out?"

Iori looked at the invitation, stunned. Then he began shaking with laughter, his signature laughter sounding to the Tokyo sky.

"I wouldn't worry," Negaduck whispered to Forte. "I'd say he's in."

Kyo, thought Iori. I'm coming for you!!

[Saint_007]

Hell, in the heart of Malebolgia's Realm

"Heh heh heh," Violator giggled as he thrust another clawful of popcorn souls into his gaping maw. "This whole tourney's lookin' to be a blast."

"Indeed it is," Malebolgia responded thoughtfully. "It is also an unprecedented opportunity... if we play it right..."

"Say, that sounds sneaky, Boss," replied the demon with his mouth full. "So what we gonna do?"

"We are doing nothing. You have things to do." Malebolgia thrust some papers into Violator's hands before he could protest. Violator skimmed them through.

"Invitations? Cool! Say, where's my seat?"

"In the arena, fool."

"Oh, yeah, there's my name... sooo, whaddo I do with the other three, Boss?" Violator read the names. "Eddie Brock... Ash Crimson... Sabretooth? Hey, I recognise Sabretooth! That chump Mephisto talks about him a lot!"

"Yes. Your instructions are to lead this team to victory."

"Neato! Always wanted to kill some chump heroes! But what about Spawnie-boy?"

"Never mind him, you fool!" Malebolgia glared at him angrily. "Just go!!"

"Okey-dokey, Boss!" With a flash, Violator turned into a clown and promptly disappeared.

"Finally! I thought that blabbermouth would never stop talking!" Malebolgia peered over to a pool that began turning transparent. "But I think its time I put my agenda into motion..."

Later, at a corner coffeeshop, somewhere in France
Ash Crimson was on the edge again. He knew this was probably the result of trying to absorb Kagura's powers. But something in him told him it was bigger than that. He wished he could just shake away the headaches or drown it in wine, but he didn't have much luck with it. He drank his third glass of wine.

"Heeeyyyyya, buddy," came a loud, grating voice in American english behind him. "I hope ya don't mind a friend?"

Ash turned around, and saw a hobo-clown with white and blue make up. He was corpulent, fat, and repulsive, with odd clothes. But Ash felt there was more to this clown than meets the eye. His teeth were all razor-sharp, and an evil aura emanated from him that seemed to scare the nearby cats and dogs and killed the nearby plants.

"Say, Mister Crimson - mind if I call ya Ash?" The clown just sat down, as if intending to be offensive in the worst way possible. "Whoa, comfy seats they have here! Heh. You must like this place a lot!!"

"What do you want?" Ash grumbled. "I've got a lot on my mind."

"Like what? Tell me! Tell me!" The clown propped up. "Oh, wait! I know! Must be the powers of that chick Kagura you stole! Heheheheheheheh!!"

Ash looked at the clown in surprise. How did the clown know?

"Or, it might be the fact that it's nearly Doomsday! Ya know, what with the Gods making a grand tournament to decide the fate of the Universes and all that crap-"

"Come again?!" Ash was eagerly attentive. "What was that last part?"

"Doomsday? Yeah, I knew you'd be interested! I knew it!! Ha ha ha!!"

"Would you quit clowning about?"

"Say wha-? Oh, HAAAHAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA!! Ya killin' me, Ash, ya killin' me!!" The Clown laughed obnoxiously for ten minutes. "Okay, okay, here it is; Apparently, Heaven ain't so happy about the mess the world is in! Don't know why; I like it fine, but that's just me. So they wanted ta destroy it all!

"Now we're in lucky, Ash, ol' pal. Ya see, they gave the job of Ragnarok to a bleeding heart named Belldandy. Apparently, she doesn't *want* to destroy the Universe, so she made one big tournament to prove - and get this - 'the worthiness of the Universe'! Is that a hoot or what?! Man, these Heaven types are a laugh riot!!"

"So," cooed Ash, feeling that he liked where this is going. "Where do I come in?"

"Simple, Ash, ol' buddy, ol' pal," Violator slapped him strong on the shoulder. "We're partners!! Congratulations!!"

"Really?" Ash didn't like the prospects of teaming up with this... thing, but this was a chance too good to pass.

"Well, we also gotta choose two more guys - it has to be four guys per team. But don't sweat it! My boss has it *all* figured out!" He showed Ash the other two invitations. "Here's our other partners. All we gotta do is pick'em up!"

Ash grinned. This was indeed too good to pass...

[Saint_007]

"AKANE!!"

In the Team Hero quarters, Ranma woke up with a jolt, cold sweat covering him. He felt in his troubled sleep that Akane had called for his help. Among the hazy, feverish imagery, Akane seemed to be slipping out of his grasp. And no matter how hard he tried, she simple faded out of sight.

"Whoa, easy there, fella," said Spider-Man, tossing a cold brew onto his lap. "What's spooking ya?"

Ranma shook his head, not sure how to answer.

"It's a bad dream...just a dream...god..."

"From the looks of it, must have been real awful," Spidey sympathised. "But I'm sure everything's going to be okay. Right?"

"Yeah... I guess." Ranma sat on the bed. "I need to take a shower. Cold shower. Don't tell Kyo."

"Don't worry about him," Spidey chuckled. "Let's say he's tied up for the moment for that 'hot pants' joke he pulled on me last night."

"I'm liking you a lot lately," Ranma responded, feeling better.

"Tell JJJ. The guy hates me like I killed his mama and pissed all over her grave or something."

While Ranma went into the shower, a creepy feeling overcame Spidey. His Spider-Sense was about to go off.
The outskirts of Tokyo:

Ryu was leading the USA Team to where the rest of his own group was, when the skies darkened for a moment, and a loud thunder resounded in the distance.

They stopped. "What's this? It came from nowhere...!" Heavy D asked.

Rayden walked his way next to them, a grim expression on his face. "The first wave of the evil is here".

BOOOOOOOOOOM

In an intense, blinding flash of light, and the fall of a lightning that shook the ground, Goenitz, Mara, the Joker, Bell and GIR appeared in front of Team USA, Ryu and Rayden, surrounded by several of Goenitz's wind manifestations as powerful, swirling bursts of hot air.

"Our blessings to all of you" Goenitz smiled confidently to the others. "We have come to take a part in your event...".

"Wakka wakka..." Joker just chuckled madly.
"Holy snap!" Peter jumped onto the floor as all his sense went haywire. He looked out the door, and saw Team USA, Ryu, and Rayden, standing in front of Goenitz, Joker, Mara and a small white-haired girl. Of the group, he recognized Captain America and the Joker (from all those Daily Planet papers), but felt the other clowns with Joker were no laughing matter.

Just then, Kyo ran into the bedroom.

"Okay, bug-guy, what's the big idea webbing me up in my sleep?!" He was still burning away the webs.

"We got bigger problems than that, hothead," Spider-Man replied. "The Joker and some wind-clown's attacking Ryu and Rayden.

"Wind!? GOENITZ!!" Kyo looked out the door. "Aw, great!! HIM of all people!!"

"Friend of yours?"

"Get ready," Kyo said, quickly dressing up in combat outfit. "We've got no time to waste!!" He then ran outside.

Peter grabbed Ranma's suit and opened the shower door.

"HEY?!" Ranma's voice was loud and pitched, that of a woman's.

"Sorry to disturb you, but we got big trouble. Dress up quickly and join us outside!"

[M203]

~"I will fight for this world until my body shatters..."~

The morning breeze wafted over the arena, the exquisite marble floor gleaming in the rising sun as she stood, basking in its beauty, knowing that it wasn't long to last. Mirror Heaven, the place she had spent the last few mornings, teatimes afternoons, evenings and suppertimes. One session before every meal. That was what the stranger insisted upon. One beating before every meal. She had spoken the words she had made her creed each time they met. Her vow to protect all life on the world she had come to love with all her heart.

"I will fight for this world until my body shatters." She muttered the words again as he stepped out of the portal behind her, the birds beginning to take their morning flight as she turned to face him, the band-clad hands in their armoured gauntlets beginning to trail after-images as he opened and closed them.

"I don't know you stranger," Belldandy muttered, her face expressionless. ""Why are you doing this, why are you teaching me these things? I don't want to kill anyone, I'll die by myself if thats what Father wants of me but I will not kill anyone..."

The hands were still, the after-images stopped trailing behind them. "Someone asked me to give you this." The God-killer extended his arm towards her, an envelope in his fingers. "Read it carefully."

She took it from him, and her tears began to flow freely as she read it, savouring each and every word. "B...brother...it's been so long..." She looked up at Nudoru. "Has he been well? Why hasn't he come to see me? Why...why are you here?"

Light exploded from the letter the landscape around them changing to one of absolute carnage, the human race screaming its protests of pain and agony as it slid into oblivion. The half-masked man only looked into the rising sun through the illusion.

"See all that? That's what's gonna happen, whether you win this or not. This is what's gonna happen because other powers are moving not just your Father and the other Gods and Goddesses in Heaven. Someone out there is watching over you Belldandy. And for me to earn a place in this world, I have to do somthing good here. I can't just walk in and cause a massacre, not like the last time. I got to prove to him that I have the brains, you know, the smarts to do somthing without using just power. But all I can do is fight and I can't even do that now."

He turned on his heel to face her.

"But you can. Look, your big brother told me a lot about you. Uhmm. No. I actually downloaded some of his synaptics from the main data bank but, you know. Anyway, he thinks..."

"Manipulative." Belldandy's voice was almost devoid of emotion. "He's using you. Using you to get what he wants." She felt the stranger's smile without seeing it. The jawguard did little to hide it.

"Look at them all," The scene shifted forcefully. The dead had arisen, the long-deceased Magdaline Order nun Rosette Christopher and her Devil contractor Chrono, both brought back from the Elysian Fields to do battle once again. "Your father held a special place for them in his heart, they are here to fight. So that the world they left behind can go on living. They came back from the dead Belldandy, they came back from the dead to save the world which killed them both. I don't know about you but that takes some serious balls for both of them."

The Goddess watched as the pair approached the Judgement Gate with caution, joined hands and the stepped through it. They emerged unscathed.

"Not just you and him." Nudoru Kaarage knelt slightly, pale blue light flickering from behind the goggles which relfected her image. "Them too. And plenty others are going to put everything they have on the line just to come here to have a chance at life. They're here for a chance at a life together, for each other and for everyone and everything, so don't even think for a moment that you're the only one feeling this pain."

The scene again shifted, the Goddess and the God-Killer watching as the Devil and the Apostle made their way to their quarters. They watched as Rosette finally shed her brave front and fell to her knees in tears.

The scene died. And the mirrors appeared around them. Belldandy looked around, and several mirrors moved with her field of vision.

"Feeling angry? You should be, because there's so much evil in the world that your Father has no choice but to do this. There's so much evil in the world because you chose to live with Him instead of helping to keep order."

The mirrors began to show a red giant his head and hands blue, his chest and torso the chassis of a truck. Behind him many other fighters followed closely.

"Optimus Prime. All his life he has fought for justice against all odds. He's here to do the same as Rosette and Chrono. He's here to fight so that the Cybertronian War will finally end. Untold aeons of battle have claimed the sentience of countless Autobots and Decepticons."

And so it continued, the God-Killer throwing file after file after file at Belldandy, not stopping even though she pleaded with him to stop. "They're all going to die, because you didnt think the rules of your tournament through very well. And now you're in deep shit because of that. No your big bad bro Lucifer can't see this either. He can't see anything because of your Dimension Tide. No-one can see anything these days, except maybe a few of us, this is what I see. So get up. Get up and do somthing about it. Because the lives and hopes and dreams of all these people are resting on your f*cking shoulders!"

The mirrors shattered as she rose, and then reformed in a more organised fashion around the pair. Mirror Heaven shook as the ground cracked beneath them. "I will fight for this world until my body shatters," she whispered. "I know, I can't fight. Not in the way that these people know how. I thought that if I sacrificed myself everything would be okay, but now I know that it won't. I want you to show me. I want you to show me what you know. Because if that's the only way to make things right and to make all their wishes come true, then I'll fight, I'll fight until my last breath and until my body shatters!" She screamed as Tyr manifested from her back, a maelstrom beginning to tear through the arena.

The God-killer's mask grew additional reinforcements. "No. You show me." An immense pair of bright, slick, mechanical and transluscent wings sprung from Kaarage's back, and promptly divided into sets of five a side. The faceless abberation pulled itself away from its host body and loomed over the trio below it. Its metallic voice rang out thorugh Mirror-heaven, deafening, all-encompassing. Miso. The synthetic Angel tore its chest open, the pale white skin not shedding a drop of blood. Behind the flesh chimed the bits of gold platinum and leather.

"Copy watch? Lolex, only five dolla!" the monstrous abberation began sounding like a North Vietnamese refugee. "Yoo vant, I awwsoo hafe copy vallet, fhom Dee ahn Jee! Tree dolla! No goot? No vorry, I awwsoo hafe copy handbag, Joo-Joo-Ahmaaaaaaani too dolla!"

The monster began unloading its inventory and setting up a rikety old shack from whick to tout its copyright-mauling contraband, to the dimay of its owner. "DAMMIT MISO!!!" Nudoru screamed in frustration, "DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NOW!?!?"

For the first time in a month, Belldandy found herself able to laugh, even if it was through tears of realisation. At least until Miso set an oval, slimy thing at Nudoru's feet.

"Ahhhhhhhh, I aaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwso hafe bioweapon, copy ALIEN EGG! SUCKY SUCKY! FIVE DOLLA!"

She stood there in shock as the facehugger popped out and latched on to Nudoru's head. :D

[Saint_007]

A timeless void, some time after the events of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Beaten again.

Cloud had beaten him again. It was true, it was only a smidgebn of his power he had been using. And true, he was using someone else's body. That meant that it wasn't really him who lost.

But he lost. That's what was important. Cloud Strife, who had been nothing more than a cheap copy, had beaten him again. And on his own this time. His dream of Godhood was once again reduced to ashes.

At least he had his ambitions to keep him company. But then again, this was a poor way for Sephiroth, killer of Gods, to end. A prisoner for all time...

Then a crack appeared in the Void, and a strange aura spread in. Sephiroth could feel the power of the invader, something far more than human, perhaps even more powerful than himself.

Who are you?

A Friend, you can say. I have a proposition for you...

So you say... but what do you want?

Merely your aid. And you would do well to trust me...

I trust no one. I am Sephiroth. I work alone!

So do I. For I am Jedah Doma, of the Doma clan of the Demon Realm. But this is different. We stand on the brink of a grand change. A summons has been made. And the mighty must respond.

A summons?

Yes. The Greatest Tournament of Them All has sounded. The Fate of the Omniverse is in the hands of those willing to affirm their right to power!

What's in it for you?

Power. The winner gets power beyond their wildest dreams. Like you, I too dreamed of a Utopia in my image. Yet I came to the realisation that not even I had the power to challenge the Fates. Then I heard of this tournament. The solution to my aspirations!!

And what's in it for me?

Why, good friend, look at you! Alone, rotting in a void for all time, with only the ends of your plot to gnaw! I can help you to regain your former power and exceed it. All I need is for you to join my team...

A Team? What team?

Forgive me for not explaining earlier. The challengers are not single, but work together as a team of 4. In numbers lie power. Already, I have two more powerful allies, ready to claim greatness as we do. Remember; in numbers, there is power. That was how you were beaten the first time, am I right?

Yes... those accursed AVALANCHE... and that traitor Cloud Strife...

Yes, he's there too. But not to worry. We have our team, remember?

I pray this is worth it, Jedah, if that's who you are. Already I can feel my soul burning...

Goood... Prepare yourself. I have had one of my allies construct a body for you. Just like your old one. All perfectly mutated and ready for your return.

Interesting... And how did you gain the DNA required?

Let's say Dr. Hojo was a paranoid fellow. He left lots of spare DNA in case of trouble. His traps were strong enough to keep out nosybodies. But nothing to even slow me down...

Superb!!

Good to see your enthusiasm. Now, get ready...

Sephiroth felt himself being drawn to a point beyond the void... He felt as though he was going to be...

...reborn...


Hidden Shadaloo Underground Research Facility:
Bison watched the huge mass of equipment around the body in the hall behind nuke-proof glass. It seemed odd to him that it would require all these technicians and technology for just one body. Yet Jedah had assured him that it was worth it.

He felt his demonic ally tear a hole in the fabric of space and time behind him and step in.

"There you arem, Doma," grumbled Bison. "I hope this is worth all the resources I spent on this... project of yours."

"It is. Sephiroth is a powerful warrior, with a heart to match yours. Fortunately, his creator, the unlamented Dr. Hojo, left a lot of documentation to follow up his work."

"Indeed."

"You might want to remove those scientists you'd like to keep. He will be awaking pretty soon."

"Bah, all those there are cheap labour. But I fail to see tha danger."

Suddenly the readings on the screens jumped.

"What was that?!" Bison frowned.

"Just the baby waking up," grinned Jedah mysteriously. "And he'll be in a bad mood."

The techies inside began to worry as the body showed signs of waking up viciously, then it turned into panic as the newly cloned body of Sephiroth burst through its constraints. The feral side was dominant, as Sephiroth jumped upon the hapless workers, tearing them apart with his bare hands, jumping from victim to victim like a blood-crazed fox among the chickens. Blood splattered all over the walls like a Jackson Pollard expression. When he ran out of hapless humans to kill, Sephiroth, still berserked, hurled himself at the walls. Even Bison was stunned at the force this new monster was giving out. The walls would buckle soon.

Fortunately, Sephiroth calmed down, his true self regaining control. He first began to feel his new body over, feeling the strength of his limbs.

"Just like my old body..."

"Greetings, Sephiroth," came Bison's voice over the loudspeakers. "Good to see you enjoyed your new body."

"And you are the ally Jedah spoke of, I presume?"

"Indeed. I am Master Bison, Overlord of the Underworld organization of Shadaloo. My scientists worked extra-hard on that body of yours."

"And I suppose I should be grateful?"

"No, merely a good ally against our enemies. Now, if you may..."

The door to the room opened, and Sephiroth followed the hallway to a room where he found his old trenchcoat and Masamune, all cleaned and ready for him. He grinned as he felt the Masamune's power again in his hand. He looked up to see Jedah and Bison. Jedah was right. This man's heart was as dark as his own. They would make a good team - if things worked out right.

"So, Bison, I presume?"

"Indeed. And I'm honored to meet the Sephiroth I've heard so much about. This way please to our last teammate..."

Following Bison, Sephiroth sensed a savage presence similar to his own. Looking through the glass, he saw a strange creature (http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/myPlace/justice.GIF), held in place by an enormous amount of devices meant to constrain him. Yet the former SOLDIER could see that these things were barely keeping him in place, as the monster strained and struggled against his bonds. Bison walked over to the loudspeaker microphone.

"Greetings, Justice."

"What do you want?" snarled the thing.

"Just wondering if you've changed your mind about joining us."

"GGrrrrr.... maybe... What's in it for me?"

"If you had been listening before, you would have known," replied the Psycho Power master with an evil grin. "Simply the promise of unlimited power. You help us, we help you. Although we're quite willing to come back later if you want..."

"Fine...you convinced me, 'Bison'. I guess I do owe you something for letting me out of that extradimensional prison."

"Clever boy," whispered Jedah. "Now, let's get together and get ready."

As the other three archfiends gathered around Jedah, Jedah pulled out his scythe and tore a hole in space and time to the tournament grounds. The other three followed cautiously.

[OverMaster]

"Holy snap!" Peter jumped onto the floor as all his sense went haywire. He looked out the door, and saw Team USA, Ryu, and Rayden, standing in front of Goenitz, Joker, Mara and a small white-haired girl. Of the group, he recognized Captain America and the Joker (from all those Daily Planet papers), but felt the other clowns with Joker were no laughing matter.

Just then, Kyo ran into the bedroom.

"Okay, bug-guy, what's the big idea webbing me up in my sleep?!" He was still burning away the webs.

"We got bigger problems than that, hothead," Spider-Man replied. "The Joker and some wind-clown's attacking Ryu and Rayden.

"Wind!? GOENITZ!!" Kyo looked out the door. "Aw, great!! HIM of all people!!"

"Friend of yours?"

"Get ready," Kyo said, quickly dressing up in combat outfit. "We've got no time to waste!!" He then ran outside.

Peter grabbed Ranma's suit and opened the shower door.

"HEY?!" Ranma's voice was loud and pitched, that of a woman's.

"Sorry to disturb you, but we got big trouble. Dress up quickly and join us outside!"

"This reminds me of a good one" Joker began, raising an index finger. "Two nuns, a goat and a hippy get into a bar, and then--".

He didn't finish the sentence. Something had just glued his mouth shut... some sort of spider-webbing?, and he looked up to see the man in the red and blue tighs swinging down to him, standing right before him in a battle-ready pose.

"GOENITZ!!!" Kyo came running after him, closely followed by a grumbling Ranma who still was buttoning her shirt as she ran.

"Ah, young Mr. Kusanagi" Goenitz smiled at him, opening his arms, small tornadoes beginning to form between the palms of his hands. "As anxious as ever, I see...". He lowered his arms, and the winds died. "Still, I am afraid I can't raise to the challenge of your reckless heart yet. Her orders were clear".

Kusanagi stopped right on his tracks. Not only because of what Goenitz had just done and said, but because Rayden had just stepped between them.

"No" the God of Thunder stated with a stern tone. "I won't allow anything of this until the Tournament begins".

"Hmmph hmmmmph hmph hmph!" Joker protested angrily, tugging on the webbing covering his lips with no results.

"Hey, why didn't I think of this before?" Mara chuckled, amused at the clown's problem.

"Certainly, he looks better this way..." Bell mused, nodding.

Ranma screeched to a halt behind Kyo. "What's going on? Who are the bad guys? Who--".

"I told you, no fights for now" Rayden repeated. "I am not going to allow it. The stakes at play are too high to risk them that way".

"Oh, I wholly agree, My Lord" Goenitz added. "And I guarantee you will not have any complains about my partners before this events starts".

"Hmmmph mmph mmmph!!" Joker tried to disagree, with no avail. Mara was already laughing at him.

"... Still, it was good to see you are as healthy and ready as ever, boy" Goenitz continued, looking straight at Kyo. "And you too, Mr. Bogard... I look forward to engaging the both of you in combat soon".

"Count on it, man..." Terry said. "Count on it...".

"I will lead you to your rooms" Rayden replied dryly, clearly discontent about having the villains there, but still willing to stomach their presence for the sake of the Balance. He started to walk away. "Follow me, and waste no time".

"Hmmph hmmmph hmmmph hmmph!" Joker's muffled protests were evident as Mara and Goenitz dragged him along, following the God of Thunder and Lighning. Bell followed at a more sedate pace, holding GIR in her arms.

"... Now, that was unesay. And boy, I'm making an understatement" Spidey sighed. "What's the deal with that weirdo in the priest outfit and his pals, anyway? Kyo? Cap?".

[Saint_007]

Alaniel read through the list again while going through his second bowl of noodles. He wasn't hungry, but the food here was good. He checked through the list he had compiled, writing scribbles and notes here and there. He had compiled the list by generally snooping around and picking up little pieces of gossip from the workers.

It looked something like this:
Teams: Team Justice: Fionne's making this one. Bright girl, very enthusiastic, bit annoying at times. From name, assume similar-minded teammates (dear God). Overheard Endless say something about a duck. Teammate or mascot? Need to check more.
Burning Hearts Team (whoever thought of *THAT* name?) Know Naru's file and Raven. Need to research Nausicaa and other one. Seem good enough.
Ladies(?) Team: Kagura, Kikyo, Sailor Pluto, Rose. All 'mystic'-type ladies. Maybe they're on to something? Seem trustworthy, even if Kikyo comes off as strange.
Dan Team: Dan Hibiki, Sakura, Karin and B-Ko (last two came from informant). Other three seem okay. Dan seems like trouble - too stupid for own good. May mess things up if left alone. Though Sakura seems attracted to Ryu a lot. Good or bad?
SkuldTeam: Skuld and Benueel. Skuld's a kid, Benueel's not very strong. Just hope he knows what they're doing - Skuld too young and rash for own good.
Smash Bros(? - someone's been playing too many games) Mario, Link, Kirby, Samus. Kirby seems like wild card. Link and Samus seem strong enough.
Team USA: Ken, Cap. America, Heavy D, Terry. Anthem: Stars & Stripes? :p Seems good. Ties to Mxy are worrying, though.
Team UK: Cap Brit, Cammy, Dudley, Kevin Mask. Also country-themed. Wonder why :confused:
Team JLAvengers: Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle Where's Superman??!!
Dueists: Megaman.EXE, Takato/Guilmon, Yugi, Ash Ketchum. Little young for them to play? Seem pretty strong if they can actually use stronger abilities.
Merc Team:Deathstroke, Naga, Hood (need 4th member) Good or Bad? Employers not known. CHECK THEM OUT.
Team Latveria: Dr. Doom, Magneto, Kagato, Mystique. BAD NEWS. Keep close watch at all times.
Howard Team: Howard, Krauser, Yamazaki, Billy Kane. Orochi tied in? Howard very greedy. Must check Orochi.
Rugal Team: Rugal, Akuma, Vice, Mature. MORE Orochi?! This is not good.
Demitri Team: Demitri showed unusual activity. Up to something? Other members unknown for this team. Lost track of him when left Demitri Castle.
Nabeshin: Nosy as hell. Must be up to something. Who teammates?
Team Boss: Jedah & Bison in cahoots. Justice freed from cell - MUST BE JEDAH. Also, found traces of Shadaloo in FF7 world. Hojo's research data stolen from abandoned labs. Sephiroth?
??? Team: IlPalazzo making new team. Seems like Excel Excel is primary member. Have bad feeling about this.
Jade Team: Adult Jade worried. Probably forming new team. Hopefully good thing - she's on to something. is she?
Team Neron: Neron seems to regain power recently. Causes not clear. Showed interest in Tournament.
Malebolgia: activity in M's HQ. Be on guard. M seems interested in Tournament too
Hell team: Bell, Mara, Joker, Goenitz. More Orochi. Don't like this at all. Mara can be underhanded. Research Bell. Joker?! Why him?!
Robots: Megaman, Astro, Lime, Nuku Nuku.My Team :D Chances looking slimmer after comapring to opponents?
Team Hero (was mistake to call them hero?) Ranma, Kyo, Ryu, Spider-Man. Good, spirited team, great balance. Not sure if they can match big shots. Hopefully spirit sees them through.
Swordsman: Cloud, Zoro, Jack, Crono. Right choice? Extreme skill a plus. They ought to be fine
Ninja: Sub Zero 2, Shinobi, Strider Hiryu, Psylocke. Seems like good team. Very fast - maybe speed blitz to victory?
Eggman and Wily also left respective worlds. Dr. Tomoe found badly hurt. Coincidence?
Joker in - Where Batman? Perhaps joins later? Already have team?

Damn, it was a bit muddy so far. Wonder what Hild had when she put Joker there? He's not exactly one to bring to a punchfest. A lot of loose ends, that was for sure.

And how does Orochi tie in to all this? It was well-known that Orochi was the God of Destruction. But even if he were to assume full power, he'd be limited. And this was strictly Belldandy's op. Maybe he got jealous?

But that didn't explain where the other Orochi-blooded were. Where'd Leona and the New Face team go? More importantly, whatever happened to Ash Crimson? He seems to have disappeared lately. And he had the key to Orochi - Kagura's powers, which sealed Orochi all those years away.

He scribbled a note to keep guard over Yuki, Kyo's girlfriend. If Orochi was to be unsealed, he needed his eighth maiden, the Kushinada. And as far as anyone knew, Yuki was the direct descendant of last Kushinada. If Orochi needed someone to get to the real world, it would be Yuki. Or so Alaniel hoped.

He paid for his bill and walked out.

OOC: As of yet, Alaniel does not yet know of the events at Tendo Dojo, nor about the teams yet unannounced or uintroduced.

[KingEli]

"This reminds me of a good one" Joker began, raising an index finger. "Two nuns, a goat and a hippy get into a bar, and then--".

He didn't finish the sentence. Something had just glued his mouth shut... some sort of spider-webbing?, and he looked up to see the man in the red and blue tighs swinging down to him, standing right before him in a battle-ready pose.

"GOENITZ!!!" Kyo came running after him, closely followed by a grumbling Ranma who still was buttoning her shirt as she ran.

"Ah, young Mr. Kusanagi" Goenitz smiled at him, opening his arms, small tornadoes beginning to form between the palms of his hands. "As anxious as ever, I see...". He lowered his arms, and the winds died. "Still, I am afraid I can't raise to the challenge of your reckless heart yet. Her orders were clear".

Kusanagi stopped right on his tracks. Not only because of what Goenitz had just done and said, but because Rayden had just stepped between them.

"No" the God of Thunder stated with a stern tone. "I won't allow anything of this until the Tournament begins".

"Hmmph hmmmmph hmph hmph!" Joker protested angrily, tugging on the webbing covering his lips with no results.

"Hey, why didn't I think of this before?" Mara chuckled, amused at the clown's problem.

"Certainly, he looks better this way..." Bell mused, nodding.

Ranma screeched to a halt behind Kyo. "What's going on? Who are the bad guys? Who--".

"I told you, no fights for now" Rayden repeated. "I am not going to allow it. The stakes at play are too high to risk them that way".

"Oh, I wholly agree, My Lord" Goenitz added. "And I guarantee you will not have any complains about my partners before this events starts".

"Hmmmph mmph mmmph!!" Joker tried to disagree, with no avail. Mara was already laughing at him.

"... Still, it was good to see you are as healthy and ready as ever, boy" Goenitz continued, looking straight at Kyo. "And you too, Mr. Bogard... I look forward to engaging the both of you in combat soon".

"Count on it, man..." Terry said. "Count on it...".

"I will lead you to your rooms" Rayden replied dryly, clearly discontent about having the villains there, but still willing to stomach their presence for the sake of the Balance. He started to walk away. "Follow me, and waste no time".

"Hmmph hmmmph hmmmph hmmph!" Joker's muffled protests were evident as Mara and Goenitz dragged him along, following the God of Thunder and Lighning. Bell followed at a more sedate pace, holding GIR in her arms.

"... Now, that was unesay. And boy, I'm making an understatement" Spidey sighed. "What's the deal with that weirdo in the priest outfit and his pals, anyway? Kyo? Cap?".

Kyo-He's member of the Orochi clan,a group of people who want to rise ther god of destruction to cleanse the Earth.

Terry-In other news REAL bad news.

Spidey-Sheesh now we have to deal with "Gods" now?

Kyo-Don't wory I Sealed him back '97.

Cap.-Well we have to be on our guard all times people

Ranma-Whose these guys here?

Ryu-This is my friend Ken Masters team: The USA Team.

Terry-Wel I Wouldn;t call it 'his team' I Treey Bogard Friend of Ryu and Kyo,

Heavy D!-Heavy D! world class boxer and street fighter.

Cap.-Captian America,leader of the Avengers and team Captian.

Ranma-Let me guss:Your from Spidey world aren't you

Iron Man-Yes and so are we!(Coming with JLAvengers)

Cap.-Iron man go fpr you and Spider-Woman to come.

Spidey-Who's the guy with Blue Ripoff costume?

Blue Beetle-Hey! I desined this suit my self!

Booster Gold-I owe you ten Bucks.

Spider-Woman-Told you thry were gonna call each other Ripoff,

Iron-Can it guys,what happen here,you guys look like you about to give somebody the Heave ho.

Cap.-Like you wouldn't belive.

After all three teams Introduces themselves we see Booster and Beeetle talking with Botan.

Beetle-So why you took us insted of the Big guns?

Botan-Well you see the thing is that the Data bank in hevan say you are more equiped to deal with this more spritly wise.And don't you always want to be know?

Booster-Well....Yeah.

Beetle-Did you know I got a Heart Condition?

Botan-Yes and It wont afecct you here mr. Kord.

Beetle-Kick ass!

Booster-Well thats the Best News I've Heard all day.Well at least see didn't invite Guy Gardner....

[Golden Darkness]

- Outside the Kingdom of Seyruun, Slayers World -

"Well, this is the place. But I don't see anyone here to meet me." The only thing the red hair sorceress could see was an endless meadow that had a tree scattered here and there. Shrugging, she found the nearest tree and sat under it. "I wonder if they are running late? That would be funny, considering the author insisted that I be punctual." With that, after setting aside a stringless metal bow she carried, she pulled out the letter from the cloak, the letter that brought her to this place.

It had read:

Dear Lina Inverse,

You must be thinking Deja Vu as you receive this letter. Yes, I know about the letter Filia sent you, and the quest that resulted. Well, this is a similar affair, except with much more powerful beings then that Dark Star/Volfied combination you had to face.

Yep, a bunch of powerful entities want to reduce everything to nothingness in order to a much more 'purer' world on their terms. However, they believe they are in the right since they are the creators and maintainers of all reality.

You're probably thinking, "Why me? Can't I get a break from being chosen to save the universe?" Well, here's the deal. It's going to be a much more streamlined deal. The entities involved are organizing a tournament where thirty-two chosen teams battle for the right to challenge them. If that team defeats the chosen entity, the end of the world will be called off.

So you are probably thinking to yourself, "Well, that's good it's all simple and that, but I'm asking, why me? Why should I help you?" Well, there's a simple list of things that I should note to you:


You have spells that call upon the Lord of Nightmares. If there's one thing that these entities fear, it's someone ending the world not on their terms. In short, if you participate, you are going to be my 'Nuclear Option' against these guys.

Speaking of the Lord of Nightmares, I'm thinking there's a reason she decided to let you be, instead of consuming you when you called her forth at Sairaag. Was it so you could be around to avert more disasters? That's what I think.

Participating in the tournament will be free. Room and board will be provided. All meals will be All-You-Can-Eat.

I know you are looking for Princess Amelia of Seyruun, and I know that her father, Prince Phil, told you she was looking for her sister. Well, I hear rumors that someone else intends to recruit her for this tournament, and will appeal to her sense of justice in order to do so. I doubt you want to see her be on the winning team, as I forsee she has no chance against the chosen entity.

Your old partner, Naga the White Serpant, is definately involved in this tournament, and in league with some... well.. unsavory characters. I just know that if the world ends, it's most likely her fault. So I like for you to be the one that knocks her out of the tournament. In fact, I'm chuckling at the thought of seeing her hit with one of your patented Dragon Slaves.

You probably realized that I know you too well. Well, in truth, some of these entities involved are my bosses. I didn't like this either, but I'm a low ranker in our society. But I disgress, I'm saying that due to my... connections... I know everything I need to know about you, including your fears. I will ensure your participation one way or another.

You know that second letter that came with this one? It's from your sister. Guess what it reads?

And finally, note the package that came with the letter. I've gone into a lot of trouble just to get what's contained in it. I intend to give you an edge anyway I can, just in case the Demon Blood Talismans aren't enough.

So anyway, I'm guessing you realize you have no choice but to accept. As such, note these instructions. You have to leave Gourry behind for now. I don't know if this tournament will allow spectators to see the event in person. But who knows, maybe someone will pick him on their team. Leave a convincing note that your had to go on your own in order to follow a lead on Amerlia's wherabouts(which is partly true). Also, you'll see a map enclosed with the letter. Meet at the marked spot noon tomorrow. There a couple of your chosen teammates will meet you.

That's all I have to say. I'll say more when we meet on the tournament grounds.

Sincerely,
The Player, Lord of Games







P.S. If by any chance you still thinking no, I'll tell you what's your reward for a job well done, if we do survive.

Bigger Breasts.

Lina initally wanted to brush off the letter. However three things made her realize how serious the author was. One, there was a second letter from her sister. Two, the package contained the most powerful weapon created by Dark Star, Galvayram aka the Bow of Light. And three, the author did know her well. There was no way she could ignore this. Of course, the promise of a larger bustline clinched it. How could she missed that bit on her first reading?

So here she was, waiting for whoever else the "Player" picked.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, scaring off the local wildlife. When the light cleared, in the middle of the meadow was a giant humanoid looking thing. Lina immediately thought of that mechanical oricalchum golem Martina used, but this was much larger, and seemed to exude with a lot more power, not to mention it was colored blue! Well, actually, it was mostly blue.

"Hello down there!" a female voice called out. "Are you Lina Inverse?"

Lina blinked. Someone was in that thing? "I am. May I see who's asking?"

Upon saying that, she noticed that there was a door on the red part of the golem, which revealed a woman dressed in strange skin tight black clothes. Without warning, the woman leapt off the golem, only to float down to the ground and next to Lina.

"The name's Jade Chan," the woman said. "I assume you were told about the tournament?"

Lina nodded. "You're one of my teammates then?"

"Yep, me and MEGAS here," Jade answered, gesturing to the blue hulk.

"MEGAS?"

"Yep, it's strange isn't it? The Player wants a giant robot on our team. Something about having raw firepower."

Lina blinked. "I'm not sure what you mean by a giant robot, but I'm probably sure this Player choose me for my strengh as well."

Jade nodded. "The Player said that the reason I was chosen was my record against powerful demons trying to take over my world. But enough chit-chat. I know you have a lot of questions, but we have one more guy to pick up." With that she started floating. "Need a lift?" she asked, holding a hand out.

Lina gave Jade a mock glare, putting her hands at the sides of her waist. "Now, what kind of all powerful sorceress would I be if I didn't know spells to take to the air?"

"Just askin'" With that Jade floated up to the top of MEGAS, with Lina using Raywing to follow her.

Upon landing on MEGAS, Lina only stared at the strange red part that had a fat guy, a skinny guy, and a redhead woman sitting inside.

Jade open the door and gestured Lina to where the redhead was sitting. Shrugging, Lina went inside and took a seat.

"So, you're Lina. My name's Kiva," the redhead introduced. "These two guys are Coop and Jamie."

"Umm... hi." Lina was nervous. She didn't know what to make of these people. "Um... so where are we getting our last teammate?"

"According to the Player, his name is Kain Blueriver, and he lived on a world you may be familiar with," answered Jade, having entered from the other side.

"What world?"

"Does the Staff World of Dark Star Dugradigdo ring any bells?"

[Saint_007]

Alaniel had no sooner returned to the Celestial planes than a shrieking xenomorph leapt at him.

Thirty-nine minutes later, Lucifer Morningstar came across a badly bruised and beaten Alaniel holding a xeno head in one hand and his stomach in the other. Alaniel spit out some blood and a few teeth.

"Sir, not to sound like the pain in the ass you generally regard me, but can someone explain to me why was there a Xeno running around with adamantium skin and the Light Hawk Wings? I'm pretty sure that my disembowelled intestines deserve *some* sort of explanation..."

[M203]

~The Change~

"This concerns us greatly," the lady Tokimi spoke dryly to her counterpart who also observed the screen before them. "Observe." The monitors in the darkened room showed the Goddess shortly after breakfast that day, a series of light bruises on her torso, barely visable through the light robes she wore. Yet others, which appeared to be rather elongated, ran across her right forearm.

Tsunami studied the marks with interest. "It's as if she was attacked by some...wild animal."

"Watch her movements as well, and compare them to eleven days ago." The screen split down the middle, and began to show side-by-side displays of the Goddess Belldandy simply walking down the hall after the morning meal. "Her movements have changed, it's as if she's lighter on her feet. Also, have a look at this."

The screen remained split, but instead showed another instance. "Four days ago compared to nine." Tokimi siled wickedly, indicating the differerence in response when a ball rolled down the hallway towards their young "friend." In the first screen, the Goddess stopped, picked up the ball and looked around for whoever might be playing with it. In the second, she sidestepped it quickly and stood with her right side facing down the hall and her left side towards the ball, listening. "Somthing about her is changing, and such a change is too quick to come from oneself."

"Today?" Tsunami asked, the screen merged into its single mode as Tokimi took her seat beside her. They watched as the Goddess simply phased herself around the ball, the trailing after-images for a moment looking around, and then merging back into their host who simply kept on walking towards the gardens at the end of the hall.

"Did I just see what I think I did?" Tsunami asked in surprise. "That's a trans-spatial dimensional singularity conflux, the Jurai have been researching such phenomenon without success for aeons, even though they doubled their efforts after the incident with Z." She reiterated, the screens showing the data overlay.

Tokimi smiled her malicious smile. "The one thing that could stand a chance in a gogolplex of breaching the Light Hawk Wings. And she has it."

Tsunami reained silent. And as the surveillence screen followerd the Goddess Belldandyinto the Garden Courtyard, the screen began to frizzle away into static. Tokimi rose abruptly. "We have a breach! Alert Peorth immediately!"

The screen returned to normal, showing the Goddess leaving the Gardens, behind her several dozen Mazoku, their bodies crushed, Ultimate Force Seals flowing across them, binding their power, but they were still very much alive.

"Mazoku! Then..." Tsunami's shock came through her veil of control.

"The Lord of Nightmares has sent her Champion, at last." Tokimi smiled, and turned towards the screen. "However, to have done that to so many Mazoku in the space of just under two seconds...her Champion is going to be hard pressed to even remain alive."


~In the Office of Area Reclamation and Redevlopment~


"Oh pancakes! Did you see that! Did you see that!!!" Shader screamed, stabbing her finger at the screen reapetedly, "What the hell was that!!! I thought that she couldn't fight at that kind of range!!! What the hell has she been watching, Fist of the North Star!?!!"

Small flames licked at the schmick glass keyboard, forming a feline eye over the ash tray. Sauron. "It can't be. If she had watched Fist of the North Star, they would already be dead. And there was no star of their death shining brightly in the black void of the night sky, either."

Aion bent over the desk and screamed at the Dark Lord of Middle Earth. "WHAT NIGHT SKY, IT'S BLOODY 10 IN THE MORNING!!!! AND WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

The eye blinked. And then rotated upwards as the God of Destruction flicked ash onto it. "Still peeping I see, you old bastard! So that's why Shader's desk has been glowin' from underneath..."

"No! Wait! It's not what you think!"

Aion loudly cleared his throat, bringing the attention of the room back to the matter at hand. "Shader, can you burn through the static?"

The neko-devil's tail twitched and swished in frustration. "I dont even think it's static," she explained, the screens showing the shadows beneath the rose bushes and the trees in the garden. "The Mazoku were already there, how they got in, that we're gonna have to find out but look at this as we're moving though the footage." The before the screen turned into white noise, the Goddess seemed to tilt her head ever so slightly.

As the footage returned to real-time, they watched as the Morning Star casually strode in and surveyed the damage, smiled, and then left.

~Much later~

"Damn it Nudoru I said give her a few pointers, NOT TURN HER INTO KENSHIRO WITH TITTIES!!!" Lucifer fumed, the pair watching Wrestlemania IXXIXIX on interdimensional pay-per-view in Kaarage's room.

"Dude! She said she wanted to know what I know so...well, I...uhh..."

Lucifer turned slowly, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot, the pupils nonexistant. "What. Did. You. Do. Nudoru." Lucifer's head expanded to several times its normal size and loomed large over the God-Killer.

"I.....uhh...kind of lent her my combat files....."

"YOU DID WHAT!? YOU BLITHERING EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDIOT!!!!"

The sounds of scratching came from outside the door. Luficer cracked it open a bit, and then turned back. "It's for you."

Nudoru threw the door open, only to find Lucifer dissapearing off of the balcony. He turned back to the door, and found several Xenomorphs trying to force their way into the room at once. The door sills cracked, and then gave.

"Oh. Snap." :D

[OverMaster]

Alaniel had no sooner returned to the Celestial planes than a shrieking xenomorph leapt at him.

Thirty-nine minutes later, Lucifer Morningstar came across a badly bruised and beaten Alaniel holding a xeno head in one hand and his stomach in the other. Alaniel spit out some blood and a few teeth.

"Sir, not to sound like the pain in the ass you generally regard me, but can someone explain to me why was there a Xeno running around with adamantium skin and the Light Hawk Wings? I'm pretty sure that my disembowelled intestines deserve *some* sort of explanation..."

Lucifer grumbled, shook his head, and then yelled out "KARAAAAAAAAAAGEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".


Kamuikotan, Japan:

As a Goddess of the Future, Skuld didn't like to be in the past. She felt out of place, uncomfortable and stingy there. Still, Beenuel and she had agreed to choose a teammate each one, and this had been his choice. She wasn't particularly sure it was a *good* choice, since this girl didn't look too strong, but she knew she could make up for it with her own choice.

"I see" Nakoruru, swordswoman priestess and Defender of Nature, said softly while nodding. "I had a feeling about it... for days, the voices of the nature have been in an unrest. They were afraid... and now I see why. Very well, Skuld-domo, Beenuel-domo, I will do it. I am honored for having your trust in this, and I promise I will do my best to prove to be worthy of it".

"Most excellent" the lanky God of Animals sitting before her and next to Skuld smiled in approval.

Nakoruru turned to her younger, small sister sitting behind her. "Rimururu-chan, I am going to trust the care of the homelands to you. Would you do that for me?".

"Hai, Oneesan..." the child, a skilled fighter herself, pouted sadly. "Be very careful, please...".

"I promise I will be back" Nakoruru gave her a long, warm hug, then called for her pet eagle as she stood up. "Mamahaha! Come to me!". As the bird perched itself on one of her shoulders, he asked to Skuld and Beenuel, "May I ask where will we go now for our final teammate?".

Skuld cleared her throat in the cold of the night, then asked "You surely haven't heard about a place named 'London', have you?".

[Golden Darkness]

- The Lost Ship Dark Star, Lost Universe World -

"Fool, where can he be?" muttered a pale, thin, red haired woman, dark energies radiating around her.

"Lady, you know you are going to make a hole into the floor if your keep pacing like that," called out a well built blond haired man.

The woman, not liking the disrespect in the man's voice, grabbed his neck with one of her claw-like hands. "Must I repeat myself, human? The name is Queen Beryl. Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom."

The man just gave a smirk. "Alright queenie, whatever you say."

Beryl was about ready to tear the man's eyes out when a female voice interrupted, "The fool still not calling by your proper title?"

"As usual," Beryl replied, letting the man's neck go. Turning towards the source of the voice, she saw her fellow parton to Evil, Astronema, escorting a tall black being she figured to be their fourth member of their 'team'. The figure's face was totally obscured by the ghastly looking mask he wore, with the creep factor accentuated by constant deep breathing that accompanied the being. "So Astronema, who's this being of darkness here?"

The being decided to speak for himself. "I am Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith and servant to the Empire."

'Well, at least this one seems to understand the need for respect,' Beryl thought. "I'm Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom. Pleased to make your acquaintance. And I see you already met Astronema." With that Beryl gestured to the blond-haried man. "And this poor excuse for a mortal is named Coop."

"Yo." Ignoring Beryl's insult, Coop started up to size up the Sith Lord. "Gee, a little late for Halloween, aren't we, with that B-movie gargoyle villian getup an all," he remarked in jest. Unfortunately, it proved to be a poor thing to say as the fallen hero of Jersey City felt his throat tighten.

"I find your lack of respect, disturbing," Vader intoned. "It is never wise to cross me."

"You know Vader, I think I like you already," Astronema stated, the chosen of Dark Specter smirking. "But just you know, our benefactors want him alive."

Vader turned to the Princess of Evil, and back to the choking mech pilot. "As you wish."

Coop felt the grip on his throat beginning to fade, and started to breate in air as quick as possible.

Vader, ignoring the man gasping for air, turned to Astronema. "Speaking on the subject of our benefactors, you said I would be meeting them here. Where are they?" he asked in an almost threatening tone.

Astronema gestered to the area around here. "Your are looking at it. This ship is one of our benfactors."

Vader looked at her as if she was bluffing, only to be surprised as a new voice emanated throughout the ship.

"She is speaking the truth, Lord Vader. I'm the one who made the call for your services," the voice intoned.

"Who, or what are you?"

"I was designated the name Dark Star, named after a powerful Demon that once ruled this universe according to legend. As for what I am, I am a feared being of destruction. The mortals here refer to me and other vessals of my kind as Lost Ships."

Darth Vader looked around. "From what I can see here, you don't have any capability for destruction."

"This body is still being built. My old one was destroyed by Vorfeid, a Lost Ship whose purpose is to face me in battle. Chaos, patron to Queen Beryl here, is aiding my reconstruction."

"Then I assume that this 'Chaos' is another benefactor?"

"That's right," answered Coop, having recovered from his choking attack. "Apparently these guys are not happy with what's going on, with the whole destruction of everything bit. I mean, sure destruction is cool, but if there's nothing to destroy, that's bad news."

"Which is why we are brought here," added Astronema. "If no one stops these gods who think they have every right to destroy our work, our dreams of conquest for our worlds will be all for naught."

If anyone could see the face behind the mask, they would notice that Vader was frowning. "You think I'm a man seeking to conquer for the glory of it? All I seek is to bring stability and peace to my Empire. How the Empire expands is at my Master's discretion, not mine."

Beryl raised her eyebrows. "You, a fellow being of darkness, actually believe you're acting in the name of peace and security for your people?"

"Is that so hard to believe?" Vader retorted.

"Enough," the ship called out. "it isn't important if Lord Vader considers himself evil or not, much less revel in the fact. He serves the darkness, and that's the important thing."

"Is that why you chose us?" Vader question, "You desire thoses with darkness in their hearts?"

"I see you need another incentive then. Very well, how about a chance of facing a Jedi in combat at the tournament?"

"A Jedi?"

"Yes. Chaos tells me a Jedi with the last name of Skywalker is to be recruited."

"Skywalker?" Vader paused in thought, taking in this new revelation.

"I thought that would interest you."

Realizing that the Skywalker mentioned could only be the the son of Anakin, Vader decided he had no choice but to join this 'team'. Besides, the Emperor had decreed he was to eliminate this greater threat to the Empire. He could not fail his master. "Very well. But realize that I'm serving only my interests, not anyone elses"

[Golden Darkness]

- Tsukino Residence, Minato Ward of Tokyo, Japan -

"No! It's bad enough you never told us what you've been for the past few years, and you expect me to let you go to a tournament where you might be killed?"

"Dad, please... I have to do it." Sailor Moon almost regretted deciding to have the Senshi reveal everything to their families. With the fate of the universe being decided in a tournament, it was known it wouldn't be a simple one day affair where they storm the enemy gates and take care of business while having enough time to return to civilian life with no one the wiser. Whoever was entering the tournament would have to be there for days, and not weeks. And since this was in the middle of the school year, there would be no way they could excuse such an absence.

Due to the limited number of spaces which were rapidly being filled, only three of the Senshi could be sent, and they were spread apart among different teams. There was much discussion on who to send, and who was to hold the fort due to the apparent rise of the Orochi. Thankfully, it was apparently decided for them. The spirit of Queen Serenity had appeared during the meeting, her manifestation made possible by a low-level deity known only as the Player. Apparently the Player, whoever he is, needed an go-between that the Senshi would trust, as he was busy establishing multiple teams. In any case, the spirit of the Moon Kingdom queen related what she'd been told, and from there they would make their final decisions.

Pluto was first chosen, being the first to feel the dangers. Not to mention she had foreseen her need to participate. She would represent the tournament as the defacto leader of the Outer Senshi. The team she would join would be at her discretion.

Venus was the next chosen, on the account of being the official leader of the Inner Senshi. Like Pluto, it was up to her to find a team.

Moon was the last chosen, but not after much debate. Some argued that she should stay to help keep things in check, while someone like Saturn or Jupiter take the third spot. Others argued that Sailor Moon needed to be in the front lines, so to speak. In the end it was Moon who decided where she wanted to be, and she wanted to fight, being that she is the leader of all the Senshi present and she was the holder of the Illusionary Silver Crystal. She also reasoned that with Dr. Tomoe attacked by an unknown assailant, if would be best for Saturn to be by her father till he recovers. With that decided, it was relayed to the Senshi that the Player had a place for Moon on one of his teams. Moon accepted.

Right now Pluto had already joined her team. Venus was getting ready to find hers, having told her parents. Now Moon and the remaining Inners were explaining things to her parents.


Despite the fact she didn't like doing this, she had to do this.

"But why you?" Kenji Tsukino intejected, "and for that matter, why do you girls feel you need to send someone to this thing?"

"It's my duty to protect the world, dad. And I must protect it anyway I can, and since the enemy isn't coming here, I must meet the enemy," answered Moon.

"Mr. Tsukino, you probably know how the people of Tokyo view us as their defenders. It would give them hope if they see the leader of the Senshi fighting on their behalf," added Mercury.

"Not to mention, you realize if Usagi decided to be a baka and not fight the bad guys we face before, we'd wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?" Mars added.

"Rei, you know I'm not that big of a baka," Moon said, disraught that Mars would imply such things.

"Well, you did barely pass your high school entrance exams," replied Mars.

"Must you mock my achievements still? I'm getting better. Really."

"Girls, stop it," admonished Luna, before turning back to Kenji. "Sorry about that. The girls aren't always like that. However I should note that since the beginning, your daughter has never weakened my faith in her, only strengthed it. Even when times were desparate, she's been able to pull miracles out of nowhere."

Ikuko, who had been silent up to this point, decided to say something. "You really believe she can save us from this threat?"

"Honestly, I think she's the only one we can count on. As she is also the Princess, and has one of the kindest hearts I know, she also has the best chance of all the fighters to appeal to the gods' hearts," Luna answered.

"You have to let her go, mom and dad. I mean, I remember when all the times she saved all of us. I know she'll save us again," added Shingo, who kept out of the conversation till now. "She is after all, Sailor Moon."

Kenji sighed. "I guess you girls have your heart set on this, no matter what I say, right?" After seeing the Senshi nod, he continued, "If you really believe you can stop this... I won't get in the way."

"Oh... thank you dad." With that, the Senshi of the Moon gave her father a hug.

"Just you know Usagi, because we are letting you go, doesn't mean we aren't to have a long talk once you get back about what you've been hiding, especially on the subject of Chiba-san," her mother noted. The then thought for a moment and added, "If the world survives..."

"Don't worry mom. I'll be sure not to fail you all."

"Ahem..." the living room occupants turned to see the Senshi of Jupiter standing at the doorway, holding a backpack of supplies. "Usagi, the Queen's here to take you to your team," she announced.

Seeing that it was time to go, Sailor Moon let go off her father. "I guess its goodbye already." With that she headed to her mother hand gave her a hug as well.

"No matter what happens, you will still be my baby girl," went Ikuko.

"I'll always be your baby girl mom. Always." Next up was Shingo.

"I still can't believe you were Sailor Moon, big sister."

"Well, now you know who to turn to when in you're trouble."

"Well, I'd rather not have you help me when I'm having trouble with my homework. You might pull my grades down. I'll ask Mercury for that."

"Hey!" With that the two siblings shared a laugh. The family goodbyes now done, turned to her Senshi.

"Goodbye Usagi, and take care," went Mercury.

"Put up a good fight," put in Jupiter.

"And show them what a Sailor Senshi can do," added Mars.

"Thanks guys." Moon took the bag from Jupiter. "Where's the queen waiting?"

"Actually, the goodbyes aren't over yet," Jupiter commented, as she led the Moon Senshi to the front door.

"What do you mean?" Moon asked as she opened the door.

"GOODBYE!"

"Oh my!"

Standing infront of the Tsukino residence, was a throng of people. Naru, Gurio, Rei's grandfather, Ami's mother, Motoki, Haruna-Sensei, Yuuchirou, the other Senshi(minus Pluto), and even the Starlights.

After saying her goodbyes to each one(and learning that Venus has not yet joined a team), a bright light shone around Sailor Moon. The crowd gave way, as the spirit of Queen Serenity appeared.

"Are you ready to go, my Princess?"

"I'm ready."

"Then we shall be off."

With that there was a flash of light. When it faded, neither Sailor Moon nor the spirit of Queen Serenity were anywhere to be found.

[Saint_007]

"So," Alaniel began, "let me get this straight..." Alaniel had recovered rather quickly from the fight with the Xenomorph that burst out of Noduro's chest (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=2255482&postcount=101). Fortunately, he had good stamina. "You're saying that you hired this guy, Karage, from freaking nowhere, to be a spectator?"

"Yes," Lucifer replied smugly, sipping his wine. "Ahh, my favorite..."

"It doesn't fit," Alaniel replied calmly, sipping his own cup. "You're not one for trivialities..."

"So I am. I indeed have a reason - or in fact, multiple reasons - to bring him. But that's really not your concern is it?"

Alaniel sighed. Dealing with the Head Man's delinquent son was every bit as flustering as Michael said it would. He sat there for a moment while he gathered his thoughts.

"Okay then, answer me this," Alaniel queried, staring straight at Lucifer. "This guy's most possibly the strongest one around, yet he's such a moron he can't stop himself from getting killed?"

"As pathetic as that sounds," grumbled Morningstar, "it's true."

"So what? You're just going to let him hang around, find new and exciting ways for himself to get killed, and hope that when the moment you brought him for comes into being, he's going to magically grow some intelligence and pull through?"

"Well, Michael did the same thing with you, and you've come through quite nicely for a Nephilim."

Alaniel sweatdropped. Matching wits with Lucifer was like dancing in a minefield with atomic warheads - he gets you with one hell of a blast.

"By the way," Lucifer continued, stirring his glass, "I noticed you invited only four teams. You could have gotten away with five. Whatever happened to the 'Wild Card' team you had planned?"

"Well, let's say that that last team was too 'wild' for my liking."

"Hhmmm..." Lucifer pondered with a leer on his face, looking over Alaniel's shoulder. "I wonder how that 'team' is doing?"

Alaniel followed the gaze. "Oh no..."

The 'Team' was actually one person - the Hulk. Only now he had well and truly snapped. He seemed to be arguing with nobody in particular, then would proceed to start hitting himself furiously so that another of his myriad personalities took over. For some reason, his skin color and features changed quite sporadically at times.

"Why puny wing man no invite Hulk? HULK SMASH-"

His left fist hit him with a haymaker that made his neck snap back. When he straightened his neck, his face had turned grey.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," mocked the Hulk in a thug voice. "We know! 'Hulk Smash!' Geez, you ain't really original, are ya?!"

Then Hulk slapped himself twice then punched himself square on the nose. His face turned green, only it showed considerable intelligence this time.

"Well, he might not be original, Fixit, but you have to admit he's right at times."

Then the Greenskin's left hand grabbed his head by the hair and slammed him into a wall several times. His features became those of malignant intelligence.

"I'll say, Banner," snickered Maestro. "Though you evidentally have no idea how to use the concept right."

Then both hands slapped the face hard, followed by a one-two combo.

"Shaddap all of you!" shouted Merged Hulk. "You're giving me a headache!!"

*WHAM* *WHAM* *SMASH*

Fixit: "You wanna headache, ya punk?! I'll give ya one!!"

*CRASSSSSHKK* *SMASH* *SHATTER*

Banner: "Just who do you think you are, Fixit, you common thug?!"

*CRUNCH* *SMASSH* *BAM*

Maestro: "Smarter than you, evidentally, Mr. Boy Scout!!"

*WHAM* *SMASH* *SMASH* *WHAMMO*

Merged Hulk: "I SAID SHUT UP!!"

*KER-WHHOOOMM*

Savage Hulk: "HULK SMASH PUNY BRAIN!!"

"Well, isn't that last part appropriate," commented Lucifer.

"Ooohh, no, Lucifer," Alaniel protested. "That was a mistake to even *think* of inviting him. I was dog tired and half-dead at the time, and you conned me into drafting him. Good thing that Yggdrasil promptly rejected the entries - good thing too. Last time I counted, there were six personalities in there-"

"So call now!" piped up the Hulk unexpectedly. "And you might win this new set of cutlery and silverware if you call in the next 10 minutes! We'll even throw some Wonder-Brand knife sharpeners as well! All for US$49.95!"

Apparently, there was a new personality: Telemarketer Hulk. He was cut off quickly by an even more furious barrage of punches and blows.

"Now that was...odd..." Lucifer remarked.

"Okay, seven personalities in there," continued Alaniel. "They wouldn't agree among themselves who would be in the lineup. And the rules said only four per team." He stared hard at Lucifer. "But you knew all along it won't work, didn't you?! Admit it, you only got me to do it because you thought it would be funny to watch."

"Clever boy," Lucifer replied with an infuriating grin.

Just then Noduro walked into the room.

"Damn, those aliens really hurt," he said. "Gotta cool it with all the dying. It's getting to be a pain-"

Just then he saw Hulk's flailing fists. They were meant to hit the Hulk's face - God knows which personality was controlling him this time - but flatly splatted Kagare between them. Noduro was now an abstract painting in red all over the walls.

"Dammit all," Lucifer said, covering his face with one hand.

"So, how's your choices coming along?" Alaniel remarked with a grin.

"Shut up..."

[M203]

~The ultimate challenger...~

He sat bound to the cold steel chair, the table before him as well as the room nondescript. He looked across at his hands. Or at least what he could see of them; his head had been secured to the backrest by a headset constructed out of pure energy, the same energy as the cocoon which was wrapped around his lower half, and the thick, bulky bads which wound across his chest. The Ultimate Force. The only thing strong enough to bind him in this way.

He smiled. It had been unwise to have acted with such hostility to the two women who had approached him 48 hours ago. Peorth, he black-haired one with indecent clothes, she told him that he had been summoned by Heaven. He had shown her the letter, and then crushed it. "What need have I of Heaven, here is my own creation, here I am God..." Peorth had become angry, but the other woman, the brown-haired one with triangular marks on her face. She had asked rather nicely. He regretted his outburst, the telekenetic wave he had sent at her with enough force behind it to obliterate a good chunk of large planet, or to snuff the flames of a Sun if it was allowed to expand enough. He remembered her next action, even though the memory if it was still a tad hazy.

She phased through it, leaving two after-images behind. After-images which had assailed him from almost every angle leaving him open in the crucial moment. He remembered her touch, as gentle as a morning breeze in spring. And then the staggering impact which crumpled his own telekenetic shields, five after images at once, each delivering its own devastating attack and then megring back into her. They appeared again, and he found his own powers turned against him in a volley of agony.

The "Heaven Smasher," Peorth called it. She had sounded almost horrified.

And then he saw it, his own soul leaving his body as it was drawn into a sphere of light that she held in her hands. And he remembered her words before he lost conciousness. And he was here. In this white room, with the nondescript table, his extremeties bound by unopposable force.

A hiss, and part of a wall slid away, closing quickly behind the woman who treaded slowly into the room.

"Who are you," he hissed vehemently. "Release me, damn you!"

She smiled mockingly. "It is amazing that you actually survived the Heaven Smasher, though I did not expect her to act with such....violence, to be honest." The Goddess spoke with contempt, the galaxies floating within her robes attracting the better part of his attention. "My name is Tokimi. The young one who defeated you, and then brough you here is named Belldandy. And this is the fate of those who abscond from any summons by Heaven. Tell me, how did it feel?"

He allowed his head to fall forward in its restraint. "It felt...like, like I was being torn apart, but everywhere else too, and from everywhere else."

"Ah." Tokimi waved her hand and the restraints fell away, allowing him to crumble to the floor. His clothes entered the room on a glowing disc, red leather biker's overalls and similarly coloured gloves and boots with fireproof Nomex underclothes. And the pair of biker's goggles.

"Go to the room at the end of the hall to your right after you have eaten," she indicated the feast which had appeared on the table before him. "You will dress as smartly as these clothes will allow you to, make sure of that." She turned to leave.

"Hey!" he shouted at her, stumbling and landing in a heap. "Tell me. Where am I? Where the Hell am I?"

Tokimi giggled wickedly. "Why you are in the opposite of Hell, actually."

"Wh...what..."

Tokimi waved her hand, and the wall seemed to open before her. "This is Heaven. Enjoy your stay, because if you don't behave then it will be a short one....Mr....Akira, was it?"

He clawed his way towards the clothes, and then across the floor towards the table. To the food. He did not know it at the time but he had been unconcious for days.

[OverMaster]

Neron, recently reinstalled Dark Overlord of the DC Universe Hell, sat on his throne surrounded by green flames, watching intensely at the image reflected in the giant dark mirror two lesser, hunchbacked demons were holding for him to see. The transmission was working just fine; his team was travelling through the dimensional planes with no problems straight to its destiny. So far, there were no problems at all. Still, he knew better than that. He was fully aware that was only the beginning. The real trials had not even started.

Fortunately, he had a Plan B, just in case. Smiling very slightly as he sipped on his cup of wine mixed with blood; he would NOT end up humbled and transformed into a lowly rhyming demon this time.

Having to constantly find ways to talk in rhyme was a real pain, after all. He wondered how in all Hells could Etrigan not get sick of it ever.


Tournament Grounds:

Team USA, Team JLAvengers and Team Hero were still having breakfast together, with Ryu and Ken remembering the old times with Gouken and Terry telling Kyo about his newfound problems and joys with adopted paternity, when they felt the Earth shaking.

Peter Parker's spider-sense went in a frenzy again. "Ah, nuts" he said, pulling the lower half of his mask over his face again. "Don't tell me more murderous freaks are coming. I've a line on my superhero contract, no more than one rundown with a supervillain team a day...".

"I am afraid that is exactly what is coming to us..." Rayden announced, appearing from behind them as if he had just come out of nowhere.

"Whoa!" Heavy D blinked. "How did you do that?! I didn't even feel you coming...".

Then the earth trembled again, and with a loud boom, a nearby part of the tournament grounds exploded in front of them, raising huge columns of black and green smoke swirling around the four figures that had just appeared in the middle of it.

Blue Beetle recognized one of the forms. A flying man, clad in blue and red, with a long, flowing cape, boots, and an 'S' on his massive chest. "Hey, no, look!" he said with a smile. "That's no villain, guys! The Big Guy is here! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Why no, it's Super--".

A small blowing of wind dissipated part of the smoke then, and it revealed the face of the floating man for all to see. Completely chalk-white, misshaped and deformed, twisted in a huge, stupid and crooked grin.

"... man?" Beetle completed the sentence, gasping hard.

"Oh, no. Just what we needed to enlighten our day" Spidey mused.

"Goodbye! Me am Bizarro Superman!!" the creature yelled proudly. "Me am greatest hero ever! Me come to save world with Just-Us League!".

"Don't call us like that" the extremely pale, all dressed in black woman standing below him grumbled to Bizarro. She had a raven perched on one of her shoulders, and seemed to have an aura of pure, unadultered evil around her. "Greetings" she added for everyone else. "You can call me Maleficent... I am one of Lord Ansem's allies. Surely you have heard about us?".

"Nope, not really" Ken shook his head.

"Not in any way, shape or form" Terry added categorically.

Maleficent looked offended by the comments, but before she could say or do anything, the third teammate, a man in a strange looking armor, with a long white cape, walked to Rayden and gave him their invitation. "Here, our ticket for this lovely blowout" he said, smiling. "Lord Rayden, am I right? My name is Prometheus".

"You know him, Blue Bug?" Ranma-chan whispered to Beetle.

"Yeah. The guy's really bad news. He almost managed to beat the whole League by himself once. Don't keep your eyes apart from him".

Then an extremely serious-looking man man in a black suit approached them. "Hello, Mr. Kord, Mr. Saotome" he said dryly.

"You know our names?!" Ranma looked at him with distrust.

"Forgive Mr. Smith's manners, please" Prometheus asked with a slick smile. "He certainly lacks a lot of... human touch".

"You no Ranma? Man down below no tell Bizarro about you! You woman who change to man! Goodbye!" Bizarro said with extreme enthusiasm, shaking one of Ranma's hands so hard, he almost teared it apart.

"Mr. Bizarro, on the other hand, and as you can see, is all heart" Prometheus added, chuckling, obviously amused. "Now, now, let her go, Bizarro. We don't want her... I mean, him..." he added with intention, much to Ranma's annoyance, "hurt before the matches start".

"I will show you your quarters" Rayden said with resignation once again. "Come with me".

Once they were gone, the heroes were left pondering the situation.

"I don't like this at all, Cap" Iron Man said. "This place is going to become a powderkeg, especially if more of these characters continue coming".

"I can't say I disagree, Tony" Steve Rogers replied. "Still, let's give it a chance. But we all should be prepared for the worst".

[KingEli]

Outer Space,Marvel U

Scene:We See the titan Thanos,who seem to be Wating for someone...

Thanos-About time you showed up Warlock.

Adam Warlock-Yes Thanos you want to see me why?

Thanos-I need your soul gem.

Warlock-Surley you jest.

Thanos-No I do not.I'm going to reform the Infinity Gauntlet.

Warlock-You know I can't let you do that.The LT---

Thanos-Spare me,The Tribunal is Tied up at this moment For you see Warlock The End of Days are coming.Heaven has decided to restart the Omniverse.

Warlock-And you want to stop them to gain their power.

Thanos-No you fool...Doom is there already planing to do that.I merely want to save us.

Warlock-So you say.

Thanos-Warlock you know me better than most you should know the reason why I'm doing this.

Warlock-For Death...

Thanos-Yes...Without life there is no Death..

Warlock-and you wish to appease her.

Thanos-Of coruse so will you lend me your gem?

Warlock-Why should I trust you with the IG?

Thanos-You can do any better warlock?....I thought so with me we stand a chance.

Warlock-How many Gem do you have already?

Thanos-The Reality,Time and Power Gems

Warlock-And mines would make four.....So even though I do not trust you,You make the most logical sesne so I will join you in your.....cursade.

Thanos-I knew you see it my way

[OverMaster]

Gotham City, DC Universe:

The Signal was shining in the black night sky once again. However, this time, the bat emblem emblazoned above the cold metropolis had not lead him to the GCPD's roof, and with good reason, since Commissioner Atkins currently had cut all ties with the vigilantes.

Instead, it had guided him to the outskirts of the city, not too far from the castle of shadows known as Arkham Asylum. There, tied to a tree, pummeled and bleeding, in the middle of a small lonely valley, was the barely alive bandaged man in a gray trenchcoat known as Hush. Next to the tree was a Batsignal projector.

"Tommy..." the Dark Knight said as he approached his friend of childhood turned criminal, attending to his wounds. "Who did this to you? The Joker?".

"P-Pr-Pro-Prometheus..." Hush muttered. "H-he said... didn't need me anymore... said he has new allies... has improved a lot...".

These were bad news. For the last few months, Prometheus had been working as nothing but Hush's right hand man, but if he had regained the threat level he had when Batman first met him, maybe he couldn't handle him alone. In any case, the beaten Hush was a message to him: a challenge.

"H-he said..." Hush added, as if confirming his thoughts, "he... and Joker... will be waiting for you... ".

"Where, Tommy? Where they are waiting for me? What are they up to?".

"No-no idea... doesn't matter... Heh, heh... You are... *cough, cough!* as good as dead...".

"Don't talk anymore. I'll take you to a hospital".

When he took him on his arms, he noticed something on a pocket of his chest. An envelope with a red seal.

"For you, he said..." Hush smiled weakly, wickedly at the dark Caped Crusader. "I hope... you enjoy it...".





OOC: Saint, I'm sorry about not following your Chun Li/Ying and Yan suggestion for involving Batman, but somehow I couldn't make it work in any of my attempts to write such a scene. However, I'll keep trying to involve such angle in some way later on the story.

[Golden Darkness]

- Ketchum Residence, Pallet Town, Pokemon World -

"So let me get this straight," stated Brock, a young man with tanned skin and spiky black hair. "You are a minor god who is trying to stop the end of the world."

"Correct," replied the Player.

"And you want Ash to fight for you?"

"Yes. He is one of my many chosens."

"But why Ash, and not someone like Lance of the Elite Four?" asked Misty, a tomboyish girl with red hair.

"I know they don't have a record of averting major disasters like Ash does. That's what I'm counting on."

"But you can't expect him to fight. You people would know that he only battles using his Pokemon," contended Mrs. Ketchum.

"Yeah. So why can't I just have Pikachu battle in this tournament?" added Ash.

"Because Ash, Pikachu wouldn't stand a chance alone. Remember, this isn't a Pokemon tournament. However, trust me when I say you have a chance, for I will help you reach your potential and beyond."

Ash blinked. "You really believe I have a chance?"

"Hey... you have a better chance than those people the invites were originally slated for," the Player added, taking a drink of his orange juice.


- Moe's Tavern, Springfield, USA -

"No... I keep telling you... those aren't tickets to see the greatest fights ever, those are invites to be in the greatest fights ever!"

"Do you think I'm that stupid? There's no way I'm going to give these tickets to a jerk like you," a fat, balding man with yellow toned skin declared.

"Hehehehehehe... you tell him Homer," a even fatter man mocked.

The Player cursed. For the sake of all the worlds, and for the sake of his 'Revolution', he must have invites to give. "Ok... what would convince you to part with those tickets?"

"Hmmm... how about you try to drink ten times the number of beers that anyone can drink without passing out?" Homer Simpson challenged. 'Heh heh heh, am I so smart or what. Once he passes out from all those beers, we can kick him out and leave him to the police.'

The Player smirked. "Well then, Mr. Simpson and Mr. Griffen, if you are willing to put up those tickets, I'll take that challange."

"Woah woah woah, time out. I didn't say anythin' about my tickets," interjected Peter Griffen.

"I'll pay for all the beer you can drink today."

"DEAL!"

SEVERAL HOURS LATER...

The Player took the sight of his handywork. True he was adding unnecessary insult to injury. But hey, those two really aggrivated him, obstructing his 'Revolution' and all.

On the top of Moe's Tavern, he had erected two crosses, and tied a naked Homer and a Peter on them. On Homer's belly he had written "Dumb n00B" and on Peter's belly he had written "Dumber N0ob" with a permanent black marker. And at their feet was a note that stated that he had met their challange, and had already taken the invites, since they were too drunk to realize he even won. The only thing he didn't write was the fact that he used the variant of the Water-to-Wine miracle to turn his beer to ginger ale, his favorite drink.

Seeing that the two were about to awake, he made his leave to hunt for the remaining invites. One set held by a boy named Kenny in South Park, Colorado. Another held by Generic Muslim Arab Terrorist Wacko #97838 who was somewhere in the blood-soaked Middle East.


*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

"What was that?" asked May, a brown-haired girl.

The Player paused in mid-drink of the juice he was consuming so he could pull out a device from his pockets. "This is my DS handheld computer," he explained opening up the device to reveal two screens and a set of video-game controll style buttons.

"A DS?" asked Max, a young boy with glasses and May's younger brother.

"Deity System. My society's equivilent to your PDAs." Using the stylus, the Player found that he was receiving status updates from his sources.

Team #1 - Code Name 'Smash'
Mario - In transit towards Final Destination.
Link - At Final Destination. Waiting for Mario.
Samus - At Final Destination. Waiting for Mario.
Kirby - At Final Destination. Waiting for Mario.

Team #2 - Code Name 'Saviors'
Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon - In transit towards Mirinoi.
Karone/Pink Galaxy Ranger #2 - Headed towards the Quasar Saber shrine. Guiding Anakin and Squall.
Anakin Skywalker - Headed towards the Quasar Saber shrine.
Squall Leonhart - Headed towards the Quasar Saber shrine.

Team #3 - Code Name 'Troubleshooters'
Jade Chan - In transit to Dark Star staff world.
MEGAS w/ crew - In transit to Dark Star staff world.
Lina Inverse - In transit to Dark Star staff world.
Kane Blueriver - Waiting for the others.

Team #4 - Code Name 'Duelists'
Takato Matsuda & Guilmon - At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Waiting for Ash.
Yami-Yugi/Atem - At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Waiting for Ash.
Netto Hikari w/ Rockman.EXE - At the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Waiting for Ash.
Ash Ketchum - Currently with self.

'Ahh... Miss Tsukino is on her way to meet her team, and Kane is about to meet his teammates. Wait till he sees the gift they're bringing to him,' the Player thought. 'Now... any updates on the opponents...'


Belldandy - Rumored to be going under intensive training. Teacher thought to be Nudoru Kaarage.

Currently at the tournament grounds
Team USA
Team JLAvengers
Team Hero
Team Nifelheim
New unnamed team consisting of Maleficent, Bizzaro Superman, Prometheus, and Agent Smith. Ansem, Neron suspected to be this teams patron. Not sure who.

Fully formed teams yet to arrive
Team Shin Sacred Treasure
Team Hearts of Fire
Team Rugal/Akuma
Team Jedah/Bison - Sephiroth confirmed to be the fourth
Team Swordsman
Team Ninja(not the software dev. team of Temco)
Team Vendetta - Iori Yagami just recruited.
Team Dan
Team UK
Team Evil Science - Dr. Tomoe's replacement confirmed to be Sandy, a robot girl. Suspected to be Dr. Tomoe's attacker.
Team Robots
Team Latveria
Team Howard

Still forming Teams/Status Unknown
Team Malebolgia - Only Violator and Ash Crimson confirmed.
Team Skuld - Skuld and Benueel at the moment. Supposedly picked up a third
Team Darkside - Currently Evil Coop, Beryl, and Astronema. Fourth member rumored to be Vader. Waiting for confirmation.
Team Excel - Just Excel and Hyatt at the moment.
Team Justice - Fionne and Drake Mallard/Darkwing Duck. Going to pick up someone named Kim. Expected to pick Amelia Seyruun.
Team Mercs - Deathstroke, B.B. Hood, and Naga the White Serpent. Not sure who there partron is, but sure he's targeting Deadpool.
Team Thanos? - Just starting. Seems to seek out Infinity Gems.
Team Batman - Just received an invitation. Have yet to seek out a team.
Team Vampire - Only Demitri confirmed, but assumes had already 'recruited' three others, all females
Team Darkseid? - Just starting. May be joining already formed team.

'Bloody hell, looks like the nasties are coming out,' thought the Player. 'The Kingdom Hearts version of Maleficent? Sephiroth? Damn, better see if Cloud has some Knights of the Round Materia. Agent Smith? And I thought Guilmon and Rockman.EXE were going to be the only digital beings here. And who is this Sandy? Who ever she is, I better pass the info the Senshi. Too bad Saturn can't do anything to avenge her father till after the tournament. And Nudoru's training Belldandy? @##$^@$^! I should have gotten more Nuclear Options!'

"Umm... are you ok?"

The Player broke out of his thoughts. "I'm fine Ash. I just got an update about your opponents. They look to be pretty tough, but don't worry, I'm confident I can make you a potent challenger."

"You really want me to fight don't you?"

"Pretty much. Besides, think of it this way. You Pokemon has always fought on your behalf. Now's a chance to fight on behalf of your Pokemon."

- Outside the Ketchum Residence -

"What's he saying now?"

"Seems like he wants the twerp to fight on his Pokemon's behalf."

"Is he nuts? The twerp probably coudn't fight his way out of a paper bag."

After recovering from one of their most embarrasing blast offs, Team Rocket was spying on the Ketchum household, using a listening device to hear the conversation inside.

"I don't know. I think he has a mean right.... what the?!"

"What's wrong Meowth?" Jessie inquired.

"The twerp accepted! That's what's wrong!" explained Meowth.

"You're kidding right?" James asked.

"Definately not. That guy just told the twerp to pack."

"Great," muttered James. "At least tell us if the twerp's going to bring his Pikachu."

"Looks like it, I think."

"Well, that settles that," Jessie said, slamming her fist into a her palm. "We'll have to follow that brat to the tournament."

"Wha?!" both James and Meowth exclaimed.

[OverMaster]

My Final Team (and boy, did it take me a time):


New York City, Marvel Universe:

The huge man walked down through the streets of Brooklyn and through the cold night with gloomy thoughts in his mind and a hard frown on his tough-guy features, hands stuffed on his pockets as he marched under the chilling autumn rain. He didn't care at all about it. It meant nothing to him. Right now, he barely could tell what was important to him anymore.

"Excuse me, sir, may I have a few words with you?".

The mountain of a man, snorting,turned around to face a man in some sort of ancient cleric-like clothes, complete with cape, who smiled cheerfully despite being also under the pouring rain, his purplish hair in a pageboy cut a wet mess. His eyes were closed... in a shifty way.

"What do you want?" the giant asked him, not bothering to be polite. "Listen, if Chuck sent you, tell 'im I'm not interested in anythin' he has to tell me. Leave me alone".

"My, my, my, Mr. Marko..." the stranger said, shaking an index finger. "You shouldn't be so stingy. In any case, I can honestly tell you I'm not representing your stephbrother. But I do have an offer for you".

"So, who sent you then? Magneto? Or some other clown who wants a job made for 'im? I'm not in the mood for that either".

"Cyttorak is willing to give you a second chance".

"Say what?" Cain Marko was actually taken by surprise now.

"My most magnificent employer talked with him about you... after a long debate, she managed to convince him to eventually give you your full powers back... as long as you prove to be worthy of them. You can be the truly UNSTOPPABLE Juggernaut once again, instead of just a pale shadow of your former self. But there is a price to pay for it, of course".

"What are you talkin' about, boy?".

"My name, actually, is Xelloss... Xelloss Metallium, sir. And this is for you". He handed him a curious looking envelope with a fine red seal on it. "You are formally invited to the event to end all events. A combat tournament for teams of four members. And the winners, hear this... will get their hearts' desires fullfilled at the end of it, no matter what are those. Yes, you could even wish for the return to life of your poor, tragically deceased little friend...".

Cain Marko cringed. The memory of his good pal Sammy filled his mind again. "You... you'd better not be jesting with this, you--".

"I'd never joke about such a matter!" Xelloss said, putting a hand on his chest. "And just so you can have a proof of it, take this as well".

He gave him a red gem, shining in a peculiar way.

"What's this? This ain't no Gem of Cyttorak...".

"No, but it comes close. My employer and your former benefactor put some combined power of theirs on it. As long you have it with you inside of your armor, where no one else can get it, it will give you some of your old Juggernaut power... and if your actions please Cyttorak, he will be lending more and more of his power at you as you advance through the tournament. By the time you reach the final challenge, you should have all your old might back... and then some. You'll need it, that's for sure".

"OK, I'm in, then" Juggernaut smiled at him, holding the gem tight on a fist. "But this better not be a blasted trick, or an attempt to--".

"Yes, yes, I know. Your stay with the X-Men showed you a new side of life. Don't worry. We aren't going to ask you to go and kill dozens, or anything like that!".

"And your going to fight along with me? You don't look too strong...".

"Oh well, by now, you should know appearances can be misleading... But no, for now, I have no plans to take an active part on it. You will have three other teammates for that. But I could step in at some point, if you prove to be insufficent for the task at hand".

"Just a question more... Your 'employer''s name... who is she?".

Xelloss' smile widened. "Ah, ah, ah..." he shook a finger at him again. "This might sound cliche to you, but that... That's a secret".

[Saint_007]

Uhm, GN, I'm not sure I understand when you want *ASH* in your team. He's basically a non-superpowered ordinary human. If he was going with his Pokemon, I'd say, sure, he's got a chance. But one-on-one?

What exactly is Ash Ketchum going to do vs, for instance, Sephiroth? Bleed all over him?

EDIT: Just saw that you're not sure whether Ansem or Neron are sponsoring Team Villain. Nevermind.

[OverMaster]

Uhm, GN, I'm not sure I understand when you want *ASH* in your team. He's basically a non-superpowered ordinary human. If he was going with his Pokemon, I'd say, sure, he's got a chance. But one-on-one?

What exactly is Ash Ketchum going to do vs, for instance, Sephiroth? Bleed all over him?

EDIT: Just saw that you're not sure whether Ansem or Neron are sponsoring Team Villain. Nevermind.

Neron is the sponsor, but he has an alliance with Ansem... and with someone else, too. This second ally has to do with Neron's 'Plan B' I alluded to.

Of course, you know what eventually does happen with villains alliances...


As for Ash, I can't answer for GD, but I figure he'll have some plot twist in mind.

[Golden Darkness]

Well, if your check the original thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=1297518&postcount=290) this fic is based on, you'd see that in my writeup of Ash he doesn't use his Pokemon to attack, he get's a powerup to use his Pokemon attacks. Ash in this fic will be basically similar, except for a different background to the powers he'll be granted for the duration of the tournament.

Not to mention, that according to Overmaster in this post (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=2185010&postcount=37), there will be major power balancing.

[KingEli]

Hey guy I'm sick right now so can some one do the arrivals of Teams UK,Howard and Lavetria and do a Darkseid update for me and Thanos and Darkseid are single entries in this grand battle,I would be greatly thankful

[Saint_007]

Well, if your check the original thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=1297518&postcount=290) this fic is based on, you'd see that in my writeup of Ash he doesn't use his Pokemon to attack, he get's a powerup to use his Pokemon attacks. Ash in this fic will be basically similar, except for a different background to the powers he'll be granted for the duration of the tournament.

Not to mention, that according to Overmaster in this post (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=2185010&postcount=37), there will be major power balancing.
Okay, Ash will be greatly benefiting from such a power-up, I'll agree.

But when OM said "power balancing", I don't think he meant that guys with no superpowers can take on guys like Ranma and Bison. Even with the playing field levelled a bit, there's such a thing as "out of your league" - such as Dan Hibiki taking on a bloodlusted Akira. Which is why I was wondering in the first place.

[M203]

~Event Horizon~

The hall was deathly quiet as he strode down it, the sick leaving him as he breathed in the pure air of Heaven. Brilliant marble, not a seam in it, the floor was perfect. So were the walls, portraits of dieties past and present lined them within red velvet and gold frames. The arches of stone, the intricate pillars, and the red carpet beneath his feet. The pots hung above, the plants draping themselves along the ceiling and then around the domes of painted glass. He remained at a loss for words as he stopped before the black door with silver trimings. The six guardians beside him formed a circle, the one in front tappting respectfully at the black varnish.

"Enter," the voice from within called. Stoic, solemn.

The patterns upon the black began to flow away from the center of the door, becoming handles. The first Angel pushed softly, and the door itself did the rest. In the room within, the enourmous domed ceiling dwarfed the occupants
who were seated around a massive round table of ebony stone in chairs made of a similar material he had observed on the door. In the middle of the room stood the woman had earlier addressed, clothed and fed him.

He stopped, and looked around. "Surely these must be Gods," he thought to himself as he looked around. He counted roughly twenty-two beings, with several other chairs left empty. The woman with the galaxies in her robes beckoned him.

"Please step forward Mr. Akira, this is not the Hall of Judgement. Neither is it the Office of the Tribunal, of these things you may be assured."

He did, and more dieties came into view. He recognised the black haired woman, the one whose name he remembered. Peorth. Beside her a dark-skinned and white-haired beauty. She smiled.

"Hey!"

And then he saw her. The young woman who had almost crushed him with such little effort, but spared his life. She looked drained, as if a massive burden had been placed upon her heart. He also noted the bruises on her shoulders, and a small but quickly healing cut right below her left eye. To her left and closer to the center of the table were a golden man with a head clad in veils and beside him a green-cloaked being, who was furiously tapping at the keypad of his mobile phone. The big golden man nudged him while trying to remain inconspicious.

"Hey....hey!" he whispered sharply.

The green-cloaked man snapped back to attention and swiftly thrust the phone into his cloak. Next to them was a man in a red, perfectly kept suit and bowtie who seemed preoccupied with his glass of wine. In the back of the room was a fresh, bloody stain on the wall which hadn't even begun to dry. Xenomorphs appeared next to it once every so often and picked chunks of flesh and ferried them away. The blonde man in the suit looked at him, shrugged, and then took another sip from his glass. He ran his gaze over the rest of the room, the pale woman with "Death" on the name-plate before her. Beside her were named Destruction, Despair, Dream and others. And yet others.

He finally came to a stop at the center of the room, beside the Lady Tokimi. The Guardians at his side fround sheltered corners within the dome-shaped chamber to dissapear into, and they were cast into silence.

"Is this the man who you have chosen as your Herald?" Tokimi broke the silence, nodding to the young Goddess whose injuries had already healed. She nodded. "Speak for him, and justify why you have chosen such an...individual." Tokimi's voice was laced with disgust. She stepped aside and returned to her seat beside Tsunami, allowing Belldandy to take the floor.

The sounds of dragging came from behind the table, as a man with center-parted, silvery-white hair in a half-faced mask, goggles and a white trench coat clawed his way back to the "special guests" chair and then passed out, slamming his head into the table and then proceeding to bleed all over it.

The Goddess approached him, smiling, her beauty exceeded everything, he thought. "Don't worry, he does that all the time!" By this time, the other Gods and Goddesses were slowly retreating from the growing pool of blood on the floor.

"I choose this man, Akira," the Goddess Belldandy began, "as my Herald, to serve me and to do my bidding. He shall bear allegiance to only me, shall kneel before me and to no other besides my Father, the One who stands Above All...within this Omniverse," she added at the end. "He shall raise his sword and strike down my enemies, shall touch the suffering and shall heal them in my name. Upon his lips shall he bear witness to my deeds, in his heart shall burn an eternal flame to serve me, he shall live for me...shall die for me." She choked at the last part. "I accept this man as my Herald, if such he chooses to be in exchange for his fondest wish, after three eternities of servitude which I now place before him as my Contract and Covenant."

Death shifted her seat slightly, putting a couple of more inches between herself and the still-growing poo, of blood. Akira only stood there in shock as the Goddess extended her hand to him.

"Will you serve me, and only me?"

Behind her, the half-masked man with silver hair had put up a huge banner which read: "Dude, either way you're still screwed! :D" which brought a drop of sweat to Akira's forehead. He turned this gaze away from the table and those around it. The thought for a moment; his life had been empty up to the day he had met her, and now, here was a chance at some purpose to an eternal, empty existance.He looked into her eyes, and saw only waves of sadness breaking over a sea of tears. His heart broke; there had to be a reason why she had chosen him. At the very least, he now had someone who might be able to bring some meaning into his life, as pathetic as it had been.

Behind her the man in the white trench coat had erased the previous banner and had written "More ass-kickings to come!" in place of the words.

He knelt on one knee before her, bowed and took her hand.

"I will serve you Mistress, and only you. I shall strike down your enemies, shall aid your allies and heal those who bear faith and witness to your deeds. I bear witness to your deeds, shall live for you, and shall lay down my life in your name. I accept the Contract and Covenant my Mistress has offered to me."

She smiled the most beautiful smile that he had ever seen, even though the tears began to trickle ffrom the corners of her perfect eyes. Behind her, the banner now read: "Now you're REALLY f*cked! W@HA!!!"

"Rise and present yourself to this council so that they may know you speak and act in my name, that they will afford you the same respect that I am afforded," the young Goddess instructed him. He complied, and then escorted her back to her seat, taking his place at her back overlooking the council.

[M203]

The man with the half-faced mask began to chuckle uncontrollably, but was soon set upon by Destruction and Yog Sothoth, the former grabbing him in a headlock and the latter wrapping gaffa tape across his mouth and then the pair proceeding to mummify him in his chair.

"Mfffffffffffffff mfffffffff mfffffffffffffffffffff fffmmmm mfffffffmfffmiii!"

The big golden man took to the floor. Belldandy leaned slightly backwards and whispered to him. "The Living Tribunal, Heaven's High Inquisitor, to him you should bow low, but not kneel."

Akira's eyes wandered to the man now apshyxiating in his gaffa tape cocoon.

"Nudoru Kaarage. Him, uhmm...." the Goddess stopped to think about how best to react to an unmatched, unparelelled extra-continual force of self-destruction and self-evisceration. "Don't worry, hes actually really nice but he is a bit, well, slow." She passed a note to him behind her. "Do not give Nudoru lollipops, he'll choke to death. Do not give him alcohol, he'll get drunk and then have a car crash. Do not give him chicken, he'll get Bird Flu and die, do not give him toilet paper, he'll somehow hang himself with it, do not let him use your toilet, he'll somehow drown in it..." The list went on.

Nudoru's head flopped to the side and his body slumped in the coccoon.

The face of Just Revenge cleared it throat while looking sternly at the young Goddess and her new Herald. Both bowed apologetically.

"As you have propably recieved the fresh memo's by email, you are aware that the Commentators and Intrviewers will be deploying to Earth in order to begin the pre-event promotions." The Tribunal began. "The Public Relations and publicity department has secured Verse-wide broadcasting rights with CBS, FOX Sports and VIN TV, as well as about every other major TV company," Just Revenge spoke enthusiastically.

"Yeah, and during the half hour breaks we'll have life footage from the Playboy Mansion! HUZZAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" another of the faces yelled from behind its veil.

The Tribunal smacked itself repeatedly on the left side of its heads.

"Ahem," Just Revenge started all over again, "SO! We, the on-site interview team and the Official Commentators will be mobilizing to Earth within the next 5 hours in order to set up everything. Our mobile numbers have been included in the memo in case of emergencies. Each of us will have a camera crew, a dressing trailer, a personal assistant as well as a personal Chef. As well as a sleeping trailer with armed guards, plasma TV, a DVD player and internet connection. Each of us will also be web-casting the results and reports for every battle, and so a team of clerks will also be attached to each one of us. To make life easier."

"YOU THREE-FACED F*CKER, SO THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY KEEPS GOING!!!!" Azathoth screamed from his seat at the opposite end of the room, waking up in a rage after dreaming about the annual budget he'd gotten that year.

One by one, the Gods and Goddesses delivered their reports. Questions arose, tempers flared, and kitchen sinks were thrown, more than one hitting the mummified corpse of the God-Killer who was begining to decompose.

After several hours, the Tribunal rose again. "As all is going satisfactorily, well, as well as the end of the Omniverse can go anyhoo, we'll ajdourn for the day. Thank you for your patience, input..." Just revenge took a peek at the corpse in the "Special Visitors" chair. "And many thanks for remembering the gaffa tape!"

Those within the domed room rose, and began to file out as Nudoru Kaarage materialized yet again, fifty feet in the air, and slammed into the ground leaving yet another 5-foot deep crater, which he began to crawl out of hastily. He pointed at Akira, and then burst out laughing.

"BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHHHAHHA...AKIRA, HERALD OF FREAKIN' BELLDA..."

The Gods and Goddesses remaining in the room spun around and began to unload everything from Uzi's, TOW's, LAW's and the odd nuclear missile at the God-Killer, while Lucifer hastily made himself scarce.

"Mistress, would you like this miscreant punished?" Akira spat in disgust while retreating from the pool of blood that was quickly spreading across the floor again.

Belldandy smiled. "Uhmm, I think that the rest of them will take care of that. Let's go, shall we?"

The pair stepped past the black varnished door with silver trimmigs, and almost ran into a tall man dressed in a white trench coat.

"...YOU!?" Akira snapped, "But you were just getting shot the hell out of, what the..."

The man in the half-faced mask pulled the trench coat open to reveal a torso which had been half blow away. And then his intenstines splattered onto the floor quickly followed by the rest of him. In the only whole part of him remaining, his left hand, there was a glowing disc which was obviously spinning within a transluscent casing, text flowing across the data surface. Akira knelt beside the bloody mess, and cautiously retrieved it, prodded it, shook it, and then finally presented it to his liege. The Goddess nodded and recieved it.

"You may go now," she told him. "You are expected to escort me to every meal or to every meeting, but that's not really necessary. So, uhmm, just wait for me at the door when there's somthing happenning, okay? And we'll go in together!"

She had never had a Herald before, and to the other Gods and Goddesses filing past them, such a request was absured. They murmured as they went on their way. She watched as her Herald dissapeared into the crowd leaving the hall, and then returned to her own room. The disc split down the middle, and the data stream unfolded into several three-dmensional layers encompassed by a sphere with herself as its center.

"Combat drive: copied version," the program description read, "Total operating time: 10 minutes. DO NOT engage this with earrings on, will cause BRAIN DAMAGE!!!" A badly drawn effigy of herself drooling heavily while cross-eyed popped up, drawing a short giggle. She looked out the window.

"Arigato Sempai..." she muttered, turning her gaze towards the picture on her dresser. She sat and cradled it. "I'll be home soon Kei, please, wait for me...I'll be home soon...."

[OverMaster]

Team Merc is here.

There was a slight and tense buzzing sound in the air, and out of nowhere, a small dimensional gate, shining in white light, opened. A man stepped out of it, holding a small strange device on one gloved hand and a travelling guide on the other. He wore a red and black costume that covered all of his body, and a full face mask, but still, he was also wearing a fake moustache and a Mexican sombrero over it.

"Heh heh heh... With this disguise, no one's gonna ever recognize me as DEADPOOL, ALWAYS LOVELY MERC WITH A MOUTH!!!" he yelled, announcing his presence to everyone. "Ahh, I kill myself... Now" he took a quick glance at the guide and the note clipped to it, "let's check this again... blah blah blah, follow my instructions... blah blah, rewards beyond your paltry imagination's limit... yadda yadda, with the device I send you with this... yadda yadda yadda, meet your teammates there, love and kisses, Mr. Moore. Well, Foreshadowingly Mysterious Unknown Guy, here am I. Now, where the heck can those bozos to be...?" he looked all around, as a new, larger gate opened behind him, and a quick, tall figure jumped onto him, with an unsheated sword flashing on the sun in his hands.

Deadpool felt it right in time to dodge in time, although not fast enough to avoid having his sombrero sliced by half by the blade. "HEY! You scum, don't you know how many pesos I had to spit up for that in Tijuana... Tio Panchito is an elite artisan in the makin' of those! You just destroyed an artwork!".

He unsheated a sword himself and charged towards the stranger in the half red, half black mask. "Hey, you're good!" he noted as they exchanged sword swings, the blades clanging again and again as they clashed against each other. "You remind me of someone... oh yes, my crippled grandma". He started to win an edge against the attackant, forcing him to go to the defensive until the man just whipped out some gas grenades from a pouch on his belt and chucked them at his feet. "Whoo, now, Chuckles, that's playing dirty... *cough, cough*..." Deadpool added while drawing out an obscenely large handgun that seemed to be drawn by Rob Liefeld himself, "... but if that's the way you want it, never be said I'm one to displease a fella...".

"That's enough" the attacker spoke, dryly. "You have passed my first test".

"Test?" Deadpool looked him to the face.

"He did the same to me shortly after I met him!" a blonde child piped in while approaching them, followed by a tiny barking dog. "He's just lucky I didn't riddle him with lead then!".

"Little Red Riding Hood?" Deadpool blinked under the mask, and chuckled at the unexpected 'visit'. He patted her on the head a few times. "Aw, you're so cute. What are you doing here, did you hear me talking about Grandma and came to see if the Big Bad Wolf was already gone?".

"Hey, don't mock me because I'm young and pretty!" she snapped back at him. "I'm a professional, First Class Hunter and Killer, in case you didn't know it, bozo!".

"OHHH HO HO HO HO!" Naga laughed as she got near them as well, immediately drawing Deadpool's attention to her... or rather, to her atributes... "Picking fights again. You two never cease to amuse me!".

"Heyyy! Are these real?" Deadpool asked, daring to push a finger against the leather covered surface of Naga's enormous right breast. "Oh, I get it. They must be planets orbiting around you!".

"Drop it off, comedian!" she asked him, slapping his probing hand away.

"We are your teammates" the other man told him, serious and to-the-business. "Moore hired us to take a part in this... contest".

"Even the child? Hey, aren't there laws against that? I'm so appalled and shocked...".

"Enough with the nonsense and disturbances" a third man said, appearing next to them.

"Jumpin' Jellyfishes!" Deadpool exclaimed. "But if it is Christopher Lambert in a cheesy costume! I always dreamed to meet you, even since I was a toddler killing my playmates in the kindergarten's playgrounds for fun and profit...".

"I said, enough with the jokes... I am Rayden. Welcome to... Mugen Tournament!" he proclaimed, raising his arms.

"Geez, what a cheeseball name" Deadpool quipped.

"You know, I agree with you there" Hood nodded. "How could someone come up with that name escapes me...".


:D

[OverMaster]

OOC: The following bit will have to take the events of Spawn/Batman as canon. Yes, that story sucked, but still, I want to finish the teams preparation soon and start with the Tournament ASAP. Having them already knowing each other should be of help with that.

IC:


The Cave:

"You should be honored, Master Bruce" Alfred Pennyworth, English gentleman manservant supreme, commented without too much noticeable irony at the man sitting in front of the main Batcomputer, in full Batsuit except for the cape and cowl. "It is not too often you get an invitation to an event that is not a charity ball. Or a battle at an abandoned funhouse".

Bruce Wayne examined the letter again. Its content was pretty short, actually. It just said he would receive visits at his home with further instructions, and he would have to go to a fighting tournament after that. Certainly not the kind of challenge he would have expected from Prometheus, or even from someone as unpredictable as the Joker.

And that was not all. If Prometheus had beaten the secret of his civil identity out of Hush, there was no way of saying what would he do with that knowledge.

As if reading his master's worries on his grim, humorless face, the older man commented, "Perhaps you should enlist the help of your comrades in the League for this? I know you are far from having the healthiest relationship with them right now, but even so--".

"It'd be useless, Alfred. The League is in a total disconcert at the moment. Even if I wanted to, odds are I couldn't even contact most of them. Superman and the Martian Manhunter, for instance, haven't been seen in days".

The Batcomputer's huge screen shone to life again, and the face of a young redhead woman with glasses appeared on it.

"Oracle" Batman said. "What did you get?".

"There seems to be some sort of mysterious fighting tournament about to happen in Japan" she answered. "I couldn't get too much info on it, but they already have a website for it... still in construction, though".

An image of a "Mugen Tournament, Coming Soon" announcement flashed onscreen next to her.

"Several worldwide television networks have been contacted for the transmission rights, including LexCorp Communications" she continued. "Whoever is sponsoring this has tons of money to spend on it, and the resources to keep the details as a very tight secret".

"Did you get a list of the contestants so far?".

"No".

"Didn't you find any link to the Joker?".

"Apart from a possible connection through Luthor, and this is just a theory, no. Luthor has worked with both Joker and Prometheus in the past, but somehow... I don't know, but this seems to be...".

"... someone else's work. I have the same feeling" he nodded. "Thanks for the help, Oracle. Keep on investigating".

"Oh, I will. Take care of yourself" and she cut the communication.

Then the space distorted behind him and Alfred. The Dark Knight quickly pulled on his mask and stepped in between his startled butler and the small rift on time and space, as two other figures stepped out of it. One of them was tall and dark and had the stench of death and corruption all over it, besides being wrapped into an impossibly long and ragged crimson red cape.

"Simmons..." The Batman's eyes narrowed with disgust.

The other was much, much shorter, and was wrapped into a white, clean lab coat and tall black boots instead. It was a small redheaded boy, with big blue eyes behind his thick glasses. Certainly, he was far from being someone Wayne would ever expect to see next to the Hellspawn.

"Batman" the other grim night creature walked to him, his teleportation finished. "So, we meet again... despite all my wishes".

"And despite all mine as well, Simmons" Gotham's avenger replied coldly. "Who is the child? What are you doing with him, and here?".

"Ahem" the boy cleared his throat, wiping another of those envelopes out of one of his pockets. He had a strange European accent. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Batman... even if the circumstances, I fear, are far from being ideal. I am Dexter, Boy Genius...".

Batman snatched the envelope off his hand, much to his surprise. "Hey, I was about to give it to you! You didn't have to do that!".

Batman examined the invitation with good, long care.

"Yeah, both of us got one of those" Spawn told him. "Mine had the directions of both the kid and you, along with instructions to teleport with you and--".

"Who did give them to you?" Batman interrupted him.

"It just appeared on my mailbox" Dexter replied.

"A minor demon who attacked my friends in the alleys left it behind... right after I blasted him to pieces" Spawn hissed bitterly.

The mystery thickened. He didn't like this any bit. If Prometheus, the Joker, demons and Al Simmons were involved, this would result in nothing but blood at the end.

"So, do you know anything about it?" Dexter asked.

"I have no clues" Batman had to admit grudgingly.

"Well, maybe the fourth name on my list can shed some light on the matter" the Hellspawn grunted.

Batman looked at him with renewed interest. "Fourth name?".

"Yes. Someone named Minako Aino, in Japan...".

"I'll go with you" the Dark Knight decided on the spot. He turned to his butler. "But first... Alfred, I'll take the special equipment with me. I think I may need it along the way".

"The 'sci-fi closet', sir?" Alfred arched his eyebrows. "As you say. If it helps you to prevent from being killed in this charming road trip...".

Spawn frowned. "Hmmph. He reminds me a bit of another old guy..." he said in a low voice to Dexter. "After this all is over, remind me to tell you one thing or two about Cogliostro".

"Sure, sure, I guess...".

[KingEli]

OOC:I'm feeling a little better so I'm able to do this.So it's time for my final three teams to arrive.

Tournament Grounds:

Spidey-What do you want to show us Kord?

Beetle-Hold on to your mask Parker,Now ladies and Gents I give you The Bug!

Spidey-that it?

Iron Man-Not bad Kord.Where did you get some of this tech?

Beetle-Build it myself with some funds from my company Kord Omniversal Reserch and Development or K.O.R.D for short.

Ken-You know I'm the heir to my family business The Masters Foundation.

Iron-Yeah I own Stark International in my world.

Ken-You guys should meet Dr.Light

Booster-Already know 2 of them.

Ken-No from my world he into high end robotics.

Spidey-Spider-Sense is going off we bout to get more people.

Cap-Look alive.

Drew-Don't tell me more baddies.

Rayden-No ms. Drew,they are on the side of justice.

Heavy D-Man you got to stop doing that.

Captian Britian-Bloody hell that was one wierd trip.

Dudley-I'll say.

Ryu-Dudley! Didn't expect you here.

Cammy-What no hug for me?

Ken-Cammy,How's life?

Cammy-Oh you know chasing Bison protecting my country from threats.

Spidey-Hey Britian my main man what brings you here?

Britian-Well some thing threating the Ilses so I've got to stop it.

Booster-Who's the masked guy?

Kevin Mask-Kevin Mask top wrestler of the house of mask.Is this the right place?

Ranma-Yep.

Rayden-I sense.... 8 more are coming and all have Dark agendas.

Energy calkels on two diffrent sides on aperss to be a platform wile the other is a portal.

Doom-We have arrived my...teamates

Cap-Doom.

Drew-Out of all people why him?

Beetle-Who the jerk in the green

Iron-Dr.Doom a bad guy from our world....who want nothing more than power...What the hell? MAGNETO??!!Msytique too. and the other guy in the glasses I don't know who he is.

Magneto-Yes it seems we have some avengers here doom.


Doom-Bah! They pose no threat to us.

Soon as that was said four other figure appered from the othe portal.

Gesse Howard-Well Terry It's nice to see you again.

Terry-GESSE!!

Kyo-Calm down man!

Booster-Whats the deal with Bogard?

D!-Terry has some mean history with howard,killed his dad if front of him and his brother eyes.

Booster-Harsh.

Billy Kane-Hey!Hey!Hey! We go some dumb looking people bust don't we? I mean look at the idiot with the green cape and meatal face!

Doom grabs Billy by the the throat.

Doom-You dare make a mockery of Victor Von Doom!?!?!

Gesse-Yeah he does.Now Let him GO.

Doom-Do you have a death wish.

Gesse-Come on.

Rayden-Stand down!!There will be no combat before the contest! Now Howard and Doom teams go to your quaters NOW!!

Doom-We shall finsh this.

Yamazaki-Count on it metal face!

Cap-Tony?

Iron-Yeah?

Cap-I just go that same bad feelimg you got......

[Golden Darkness]

"I said, enough with the jokes... I am Rayden. Welcome to... Mugen Tournament!" he proclaimed, raising his arms.

"Geez, what a cheeseball name" Deadpool quipped.

"You know, I agree with you there" Hood nodded. "How could someone come up with that name escapes me..."

- Land of the Summoned Monsters, Final Fantasy IV world -

On the world known as the Blue Planet by the Lunarians, and Earth by the natives, there exists a magical land of monsters in the territory known as the Underground. The denizens of that land view it as a place where time hardly flows, due to their long lives. However when a Human lives there, time flows faster by a considerable amount compared to the surface world. The summoner Rydia of the Mist was the one of the few to experience this, as she spent over ten years learning to master Summon magic, while for the surface world only a couple of weeks had passed.

It was this nature of the land that the Player was going to take advantage of in training Ash. For his plans to ensure his 'Revolution' to succeed, he needed to put Ash through a couple months worth of endurance training in the span of a hour or two. He could have used the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for the same results, but his domain was all thing gaming, hence the use of a world based on a video game.

So at this moment, he and Ash was heading towards a non-descript building he had his people set up, ignoring the looks of the towns-monsters.

"ACHOO!" the Player sneezed.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine Ash. I think someone was talking about me," the Player answered, opening the door to the building and gesturing the Pokemon trainer inside. "In any case, this is where you're going to be trained."

Only a single room comprised the interior of the building, dimly lit by a single lamp. In the middle was a large black capsule, big enough to fit a human.

Ash wasn't impressed at what he was seeing. "Doesn't look like anything."

"Pika pika," added Pikachu, who was sitting on Ash's shoulders.

"Well, due to the fact we are kinda pressed for time, I have to employ some... unorthodox methods," the Player explained, as he opened the capsule. "Pikachu, can you step off Ash so he can enter this chamber?"

"Pika?"

"It's a Virtual Training Chamber. Ash will be spending a month or so in there as part of his training."

"A couple months?! In there?!"

Unperturbed, the Player continued on. "Don't worry, time flows pretty fast in this land, and it'll be like a dream. Your subconscious will be connected to various training programs made to increase endurance, and give you greater mastery over your innate Hadou energies. The gains you attain in those simulations will be reflected in your physical body." He put his hands on Ash's shoulder, attempting to calm the boy. "Do not worry, no harm will come to you," he reassured, "I've ensured it."

While he did have some reservations about the matter, Ash wasn't a quitter. "Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu leapt down from its perch.

"Now then, take off your gloves," the Player said, pulling out a pair of blue fingerless gloves. "And put these on."

"What?!" Ash exclaimed.

"You remember how the ancient hero Aaron controlled Hadou? He needed special gloves to do so," the Player explained. Seeing the Player's point, Ash divested himself his current pair of gloves and put on the ones the Player him. Once that was done, the Player motioned Ash into the seat in the capsule, and shut the caspule once Ash was secured. With the press of a button, Ash was placed into a state of suspended animation, his mind connected to the training program.

"Pika-pi..." Pikachu could only stare as the capsule hummed with energy.

"He'll be fine," the Player assured Pikachu. "Now come with me. I'd like you meet the other teams I'm forming."

"Pika? Pikachu?!"

"You do understand you have to spend at least a month here?"

"Pikachu. Pika Pikachu?"

"Yes, a month."

Pikachu looked forlornly at the capsule, and back to the man dressed in black. Seeing that he wasn't going to stay in the room for a month, Pikachu leapt up to the man's shoulders.

- Final Destination, Super Smash Brothers Battlegrounds -

"It's-a me, Mario!"

"You're the fourth teammate? Not to be insulting, but you look like one of those blue collar workers back in the old days, with those heavy-duty overalls," remarked a figure in red/orange armor.

"Well, technically I'm a plumber by trade-a," Mario explained.

"Great," muttered the armored figure. "We have an Italian plumber for a teammate."

"We'd shouldn't count him out like we did with Kirby here. Appearances are deceiving," noted a elfin figure in green, motioning to a pink puffball with red feet. Kirby was currently asleep, having eaten the food supplies of the Hyrulean and the armored figure. "In any case, my name is Link. The woman in the armor is Samus."

"Please to-a meet you." Mario took a look around the platform the four were standing on, which seemed to be floating in empty space. "Isn't the Player supposed to-a meet us?"

"I'm right here," a male voice called out. Mario, Link, and Samus turned to the sound of the voice to see a man dressed in black fading into view. A strange yellow rabbit like creature was on one of his shoulders. "I am the one called the Player. The Pokemon here on my shoulder is Pikachu."

"Pikachu!"

"Finally," Samus sounded out, "we were waiting for you."

"Sorry about that, but I was taking care of a member of one of my other teams. In any case, here!" the Player tossed four Pokeball to the group. Mario and Samus each caught one, while Link caught two. "I took the liberty of getting you some extra equipment. Mario, your ball contains numerous powerups and weapons from your world. Super Mushrooms, Tanooki suits, Fire Flowers, Cape Feathers, Hammers, Shells. There aren't a lot of Starmans in there though."

"Ookie Dookie!"

"Samus, your ball contains an ammunition recharger, to allow you to recharge between matches."

"That's definately helpful."

"Link, the ball in your left hand contains weapons weilded by warriors also named Link throughout the history of your World."

"And the ball on my right?"

"Extra food for Kirby."

"Why did you pick Kirby anyway? All it does is suck in food like a vacuum cleaner," questioned Samus.

"You should see what he does with the things he eats," the Player answered. "Anyway I don't have time to explain things now, I got other teams to check on." With that he pulled out his remote and pointed to an empty spot in the air. In an instant a pillar of light formed near the members of Team Smash. "That light will lead you to the tournament. Link, you have the group's invites, right?" Link nodded. "Good, you'll need the invites in order to be accepted. Once you're there. someone there will take you to your accomodations."

"About time," the bounty hunter stated. "Mario, be a sport and wake up Kirby will you?"

After seeing Team Smash off, the Player and Pikachu faded out from the Final Destination battlefield.

OOC: Hadou and the character Aaron are elements from the 8th Pokemon movie that's only been seen in Japan. Info about it is here (http://www.serebii.net/movies/mew/) and here (http://www.serebiiforums.com/showthread.php?t=74886&highlight=hadou).

[Golden Darkness]

- Shrine of the Quasar Sabers, Planet Mirinoi -

For the pass few hours, the only emotion that could described Anakin's state was bewilderment.

The girl that was guiding him, Karone, had once been a powerful villian named Astronema. And during her tenure as the 'Princess of Evil', she had conquered numerous worlds for a terrifying being named Dark Specter. It boggled Anakin's mind that Karone was not tried for her crimes as Astronema.

And there was the man next to him, Squall Leonhart. That man at one point had to face off against a sorceress who was once the kind matron of an orphanage he and his comrades grew up in. The idea of fighting someone who was practically family, it unnerved him.

But now, Anakin had no time to dwell on these thoughts, as they finally arrived at their destination.

"We're here," Karone announced. To call the place a shrine was a misnomer. All it was a large stone slab with five swords that stuck out of it.

"Now what?" inquired Squall.

"Since you have arrived, things will be explained," a voice called out. Squall and Karone looked around for the voice, but Anakin stood still, as he knew that voice.

"Qui-Gon!"

Upon Anakin's declaration, the Force spirit of the long gone Jedi appeared before the group. "Hello Anakin," said the kindly warrior, "I see you got my summons."

"How... how is this possible?" If Anakin wasn't bewildered befored before, he was certainly bewildered now.

"I have learned of a way to retain my individual consciousness within the Force. It has brought me to a greater understand of the Force and its will." The smiling face of the Force spirit turned into a serious one. "Unforunately, now is not of the time to speak of such matter. There is something more important we must speak about."

"The calamity our worlds face," Squall confirmed.

"Do you know what it is?" asked Karone.

The spirit nodded. "The creators of every known reality have decreed that all realities are to be destroyed. They deem the sins of all sentiant beings so reprehensible that they can't justify the continued existance of all reality."

"What?" exclaimed Karone.

"They can't do this. There's no justice in this," added Anakin. "They'll be destroying the good people as well."

"How are we going to fight this?" Squall questioned. "Sorceresses are one thing. But the creators?"

"Patience young ones, all hope is not lost," Qui-Gon assured. "There are those among the creators who disagree with that decree. While they could not argue for a total end of the plan, they have devised a method to allow all beings to fight for the right to exist."

"How?" inquired Anakin.

"A tournament. Several teams with members from all over reality will face off in order to earn the right to fight the creator's chosen champion. And upon the defeat of the champion..."

"They will call off the decree." Squall finished, "Still, that doesn't sound easy. After all, I bet whoever the creators choose will be extremely powerful."

"That is why you'll leave that to the fourth member of your team."

"Fourth member?" went the group.

As if on cue, a bright light shone near the near the group. In the light, they could see an winged figure descending from the heavens.

Soon the light faded, revealing a young girl wearing an elaborate, and not to mention strange, costume, with her hair tied in twin ponytails. On her forehead was a yellow crescent moon which glowed.

Anakin was the first to react to her presence, as it shined brightly within the Force. "Are you an angel?"

"Well, I've been called that by a few, but I'm sure I'm human like you," the girl answered, smiling. "I guess you must be my team members. I'm Usagi Tsukino, but the people of my world know me better as Sailor Moon."

"Usagi Tsukino, huh? I'm Anakin Skywalker. And these two are Squall Leonhart and Karone."

"I see. And who's the spirit here?"

"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn," the spirit answered for himself, "and I was explaining the role you were going to play on this team."

"My role of being the one who can actually challenge the goddess, you mean," Usagi stated.

"Wait... if her role is to fight the champion," Squall interjected, "what is our role then?"

"Support. While several of the teams, including ours, are benevolent in nature, there are teams whose goals aren't in everyone's interest," Qui-Gon explained.

Karone realized the implications. "You mean dark forces are going to the tournament as well?"

"I'm afraid so. Your other task would be to prevent these teams from advancing."

"Perfect," muttered Anakin. "I bet the Sith know about this as well."

"Indeed. The Sith are involved," a new voice intruded. Everyone turned to see the Player and Pikachu standing among the trees that surround the shrine. "A Sith named Darth Vader has joined one of the dark teams."

"Who are you? And who's Darth Vader?" Anakin pressed, unsure of this new arrival. Like Sailor Moon, the Player had a strong presence in the Force.

"I'm known the Player," the Player said, "I'm the one who decided all of you should be a team. Qui-Gon here is my intermediary, as he's the only one who could convince the Jedi Council to pull you out of the war. As for Darth Vader, all I can say he's Dooku's replacement as Sith Apprentice."

Anakin cursed under his breath. The Sith had already replaced Dooku? Qui-Gon on the other hand, frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Sailor Moon inquired.

"Seeing that the team is finally formed, I have to open the gateway to the tournament grounds for you. So you still have the invites I've given you?"

"Still have them. Why you ask?"

"Just making sure. Has Karone claimed her Quasar Saber yet?"

Karone shook her head. "We've been talking about the tournament, so I didn't get a chance."

The Player motioned Karone to the slab where her Quasar Saber rested. True, she wasn't the original chosen of the sword, but she had weilded it for the cause of defending other when the original chosen fell in battle.

Without any effort, Karone pulled the Pink Quasar Saber out of the stone. In a flash, she was wearing the outfit of the Pink Galaxy Ranger. "Hyah! Pink Galaxy Ranger!"

The Player clapped his hands. "Well then, since that's settled, time for you guys to move on..." As before, he pulled out his remote in order to open the gateway to the tournament. "... for your destiny awaits."

Soon the Player had seen off Team Saviors into the gateway. "Well, that's another team going into the fray."

"Yes," Qui-Gon noted. "However, there's some things I'm curious about. Why did you insist on Anakin on joining the tournament? And why didn't you tell the whole truth about Vader?"

The Player chuckled. "Heh, you get to the point, don't you? First of all, this tournament will be seen in all realities, Qui-Gon, including the Republic. Thus, it'll be a boon for the Republic to see the Hero with no Fear fighting on their behalf. Second of all, this is to help Anakin to find his place and undestand his destiny as the Chosen One."

"Really?"

"Really. As for why I didn't say eveything about Darth Vader, let's just say I don't to burden him with the full truth, not until he's capable of seeing the whole picture. Hopefully, his teammates will help him with that."

"Especially that Sailor Moon girl, I take it?"

"Especially her. Hate to break the conversation, but I got other people to see now."

[M203]

~Ultimate Reality TV~

The portal to Earth remained open, but none of the MC's stepped through it.

"Alright, let's go through this again," Dream struggled to control himself as he, for the umpteenth time tried to explain the concept of space and matter to the newcomer. "What happens, when you put an ocean into a drinking glass in the space of a picosecond?"

"Well the glass would overflow, big time! DUH!" the other man replied.

"Right," Dream continued. "Now, what if we put the ocean into the same glass, its exactly the same as the first one, except that the top of the glass is also covered?"

"Uhmm, the glass still overflows after the cover pops off?" The man replied, a little unsure this time.

"And what happens if the cover can't be popped off, what if the cover is stuck to the glass?" Dream squuezed hard on his cloak in raw frustration as the God-Killer thought for a moment, the other members of The Endless playing thier fifteenth round of poker at the table they had set up an hour ago.

"Uhmm, the glass explodes and then overflows!" Nudoru finally answered, still sounding unsure.

"Alright, we've come this far. Now, what will happen if you enter the material dimension? Assume that the dimension is the glass, and you are the ocean." Dream began stamping his foot in anticaption. The God-Killer remained silent, amid the sound of crickets chirping.

"THE DIMENSION EXPLODES, YOU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDIOT!!!!!!!!!" he screamed.

"Oh, so you mean that I've got to go on a diet before I can go to Earth? Dunno man, I really don't have that much fat on me but I guess I could stand to lose a few grams and..."

Dream fell to his knees and began banging his head on the floor. "Why why why why why....." The floating cosmos with arms descended over him, and patted his head.

"What, who?" Dream looked up. "Oh! Miss Will!"

"Yes, it is I, the Great Will of the Macrocosm!" it explained in a charming, feminine voice. "What is it dear? Your forehead is starting to bleed!" Dream pointed at the man in the white trenchcoat who was still scratching his head, and began to cry in frustration.

"Maybe this will help," she gave the newcomer a volume of 'Godliness for the dumbest beings in existance,' which he began to flip through earnestly. "Right, so I don't have to go on a diet! That's cool," he began, "so, all I have to do is run this me.zip.exe file and everything's cool right?"

"Uhmm, no." The Great Will of the Macrocosm explained, "because you aren't goverened by the Ultimate Force system, you will literally need to lose enough mass across every one of the material planes you exist on in order to use the me.zip.exe file. Unfortunately, since the propogation of matter between extradimensional objects of similar specific identities is geometric, you will need to re-distribute your mass throughout your other counterparts, and please do try to send most of it beyond the Fourth Wall...I'm sorry dear, but whoever designed you seemes to have forgotten about backwards compatability. Are you sure you don't work for Microsoft?"

"Micro...whuh?"

Nudoru found himself being sucked into the living Macrocosm, right into a dimension of cannibalistic, flesh-eating Puuchu's. :D

[M203]

~Port of Call~

"Amazing!" Nausicaa's breath left in a sigh as she took in the reception area, an immense, metallic arc over a concaved field with the Mugen: Universe logo clipped painstakingly into the grass and enormous, raw, black diamonds protruding from the ocean of green. The marble road which led to the reception area ended in a smaller arch, this one over a fountain at the end of the wide path where a single receptionist sat at a semicircular desk before it. In the distance the team which had dubbed themselves the Hearts of Fire could see where they were headed, the ancient Japanese castle which had been built just for them. Kenshiro remained silent, Raven let out an unimpressed "hmph," and Naru joined Nausicaa in bewilderment.The four of them sat atop the massive Geno Breaker as it lumbered forward and stopped in front of the lerk at the counter, who looked up at the big red machine unfazed.

"Invitation, please?" he asked it. Shadow's reply was a roar which left the young Angel rather flustered.

"They are with me," a voice called out from behind them, and the Hearts of Fire team turned to see their sponsor, the God calling himself Celestine with yet another group of four individuals, plus two.

"Who are these jokers?" Raven smiled sarcastically, his icy glare washing over the tiny girl with strage "ears," dressed in a beautiful pink dress. She looked almost like a living doll. Beside her was a grey giant dressed in a suit of armour, and on the giant's shoulder sat a young man who wasn't very tall at all. With them was a woman with light blue hair and an intricate staff with a sphere at its center, dressed in a combination of skin-tight black leotard and a thin veil which wound its way around her. The two who followed a little ways back came into better view. A woman carrying a heavy suitcase with thick glasses, black hair and the most boring wardrobe Raven had ever seen. beside her was yet another young woman who the ZOID pilot thought had taken the Goth thing a bit too seriously.

Celestine stepped froward and introduced them.

"These are Chii, Elphonse, Ed, and Ifurita. They have decided to call themselves Team Heavy Metal Impact."

Raven snickered. "Heavy Metal, huh?"

"AHEM!" Celestine cleared his throat. "Beside them are Robin and Yomiko, Robin is an accomplished Craft user from the STN Japan, and Yomiko is a Paper Master. They will be joining their other two teammates later this evening." Celestine turned to the Hearts of Fire. "Heavy Metal Impact, Robin and Yomiko, I would like you to meet Team Hearts of Fire, also under my sponsirship. The young man is Raven, pilot of the rather...large machine here. The big man there is Kenshiro, the ladies are Nausicaa and Naru Narusegawa. I have arranged for you all to stay in the same wing with your living quarters all next to each other in case of an...emergency."

Thunder boomed overhead and lighting ripped through the sky as an old man made his way swiftly across the field. He stopped before Celestine and greeted his contemporary warmly before turing to the newest arrivals.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Lord Rayden, Guardian of the Earth Realm and God of Thunder. He is a very old friend, and he will be seeing you to your accomodations." Celestine smiled. "Now, I have business to attend to, but rest assured that I will be visiting you all before the Tournament proper begins." Celestine faded away among the ascending sparkles.

"That looked...less than manly." Kenshiro commented as he watched their sponsor leave.

"Ah. Well, we all have our ways don't we?" Rayden chuckled. "I don't suppose that you could give us a lift Raven? It's quite a long walk to the dormatory."

"Sure, but I gotta warn you, it's a long way down if you fall." The young man with ject-black hair replied sarcastically.

"Oh I'm sure it won't be a issue!" Yomiko replied with a cheerful smile as Ifurita gathered up Chii and flew them both onto the Geno Breaker's shoulder right next to Nausicaa, who started patting Chii on the head. Rayden chose to stand atop the head of the big red machine.

"That way, under the arch." the God of Thunder pointed. The Breaker began to slowly advance over the huge field of grass, over the hills at its other end and then finally through the dense forest surrounding the place Rayden called the Fighter's Lodge, a huge Japanese-themed palace which seemed beautifully qiuet. Except for the occasional shout and explosion. A short, fat woman with an obscenely huge head appeared at the door with a young girl at her side. "This is Jameba, who has agreed to manage the Fighter's Lodge for the duration of the Tournament. Beside her is Sin, her assistant manager and there," the God of Thunder pointed to the white Chinese Dragon weaving through anti-aircraft fire overhead, "is the other assistant manager. He's called Haku."

"Ah, a Craft User! You do us all proud, little one!" Jameba siled while taking Robin's hand. "You are one of the very few Witches who have been chosen. Let me know if theres anything you want dear, it won't be an issue!" She turned to the others. "There's a hangar for your...thing....around the back. Make sure that it stays there!" she pointed at the Geno Breaker while exchanging glares with Raven. "You'll be sleeping in the forest if I hear even one shot out of that thing! Sin, if you please?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" the youngster replied while bowing quickly. "This way please, I'll take you to your rooms!"

Ifurita spoke first, asking for a wall socket. "Chii needs a recharge, I take it that her needs have been provided for?"

Sin nodded happily. "Why yes, the room that you will be sharing has its own power supply!" And then turned to Raven, indicating the team of ZOID support crew that had been brough all the way from Zi, headed up by Dr. D." And Mr. Raven also has his needs catered for!"

The ZOID pilot smiled wickedly as Sin escorted them inside.

"Even though they seem to act normally, I sense that a great fear lies in their hearts..." Kenshiro whispered to the small youngster, Ed. "Yeah," the Alchemist replied, "I think everyone's afraid. And not just of the battles either. Somthing else is going on here..."

Above, the portal opened and nine beings began to descend upon the Earth. They encircled the immense Arch that straddled the bowled field at the Reception Area. And then came their last member, the white-haired half-masked God-Killer who fell out of control midway through the descent to Earth and landed smack on the top spike of the elegant Mugen : Universe logo/sculpture, impaling himself and beginning to slowly slide downwards.

"Ah, the Interviewers have arrived!" Jameba smiled, "they'll be runing around the place doing their thing, same with the Commentators. Whatever you do, you have to make yourself availible for an interview or a commentary any time they ask. Remember that Robin, these are the Higher Beings and it will not be wise to anger them."

As the other entrants watched the arrival of the MC's, the camera crews and support teams began to arrive en-masse in their vans stickered up with sponsor decals and massive chrome mag-wheels.

[OverMaster]

Two helicopters approached the tournament grounds. One of them was small and black, and had a "Daily Planet" sign on one of its sides. The other was fairly large, red and black, and had "Kanzuki Zatbatsu" proudly emblazoned on both sides.

The smaller helicopter landed first near the castle, and two women and a young man stepped out of it. "Well, here we are" the woman with the dark hair in a black dress with short skirt sighed. "Kinda awe-inspiring, eh?" she mumbled, not really too impressed.

"You can say that again!" the redhaired, freckled young man said with enthusiasm, taking several photos of their surroundings, especially the castle and the giant Mugen symbol, from which Nudoru had been already removed, thankfully. "This has to be the news event of the year, I tell you!... I mean, other than the alien invasion last month... and the giant robot devastating Kenya in March... well, you get the idea...".

Then the larger helicopter landed, and several others descended from it. The Daily Planet's blonde, long haired woman dressed in clear green immediately recognized the two first girls who came out of it, and ran towards them. "Oh, this can't be! Quick, Jimmy! I need you here!".

"Oh, man!" Jimmy Olsen said as he followed her. "It's actually them?!".

The blonde was thrilled about having that exclusive for herself, at least for the moment. "Miss Kanzuki! Miss Daitokuji!" she called out. "I'm Cat Grant, from Metropolis' Daily Planet! Can I have a few words with you, please?".

"Metropolis?" the girl in the brown schoolgirl outfit looked at Cat with curiosity. Olsen began to take several photos of the pair, as other reporters and TV crews approached as well.

Karin smiled for them, radiant with pride. But before she could open her mouth to speak, the man in the pink gi, dragging Sakura along with him, stepped in between her and the cameras, making a 'V' sign with his right hand's fingers. "Hellooo, world...!" he yelled out. "Yes, it's me, the future champion of this Tournament! I'm Dan Hibiki of the glorious Saikyo Dojo!!! And this is my best student, Sakura Kasugano!!".

"H-Hello, everyone..." Sakura waved meekly and shyly to the cameras, blushing. Dan always had a way to embarass her. "Mom, Dad, it's me, Sakura-chan..." she added for her parents back at home.



Lois Lane watched them at a distance, shaking her head in disapproval. "I can't believe Perry sent me to cover this stupid freakshow..." she muttered, before feeling a hand on her left shoulder. Startled, she spun around, and found herself face to face with someone she knew.

"Zauriel!" she gasped. "You scared me...".

"I'm sorry, Miss Lane... I mean, Mrs. Kent" he was quick to reply. The angel was wearing a special all white suit that kept his wings hidden. "I'm glad to see you are all alive and well. We feared for your safety after that incident with Ruin...".

"Yes, yes, don't worry. I'm all okay, as you can see. But what are you doing here? You're the last person I expected to run into here...".

Zauriel sighed deeply. "Ah, that is a long, sad and complicated story... I'll detail it to you later, but for now, I'll tell you I'm assisting the Tournament's Management. This is far from being a simple 'stupid freakshow', Mrs. Kent. In fact, I'm afraid we could use your hus-- I mean, Superman around here".

"Is it that serious?" she frowned, concerned.

"I really think so" he nodded stoically.

"Well, Superman is... he told me he had matters to attend to... in outer space" Lois sighed. "I think we won't be seeing him for a few weeks".

"That's really sad to hear. Follow me this way, please. I have a few things of the utmost importance to show you".

After some hesitation, Lois followed him into the Tournament grounds, leaving Cat and Jimmy behind. They were too busy trying to interview the heiress of the Daitokuji financial empire as an angry Karin Kanzuki kicked Dan aside without mercy.

[Mr.Sandman]

"To Order! The special private emergancy meeting of the Omniverseal Narrator guild is now in session!" Silence overtook the large chamber as many figures of various size, race and shape turned there attention to the central podium where a almost featureless figure stood holding a cane and addressed the gathered ones through means thaty couldn't be explained....since he lacked a mouth. The only thing that seemed to identify his face from any round object was a small bumb and a rather silly looking mustashe connected to it.

"As most of you are aware this meeting has been called by Narrator #231, who is currently in control of the member selection for our entry team for the Mugan Tournment!"

"We shouldn't even be entering this....We're Narrators! We're not suppose to get involved!" Came a voice from the back.

"Narrator 231 doesn't have a very.....competient history. We may have made a mistake by selecting him to chose out champions." Came another.

"Now Gentlemen, Allow the Narrator in question to give his report. Narrator #231?"

Standing up from the front row to the side of the main podium, was a rather small man wearing a 3 piece suit and bowler hat, both of which seems to look rather silly on him. After bushing off crumbs from a snack he had been eating and ajusting his Tie, he took a deep breath and pulled out a stack of paper. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Narrator Guild. I have delivered instructions of the first of our team's members....who will soon be collecting the others members in time for the tournment."

"Yes....We know. Excel, DeeDee, Mihoshi and Osaka.......How exactly is this team suppose to help us win the tournment? Added together they don't even make one bloody brain cell worth of intelligence!" Came an angry voice.

"I understand your concerns, but I feel that this combination will serve us well. From what information I gathered......The Dark One has a team of her own prepared to enter the tournment as well." 231 Stated calmly.

At the mere mention of her however the guild collectively took a deep breath and then craped there pants.

"If the Dark One succeeds in winning the tournment, it will be the end of all things. The compleate nullification of everything both gods and mortal alike!"

"We'll all be out of a job!" One of the Narrators screamed.

"We'll be worse off then that. At all costs we must make sure that if anyone wins it won't be her."

"Then the Guild is in agreement" The facelessman as well as the other Narrators nodded there heads. The Dark one had to be stopped at all cost, Though it many of there minds they couldn't shake the feeling that the method to prevent it might end up far worse then the outcome itself.

------------------------

"Prepreations! Prepare to be prepared!" Excel chanted as she stuffed various items away for the trip into a large suitcase. "Emergancy Clothes! Emergancy entertainment! Emergancy Food!" Menchi let out a yelp as Excel grabed him by the back and stuffed him in with the rest of her stuff, closing it behind him.

"Oooh..Whats wrong?" Excel watched as the suitcase jerked around, a large bump appear every now and again as something inside it tried to force it's way out. "Oh! Excel knows.....Menchi needs an airhole!" Excel pulled out a blade and jammed it into the side of the suitcase with a alomost evil murderious look on her face. Inside the case, The sword edge was only itches away from stabbing away menchis chance for a family in the future....assuming he survived long enough to have one. A tearful expression crossed his face which he then buried in the clothes.

"Miss Excel....We'll be late for the bus." Excel called from the doorway in her usual polite mannor. At the moment she looked healthy enough, but as usual that could change at any moment. Not wanting to waste time Excel picked up her suitcase, had a brief lunch, did 50 backflips, feed some goldfish, a turtle, a Puchu and a Watanabe.

".........wwahhadt aruue ddooinn" Excel broke out of her daze just as she was ramming a large roll down Watanabe's throat. "Aiiiy! Sorry....What was I thinking giving away food!" Excel scrached her head and popped the roll into her mouth before vacating the room while Watanabe yelled after her. "Hey, That was mine to begin with!"

20 Minutes later....

"Noooooooooo!! We missed the Bus......" Excel collapses unto the side of the room as both her and Hyatt arrived just in time to see the bus heading down the street.

"Oh dear.......we'll have to walk to the meeting place now..." Hyatt pointed out the let turned blue and coughed out a spray of blood across the street which caused a car to slide out of control and slam into a lightpole....the driver flying several feet out the front.

"Ahhh....such is the fate of unamed and unimportant characters!" Excel stated and grabbed Hyatts sickly form. "Now to take advantage of another persons pain!" Draging both her and the suitcase begin her Excel got into the damaged car which somehow was still working good enough to pull back and then shot down the road.

[Saint_007]

Hold on, *more* teams? Aren't we going above the 32 team mark here?

And would someone write up all the teams so far?

[Golden Darkness]

Here's a list of current teams so far:


Team Justice: (Angel Trainee Fionne, Darkwing Duck, (SPOILERS)Kim Kaphwan and Amelia Seyruun)
Team Hearts of Fire (Kenshiro, Princess Nausicaa, Naru Narusegawa, Raven)
Hero Team (Spider-Man, Kyo Kusanagi, Ranma Saotome, Ryu)
Team Nifelheim (Goenitz, Mara, Bell, The Joker)
Boss Team/Rugal Team (Rugal, Akuma, plus Vice and Mature)
Boss Team (Jedah, Bison, Justice, Sephiroth)
Swordsman Team (Zoro, Samurai Jack, Cloud Strife, Crono)
Ninja Team (Sub-Zero, Shinobi, Strider Hiryu, Psylocke)
Neron's Nemesis Team (Iori Yagami, Scorpion, Negaduck, Forte/Bass)
Malebolgia's Nemesis Team (Venom, Violator, Ash Crimson, Sabretooth)
Shin Sacred Treasures Team (Sailor Pluto, Chizuru Kagura, Kikyo, Rose)
Dan Team (Dan Hibiki, Sakura Kusagano, Karin Kanzuki, B-Ko Daikotouji)
Skuld Team (Skuld, Beenuel, (SPOILER)Dr. Occult, Nakoruru)
Mercenary Team (Deathstroke, Naga, B.B. Hood, Deadpool)
Nabeshin Team (Oddest combo in the block, maybe. Nabeshinm, (SPOILER)Wolverine, Motoko Aoyama, Mars People (Metal Slug))
Vampire Team: Demitri Maximoff, Vampire versions of Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo
Team Robots (Megaman, Astro Boy, Lime, Catgirl Nuku Nuku)
Team Smash Bros/Nintendo (Mario Mario, Link, Kirby, Samus Aran)
Team Duelists (Ash Ketchum, Takato, Yugi, Lan/Netto Hik