LP Side Story: Versus paladin@mars.superlink.net Started 5/27/98 Notes: This fanfic is based upon Capcom's Versus series (X-Men vs Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter, and Marvel vs Capcom). Don't expect to see everyone but a lot of the cast will be in it. The events here take place after LP#6. But that's okay because LP#6 is hardly linked to this story except for an occasional reference. The only a few things you need to know: 1. The good guys won in the end 2. Ryu and Chun Li are romantically involved. a. The go *way* back but were separated for long time. b. They were recently re-united in LP#6. c. Ryu becomes more powerful when he's protecting her. Little comic book knowledge is needed to read this fic but if I make a reference you don't understand, feel free to ask. Of course, I may be as clueless as you since I've fallen *way* behind on the Marvel Universe. Knowledge of Versus series, though, is recommended. Mephisto is a devil of the Marvel universe. Usually he looks like the stero- typical Devil (red, horns, tail, goatee, etc.) however he can look like this massive disgusting demon-thing too. Both these forms can be seen in the game MSH. He is on Thantos's stage juggling a skull and in Blackheart's ending as that weird thing. Blackheart, his son, hates Mephisto and wishes to usurp his throne. Why does Spidey have sonic grenades with him? Because sonic attacks are a weakness of Venom's! If you didn't know that, then read more comic books! Uh, actually... don't. Money can disappear too quickly that way! For those who don't know what a face fault is, it is a response that occurs often in humorous or awkward moments in anime and/or manga. Typically the person's face is frozen in a shocked expression (often super-deformed) and their body is contorted in a bizarre position. The is sometimes an impact with the ground during a face fault. I suggest you watch some anime to get the full effect of a face fault! Well, just read on! One of the things I love about Capcom's "Versus" series is that it captures Marvel's characters at their peak. The heroes are icons, symbols of happier times in comic book history. Wolverine isn't an nose-less, bandanna wearing freak, who's filled personal turmoil... he's a tough berserker with attitude. Spiderman isn't suffering a mid-life crisis... he's our Friendly Neighborhood Web-Slinger! So if the characters represented here aren't up to date or seem a bit shallow... at least they aren't struggling with drug abuse and the death of a love one! LP Side Story: "VERSUS" by Paladin "LOOK OUT!!!", Cyclops shouted. "Rocket Punch.", the Sentinel said simply before his massive fist sent Psylocke flying. Her body slammed into a wall and slumped to the ground as the Sentinel turned to acquire another target. The leader of the X-Men looked at his fallen teammates and tried to rally the remaining. The X-Men had followed the trail of Beast's kidnappers and ended up here... in an ambush. When Sentinels attack, it was a serious matter but the X-Men had always been able to defend against these robot monsters. Not, this time. These Sentinels were different... very different. First of all, they were all of different color schemes. They all had the symbol of a winged skull with a bolt of lightning through it on there chests... and the letter "W" on their foreheads. But the differences didn't stop with appearance. Each Sentinel seemed to have a special ability that corresponded to their color scheme! For instance: red and yellow fought with fire, blue and white attacked with ice. They had different names as well. Rogue had been downed by a Sentinel that called himself "GutsBot" and "WoodBot" used his invincible shield to fend off Colossus. Gambit took out HeatBot but the explosion knocked him out as a consequence. Cyclops roared and let lose with his optic blast, his crimson beam destroying the remaining Sentinels. With only one X-Man left standing, the X-Men had won... almost. A dark chuckle drew Cyclops's attention. "Summers." The hairs on the back of Scott's neck bristled as he recognized that evil metallic voice. His teeth grit tightly as one name came to his throat. "Sinister." "You are the last one standing... what else should I expect from you blood? Heh heh heh!" "Bastard! I'm going to stop you once and for all!" Cyclops, the only mutant who could wound the evil geneticist, blasted Sinister backwards. Sinister grimaced yet smiled at the same time, reveling in the sensation of *pain*... that only Scott Summers could give him. He climbed to his knees clutching his wound. "No, not today.", Sinister said, his pointy teeth showing through his smile. With that, the ground erupted with shadow and light. The smell of brimstone and sulfur accompanied Blackheart's arrival from the depths of Hell. Blackheart raised his arms and his minions rose up in such numbers that the air was black with them. Cyclops felt a wave of despair as he was confronted with the supernatural force. This was not a battle he could win... that wasn't going to stop him from trying! Ruby visor opened all the way, Cyclops's scarlet lance cut through them will devastating effects. But the son of Mephisto spaced his claws apart, a ball of energy firing from the gap at Cyclops. The last thing he felt before the darkness was a lifting sensation as the flames of Hell licked at his body. -=-=- "You just ate a hour ago!" "But I'm *HUNGRY*!!!", Dan cried as he clutched his gut. "It can wait.", Cap said trying to remain calm. Driving through this city was a bad idea... every little thing Dan saw made him want to get out of the Hummer! A minute ago it was an import store! Didn't Dan have that kinda junk at home?! "Aahh! Hiretsukan! Samoshii! [Mean! Selfish!]", Dan pouted. He began to make faces from the back seat at Cap while muttering various Japanese curses under his breath. "Kyouji!! [Spoiled brat!!] Behave yourself!" Dan froze in terror, his eyes going wide, when he realized Cap understood him! Dan didn't realize how quickly Captain America had picked up Japanese curses when fighting against them in WWII. There was a silence in the Hummer for a while... but before long, Dan resumed his silent taunts behind Cap's head. Captain America, the model of tolerance he was, simply grit his teeth and took it. -=-=- Wolverine had a bad feeling. The rest of the X-Men had not reported back in since last night. He looked for the Blackbird's signal but couldn't find it. That bad news combined with only him and Jubilee to defend the X-Mansion.... Logan decided not to worry their guests. Jubilee was showing Chun Li around while Ryu continued to practice as usual. They had wanted to start out as soon as possible but that was before the X-Men had failed to check in. It was the level-headed thing to do- not his style, but he had a responsibility to the others. Alarm klaxons stopped Wolverine's train of thought. He ran over to a console and saw the unstoppable Juggernaut plowing through the outer defenses of the X-Mansion. ** "This should be fun." -=-=- "City traffic sucks!", Dan said as he slumped in his seat. A couple reporters and some people ran past their car. Dan rolled down his window and caught one by the arm. "Hey! What's going on?!" "Some gang tried to rob the bank but now they're caught inside with hostages!" "You hear that, Cap? You'd better get-... Cap? Uh, Cap?" Dan looked up front to see Captain America already gone, the front door of the Hummer sill open. Dan began to ponder. Just then Dan's stomach growled. "Eh? Hm, if I'm so valuable to them, I'm sure Cap wouldn't want me to *starve* to death! Hee hee!", he rationalized as he left to get some munchies. -=-=- The massive Juggernaut crossed his arms over his chest and grinned broadly at the small Canadian berserker. "I'm not here to fight, runt." "You think I give a damn?", Wolverine growled. He dashed forwards only to be backhanded into a tree. "Grrrowl!!" Wolvie got right back up and launched himself forward again, this time avoiding Juggernaut's attack. Wolverine got right up on his face and popped his claws into Juggernaut's eyes. Juggernaut flung Logan away and clawed at his already magically healing eyes. "YEAAAGGGGHHH!!!! AH $#%&!!! That *HURT*!!! Alright you punk! I came here to talk, but now I'm gonna pull your sorry hide right off that chrome skeleton of yours!" "Let's go, Bub!" -=-=- "What's going on out there? The crowd outside is going nuts!", said the robber closest to the door. "They're probably just cheering us on!", joked their leader. Little did they realize, that it was just the typical response... when the Sentinel of Justice's arrived on the scene. "I dunno, Boss. I think that- YEEAGH!" ** Captain America came, shield first, *through* the door... plowing right into the nearest burglar. In almost the same motion, The Star Spangled Avenger tossed his shield so that it knocked the guns away from two thugs before returning to him. As they shook their hands in pain, Cap was already upon them, knocking them out. "Argh! *DIE*!", roared the remaining criminal. His gun thundered loudly as he refused to stop firing. Cap deflected the bullets with his shield then angled it so that a slug ricocheted back at the leader, shooting the gun out of his hand. Before Captain America could move Boss grabbed a small little girl by the hair and held a knife to her throat. The instant he did that he felt a wave of heat flush through his body... it was as if he could *feel* Captain America's fury. He looked up into Cap's face and felt his knees go weak, with a quavering voice he spoke. "D-don't come a-a-any c-closer or I-I'll c-c-cut-" Captain America stood up straight and looked Boss right in the eye. Boss was frozen stiff like a deer caught in headlights. The air became still and all he could hear was Cap's voice. "You piece of slime.", Cap said with contempt. "America is a land of tolerance... but that forgiveness only extends so far. You dare threaten a *child*!?! I'm going to bring you to Justice...." The terrified crook dropped the knife and stumbled away from the little girl, who was quickly pulled to the floor by a quick thinking adult. Electricity seemed to pass between Boss and Cap as Boss realized it was too little too late. Cap's eyes glinted. "FINAL JUSTICE!" ... With cops and the media all over the place, Captain America tried his best to get back to Dan before he could get into trouble... but he was waylaid by grateful hostages and paparazzi trying to get a scoop. Over in the corner, a man bent over to talk to the girl who had been taken hostage. "Anita? Hey, Anita look at me. Were you scared?" The small child shook her head and held her headless doll tighter. "No, hm... that didn't work, huh? Well, you have to be more careful, Anita. I already deposited the check for your college fund so I guess we can go... come along then." A crowd of people moving with him, Cap tried to wade towards where he parked only to find Dan missing. In his place was an autographed picture of Dan's smiling face with a note on the back that said, "I went to get a bite to eat. Back in a sec!" Cap crumpled the picture. "*DAN*!!!!" -=-=- "Doctor." Dr. Essex looked up from his work to see Bison. "Lord Bison! What causes you to grace my lab with your presence?", Essex smiled so sweetly when he said it, it could almost have been taken has sarcasm... but no one would dare be saracstic to the Lord of Shadowloo! "You haven't reported in." "Forgive me, Lord Bison. I recently aquired new rich genetic material and have been absorbed in my research-" Bison cut him off displaying how little he cared. "What of my new soldier? What news do you have on Nash?" "He's developing nicely. He gained the ability to speak only hours ago and already he is remembering how to read and write." "Excellent. I wish to speak with him immedietly." "That won't be possible-" "Nani?! [What?!]", Bison said with calm anger. -=-=- Holding a bag of burgers in one hand and munching on one in the other, Dan walked in a less-than-direct route back to the Hummer. On his way he passed by an arcade, then back-peddled and took a look in. Taking a moment to consider, Dan decided to go in. Upon entering Dan bumped into two glum kids. "Ora! Young men like you shouldn't look so unhappy during the prime of your lives! What's getting you down?" "Eh, nothing old man.", grumbled one boy. His friend hit him on the arm and laughed. "Sano was beaten by a girl in his favorite videogame!" "EYAH?! You were beaten by a *GIRL*!", Dan said in shock. "Like you could do better!", yelled Sano as he kicked Dan in the shin. As Dan hopped up and down he let loose such a stream of profanity that the window pants wilted. Dan smacked the kid on the head. "OWW! Hey! This is child abuse!" "Respect your elders! Com'on, I'll show you how to win!", said Dan, dragging Sano back into the arcade by the ear, Sano's friend following. In the back was a girl playing a fighting game. She was wearing a blue sailor fuku [uniform], red sneakers, a white headband, and had short brown hair. "Is this the girl?" "Eh.", Sano shrugged indifferently. "Okay, watch me challenge her! Hey, you! Little girl! I, Dan Hibiki, heir to the Saikyo-Ryu Karate Dojo challenge you to this contest of skill!" She looked away from her game only long enough to look Dan up and down. "Hey, you're too old! Old people aren't good at videogames! And the only ones that are... are losers!" "AIYA!!! EEEYEEE!!!!", Dan face faulted. "But it's you're quarter, Mr. Hibiki, so feel free." "Osu!" Dan rolled up his sleeves and challenged. Not even five seconds later Dan had already lost. Sano & his friend tried to get away but- "HEY GET BACK HERE! I'M NOT THROUGH YET!!!" The boys sheepishly continued to watch. "Hey, you sure you want to pick that guy? He sucks. He was cool when he was a boss... but they've really toned him down to make him playable." "I'll take my chances- uh... ah-" Dan faltered when he realized he didn't know her name. "Sakura. My name is Sakura." The match began anew with Dan doing just a little better until.... "HEEEEY!!! That was a *THROW*!!! CHEAP!!!", Sakura protested. Dan pretended as if he didn't know what she was talking about. But a second later he threw her again. "Oops! Sorry, Sak, it was an accident! Here go ahead and throw me." The trusting Sakura moved her character towards Dan's to throw him but at the last second Dan's character threw Sak's instead! "Oh! Again! I'm sorry!" "What?! You kidding me!?!" "That's right! You've fallen for Saikyo-Ryu, Honorable Fall of Twin Bucking Mares!!! MWHAHAHAHA!!!" "Why you-" "Now prepare for Saikyo-Ryu, Spoiled Prince Rejecting Bitter Medicine Attack!!!" "What the-" Sakura watched as her character was thrown back and forth before she could do anything. There seemed to be no good defense against the constant barrage of throws! Soon after she was defeated. "You jerk! I'll show you a hold! Take this!" The school girl interrupted his victory dance by jumping on his back and choking him from behind. "Hey! Hey! Ora ora! Leave me alone!", Dan gasped for breath. "Yousha! Kanben! [Mercy! Surrender!]" "Ha!", Sakura smirked as she dusted off her hands. "You're not strong enough for my Shotokan-Ryu!" She made a muscle but Dan was laughing at her. "Shotokan style? As in Shotokan Karate?! Are you kidding? I know the greatest Shotokan in the world! Girl, what you use is not even close!" Suddenly Dan had her attention. "Eh?! G-greatest in the world? Do you mean Ryu?" "Who else? Of course I mean Ryu! He's a good friend of mine and in fact we trained together for a while back in Japan!" Sakura had a hard time believing that Ryu would be friends with a bonehead like Dan, but she suspended her belief for a moment. "Your style then... it's Shotokan?" "Haven't you been listening?!? Saikyo! Saikyo-Ryu!! My own style! Maybe based upon my training as a Shotokan- a little- but it is a totally original school!" "Eyah eyah! OK, OK, OK- whatever! Now back to Ryu... do you know where he is now?" "Yeah but what's it to you?" "Ryu is to become my sensei! I need to find him so I can ask him to become my teacher! I came all the way from Japan to here just to ask him, I know he's somewhere in America. I want to become the greatest Shotokan in the world! .... Will you stop looking at me like that!?!" "Heh, it's just that you're so *weird*!", Dan smiled almost immediately regretting it as Sakura put him back in her headlock. "Hey! I'm sorry! Let go!" "Only if you tell me where Ryu is!" "Ayah! I can't, he's on a mission!" "Tell me!", Sakura demanded as she noogied him. "Che! Ayi ayi ayi ayi ayi!!!" -=-=- "Wolverine!", Jubilee screamed. The concerned group of Ryu, Chun Li, and Jubilee ran up to Logan's fallen and battered body. "You bully!" Jubilee blasted Juggernaut with her fireworks only adding to his amusement. "Is that all you've got?", Juggernaut smirked. His smile was stifled when Ryu and Chun Li turned their attention away from Logan towards him. They charged but Juggernaut created an earthquake that shook the ground so violently that they couldn't advance. "Ouch!", Jubilee yelped as Ryu fell on top of her. "Yikes it's an Asian invasion!", Juggernaut observed. "I'm just a messenger, Wolvie here didn't understand that... and paid for it. So you guys tell him this when he wakes up: If he ever wants to see the X-Men again, he is to go to the Savage Land. He can bring all the friends he wants but just make sure he goes." He turned and walked away from them. "Stop!" "Look kids, what do you really think you can do to me? Like I said, I'm just a paid mercenary. I don't know nothing. Now, Wolvie has a healing factor so I know he can take it... but unless you want to get seriously hurt, I suggest you just let me walk away." "Why you-" Chun Li stopped when Ryu put a hand on her shoulder holding her back. He didn't know how tough this Juggernaut was but from all indications (Logan-dono being unconscious on the ground) Jubilee stood a great risk of getting hurt. "Chun Li... Logan-san is hurt. Let's take him inside." Chun Li nodded and Jubilee helped Ryu carry Wolverine back towards the mansion. Juggernaut left, laughing all the way. -=-=- Dan and Sakura were leaning against the wall silent. Dan dug into his bag of burgers and pulled one out. Sakura leaned over and started digging around in his bag. Dan shot her a dirty look. "What? I'm hungry." Dan shrugged and offered up the contents of the bag to her. They continued to stand there quietly with only the sound of crinkling burger wrappers and chewing. A Hummer drove up to the pair and Cap leaned out. "Dan where the *HELL* have you been?!?" "Ora?" "I had to go through a high speed chase through the city to escape the press! Get in already!!!" Captain America wasn't his typical happy self. Sakura picked up on it right away. "Oi! What a grouch!" "You should see him in the mornings!", Dan agreed as he opened the door for Sakura. "Hey, where does she think she's going?!", Cap asked. "Oh, sorry! Captain America this is Sakura. She's coming with us." Cap did his best to hold himself back from getting out of the car and beating Dan to a pulp. "Dan this isn't a vacation! She can't come!" "But she wants to meet Ryu. After he comes back from finding Beast would be the perfect time, right?" "Wrong. No security risks, Dan!" "Would it be a security risk if I were to accidentally tell someone what this whole thing was about?", Sakura asked innocently. "Dan you didn't....", Cap mourned. Dan shrugged to say he couldn't help it. "Damn. I *could* just arrest you." "Wouldn't it be better just to keep an eye on this cute face?!", Sakura beamed pointing at herself. "Okay, just get in.", Cap sighed. The two conspirators piled into the back giggling. Cap decided it wouldn't be too bad, at least they could keep each other busy. "Heh, didn't I tell you I could get you in?", Dan smiled smugly. Sakura crossed her arms over her chest, frowning. "Hah! I got in by *myself*!" "On *MY* info!" "Bleeeeeh!" Sakura stuck her tongue out at him. "Caaaaaap! Sak's making faces at me!", Dan whined. The Star Spangled Avenger started banging his head against the steering wheel. -=-=- Spider-Man slumped down against a wall letting out a sigh of relief. After yet another fight on the roof-tops of Manhattan with his dangerous nemesis, Venom, the wall crawler found himself exhausted and grateful to be alive. "Thank you Mr. Fantastic!", Spidey said as he kissed his one remaining sonic grenade. He ran into Venom enough to warrant asking his good friend from the Fantastic Four to make a couple of these. Now it was time to ship him off to super-villain prison so that Venom could eventually escape to torment him again down the road. Spidey sighed. Yep, guys like the Punisher had it easy... it was the softies like himself who had to bust their butts everyday maintaining that super-hero code of honor! Suddenly, Spidey's spider sense went off like crazy. "Give them to me." "Who are you? Yikes, what did you do? Dump of bucket of black paint on your head?!" Spider-Man looked the man draped in shadows... this guy smelled of trouble. "Final warning." "If you mean my buddy, Venom- I'm sorry but we've got plans." "Now I must kill you.", the tone in Shadow's voice made it obvious that he didn't mind. Shadow rushed forward so Spidey jumped over him, but Shadow was already swinging around with a strong back fist that connected. Spider-Man reeled but regained his balance sticking to a wall and bouncing back at his attacker. Shadow crouched... there was a flash and Spidey found himself on his back. He was already weak from his fight with Venom, he couldn't handle a heavy hitter like this guy if he didn't put him down fast. Using his web-shooters, the web-slinger slung globs of gooey webbing at Shadow. The zombie's first impulse was to block which wrapped him in Spider-Man's web. He flexed and busted out without much effort. "Oh great.", Spidey said. He fired off a volley of web-nets which Shadow just ran through as if they were cobwebs. Shadow pulled back his fist and whipped it forward, sending a Sonic Boom back at Spider-Man, who dodged but the blast still hit him. The last hit left Spidey off balance which let Shadow's next two Sonic Booms hit right on target. Spidey was completely dazed but managed to remain standing. Shadow dashed right up to him and crouched down in front of him... and Flash Kicked him. Spider-Man went down, new wounds opening over old ones. The undead soldier walked over to him and picked him up by the throat. Just barely conscious, Spider-Man went for his last grenade and activated it.... No effect. "Die." Shadow's eye glinted as he launched forward into the deadly Cross Shadow Blitz. The last attack in the combo blasted Spidey off the roof and down into an alley, fifteen stories below. Shadow looked over the edge at Spider-Man's still body then went over to the defeated Venom, hefting him onto his shoulder, and left. Down below, Spidey let out a moan. , he thought before everything went black. -=-=- "I'm going." "You're still hurt!" "It's a six hour flight... I'll be healed by then." "It's a trap... you'll need me." "What I *need*, if for you to take care of the mansion. Besides, I've got Ryu and his gal to help me. Don't worry we'll be back in no time." "We're partners! You can't leave without me!" "No is no! Now that's the end of it or I'll tan your hide!" "I'm not a child!" Logan ignored her as he walked away. "Hey! I'm talking to you Wolverine! Come back here!" -=-=- That's it for now... more to come as I write it. Please send in your comments and corrections. E-mail me at paladin@saturn.superlink.net and visit my Lemonade Punch Archive at: http://members.tripod.com/~PaladinX13/index.html