Ryu and the others stood on the fishing dock across from where the demonic ocean liner stood,watching it's fiery carcass sink into the ocean.
When suddenly,Rose fainted and fell to the floor.

"ROSE!"said Guy as he rushed to her side.
The Bushin heaved her onto his lap and checked her pulse.
"She's alive..."he said. "...but,I sense no ki energy from her."

Morrigan placed two of her fingers on the right side of her temple.
"Hmmm...it seems...that her pysche and soul have---just abandoned her body."she said.

"Huh,what do you mean she left her body?"said Sean.
"From what she's told us in our recent adventures with her,"said Charlie. "Rose has the ability to go in and out of her body at will,all part of her Soul Powers."
"But..why did she do that right now?"said Ryu.

"I--I guess it must been from when she teleported us from Den's castle and ship."said Guy. "The strain of power must have been too much for her."
"DAMN!"said Baine. "I should've used my powers to teleport us out of there when I had the chance!"
"Calm yourself,Guinevere."said Morrigan. "That place was coming fast undonem,and if any of us know Rose,she may find a way to return to her body sooner than we think."

"Yes."said Guy. "She is indeed a powerful sorceress,I just hope she returns soon."
Suddenly,Chun-Li,who was being carried by Sodom finally woke up.

"Chun-Li!"said Ryu as he rushed over to her.
He checked her eyes,her mouth and neck.
Sure enough,they were both normal and the puncture wounds were gone.

"Thank heavens,"he said. "she's human again!"
"Well,at least we got one of our own back again."said Charlie.
"You have to take victories when they come,Lt."said Dudley.

Suddenly,the sound of police sirens were heard in the distance.
"Uh-oh,here comes the boys in blue."said Sean.
"Then Morrigan and mysefl must make haste and depart."said Baine. "We cannot let ourselves be discovered by any more humans."

"Uhmm...Guinevere."said Morrigan. "I'm afraid I may have a little announcement to make...I won't be going back with you anymore."
"What?"said the Dark Hunter. "But-but why?"
"You and I have gone on this vamp hunt together long enough."said Morrigan. "I finally found and destroyed the monster and his ilk who destroyed my life centuries ago.
I finally need a whole new direction in my life,and the Darkstalker realm is probably no longer what it was anyways."

"So you're going to stay here with these..mortal warriors?"said Baine.
"Perhaps,for the time being."said Morrigan. "But i'll discover my own destiny in time,whatever it may be. You must discover your own,besides carrying on your ancestor's work. And besides that,these mortals will definitely need someone backing them up for the police and militart after all that's happened."

"Very well."said Guinevere. "It..will be difficult to carry on the work without you,lady Morrigan. You've taught me so much,but I guess we all must move in life someday."

The two then embraced in a hug and Guinevere then took out her blade.
"I however shall scan the rest of this planet for any remianing Darkstalker presences or threats,and then who knows?
Maybe with Jedah's spacecraft I can use it to travel other worlds and start my own legacy."

"You'll do very well i'm sure."said Morrigan. "Now you'd better get going before you're spotted."
"Yes."said Baine. "Farewell to thee,street fighters. You all fought bravely and valiantly. Especially you,Ryu Hoshi. You are truly a hero without equal."
"It was an honor fighting alongside you,dark hunter."said Ryu as he bowed.

"Until we meet again,street fighters."said Guinevere.
The hunter then raised her sword in the air,and within a flash of red and white light,she was gone.
"Farwell,old friend."said Morrigan smiling.

The police cars and army trucks then finally arrived.

MINUTES LATER,AT THE LOCAL INTERPOL US BRANCH HQ...

OfficersHenry Rawlins and Peter Clint were chatting with Chun-Li,Charlie,and Cammy in the lounge room while Ryu and the others rested,eating danishes and drinking either coffee,tea,or hot cocoa.

"Ah,nothing like a cup of tea to revive one's senses."said Dudley. "I must admit this was quite an adventure to remember,lads."
"Yeah,"said Makoto. "even though none of us won the tournament,we did get rid of something that would've proved a threat to the martial arts world."
"It's a shame we couldn't keep any of those vampire hunting weapons as souvenirs."said Sodom. "They were either destroyed like my hammer or just faded away 'cause they were magical to begin with."

"I think some of us would rather not remember this fiasco to begin with,Sodom."said Ken. "I had a hell of a time trying to explain myself to Eliza over the phone earlier.She was worried sick about me."

"Guess there's some things even a great warrior can't face against eh,master?"joked Sean.
"You just wait till you get hitched,Sean."said Ken. "Then you'll see."

Guy then entered the room and sat down near the others.
"I just finished speaking with Mayor Haggar over the phone."he said. "He says he'll have Rose shipped to Metro City Hospital first thing tomorrow so we can keep an eye on her."

"That's pretty,decent of you,Guy."said Ryu.
"Yeah,since you even barely know her since the earlier days we all fought Shadaloo."said Ken.
"It's just that I still remember the day I found her when she fought Bison once."said Guy. "That monster will pay for all the evil he's done as well."
"Yeah,and don't forget he's partly to blame for what we went through with that Den freak."said Makoto.

"Our paths with him will cross again,Makoto."said Ryu. "Evil such as his can't stay hidden forever."

"So,you mean to tell me that you're entire late night rendezvous...was with a bunch of freakin'vampires?"said officer Rawlins.
"I gotta admit that's pretty far-fetched even for military operatives like yourselves."said officer Clint.
"Well,your boys best begin searching the harbors for the sunken wreck,and check out the carnage at the civic center,you'll find plenty of evidence of who and what was killing martial artists for the past month."
 

"Oh we will,Nash,we will."said Rawlins. "But how the hell are any of us or any of you gonna convince our superiors that there were vampires to begin with and there was a conspiracy of world domination behind all of it?"

Morrigan reached under her right wing and took out a thick manilla folder containing papers within it.
"This...may prove something,officer."she said.
Rawlins took the folder and scanned through it.
It contained names,adresses and plans concerning the martial artists and operatives within it.

There was even info on the last fighter who was killed,Mike Blaines,AKA Blazefoot.
"Well,i'll be."said Rawlins. "This has gotta be hardcore info all right."
"And where did you get this?"said Clint.

"Oh,I just saw it on Den's dresser and snatched it when my partner and I escaped from his prison. said Morrigan.
Oh,and before you dismiss me as some sort of Halloween wannabe and this is just movie make-up and costumery i'm wearing--think again."

Morrigan raised her wings and they both materialised into a flock of bats and fluttered about in the room.
She then levitated herself,and her fists glowed with necromantic energy.

Both policemen were speechless.
"Uh...m'ma'mm..."said Rawlins. "I think we may need you for a full statement before the commissioner by tomorrow."
"Most certainly,officer."said Morrigan.

"Even though,still,"said Rawlins
"I would really like to see some other form of proof that there were bloodthirsty vampires out for human blood to begin with ya know!"

Suddenly,something came crashing through the windows of the lounge room and stood before them all.

It was Den Maximov again.
He stood,his body still in it's demonic form was dripping with both blood and salt water and the stake that Ryu plunged into his chest was still stuck there as well.
He was also majorly pissed.

"YOU--WILL ALL--DIE!"he roared.
"Does that suit your convincing,officer?"said Cammy.

"He-he's still alive?"said Guy.
Den pulled the stake out and threw it to the floor.
"NO ONE CAN KILL ME!"he said. "BUT I KNOW WHO I SHALL KILL BEFORE THIS NIGHT IS THROUGH!"

He turned to Ryu.
"YOU!"he said.

"He's after Ryu--STOP'IM!"said Charlie.

Guy jumped at the monster,attempting to do a spin kick to his head.
Den just swatted him away.

The rest of the fighters charged at Den,but he simply blew flames from his mouth,causing a wall of flame to come between them.
Cammy and Chun-Li jumped at Den and both slammed kicks to his side.

Den just shrugged it off as he was swung one of his wings at them both,knokcing them down.

"SONIC BOOM!"said Charlie as he threw a sonic fireball.
Den simply punched it away and then fired eye beams at Charlie,knocking him out into the hall.

The two cops whipped out their firearms and began shooting at the monster,but their bullets didn't even phase it.
"FOOLS."he said and then picked up a couch and threw it at them.

"UNNF!"they both went as they crashed up against a wall.

Morrigan then fired both Soul Fists at Den,but he shielded himself with his wings.
"Doesn't anything stop you?"she said.
"AFRAID NOT,MOTHER."he said.

Morrigan then swooped down for another attack,but Den vanished into thin air before she could do anything.
He then appeared behind her and slammed his fist into her head,knocking her out.

"NO!"said Ryu.

Den then turned to Ryu.
"IF I AM TO DIE,THEN I SHALL SEE TO IT THAT YOU PRECEDE ME TO HELL,RYU HOSHI."he said.

Ryu then bolted for the window.
"COME AND GET ME!"he said.

Den flew out of the window and chased after Ryu through the alley.

"I've got a find a way to destroy him."thought Ryu. "Maybe if I keep him busy till the sun comes up?"

Suddenly,Den appeared in front of Ryu.
"NOWHERE TO RUN!"he said.

Ryu fired a Hadouken at Den,but he swatted it away like he did all the other attempts.
"I SHALL WAIT NO LONGER FOR YOUR BLOOD,HOSHI!"he said. "YOURS WILL ADD TO MY POWER,MAKING ME A HUNDRED TIMES MORE POWERFUL! I SHALL CONQUOR EARTH REALM YET!"

"NEVER!"said Ryu as he jumped at Den.
Den then caught Ryu by the throat and held him in a cast iron grip.
"NO!"said Ryu.
"YES..."said Den. "...THIS ENDS NOW!"

Ryu couldn't break free,but he had to do something.
Suddenly,he heard a voice in his head.

"Ryu...this is Rose."it said.
"Rose..?'said Ryu in his head. "..where are you?"
"I am within the astral realm and have made contact with your soul."she said. "Ryu,there is a way for you to destroy the vampire!"
"What?'said Ryu.

"You must unleash the Dark power that resides within you,it is the only way."said Rose.
"What---no--I can't do that!"said Ryu. "If I do,I will become like the one who killed my sensei,Akuma!"said Ryu.
"I belive in you,Ryu."said Rose. "I believe that you posess the will to control the power,and if you do not unleash it,all will be lost at the hands of that monster! Please Ryu,for the sake of your friends and the memory of Master Gouken...use the power of the Dark Shin Hadou!"

Ryu knew he had no further alternative,he then focused his inner ki and remembered the battles he first had with Sagat,Akuma and even Bison.
He then remembered what Akuma did to his sensei,and that caused his blood to boil and his power to shift.

His power then flared up like an inferno and his eyes then grew a bright red.
"WHA---WHAT IS THIS?"said Den.

Volts of dark energy surged through Ryu and shocked Den's hand.
"OOOOW!"said Den as he let loose of Ryu.

The Shotokan then landed on his feet and his appearance then turned a strange tint of dark.
He was no longer Ryu,he was now,Shin Ryu once more.

"SO..."said Den smiling. "....YOU HAVE UNLEASHED THE SAME POWER THAT THE ONE CALLED AKUMA USES EH?
THIS SHOULD BE MORE---INTERESTING THAN I HOPED IT WOULD."

Den then flew at Ryu and fired flames from his mouth once again.
Ryu jumped over it and then launced a super Shadow Shoryuken,hitting Den realy hard in the chin.

The blow was so great,Den crashed to the floor,allowing Ryu a better adv adavantage.

Den jumped back to his feet and fired eye beams from his eyes.
Ryu shadow warped from the spot he stood and came at Den head-on!

He then did a roundhouse kick into Den's stomach and then slammed another Dragon Punch to his face.

Ryu then charged up his left fist for the final blow,and then slammed in the same place he got Den before,his heart!

"WHAMMM!"
All was still for a moment,it looked like Ryu had finally gotten him.
But all Den did was smile and laugh.

"You fool."he said."I told you before that even the most powerful fighting and killing techniques are no match for the power of a Darkstalker."
Suddenly,Den felt something crack within his chest.'
He looked down and saw that his entire chest began to crack and break apart,very much like his now destroyed castle.
 

"WHAT--NOOO!"he said.
"The power of the Dark Hadou,can destroy anything it touches,vampire."said Shin Ryu. "And it shall now destroy you!"

Den's entire chest craked open,revealling his dark red heart.
Ryu then grabbed ahold of the blood pumping organ,and began to pull at it.

"NOOOOOOO--DO NOT!"said Den as he struggled,but could not break Ryu's grip.

Ryu then tore the hear from Den's chest,blood sprayed and dripped everywhere,causing Den to screech out in pain.

With Den's heart in his graps,Ryu then crushed the heart into a pile of blood red ash.

Den fell onto his knees,he felt his power and lifeforce draining away,he was near death itself.
His entire body then began to blacken and crumble apart.

"Noooooo....this cannot end this way!"he said.
"Oh yes it can,vampire!"said Shin Ryu.

He then charged up his fists for one last Hadouken blast assault.
"SHINKUUUU-----HADOOOUKEN!"he cried and the most largest and powerful fireball he ever created flew at Den.

The fireball enveloped Den's dying body causing it to explode in a blast of flames.
Once it was over,there was nothing but scattered remains of blackened ash.

Den Maximov,son of the late Dimitri Maximov,was no more.

"Ashes to ashes,dust to dust."said Morrigan as she hovered above Ryu,watching the whole scene unfold.
Ryu then shifted back to normal and fell to the ground.

The other heroes as well as the two cops finally made it outside to find it was all over.
"Wh-what the hell just happened?"said Clint.
"I think the world's greatest warrior came through again."said Chun-Li.

"That lounge room also had recording cameras in there."said Charlie. "I think we just got more proof than we need."
"What matters now is."said Ken. "It's all over at last."
 

In the distance,the light of dawn began to crack through the darkness of night.
It was at last over.
 

EPILOGUE:
The next few days were filled with resolve and preparation.
Chun-Li and Charlie reported the entire situation to the head honchos of Interpol and made preparations inf finding both Shadaloo as well as the remaining members of Den's vampire cult.

And with the help of Morrigan,they were able to find and destroy the remaining vampires.
Before all that happened,Ryu and the others bid farewell to each other back at Interpol and retured to their respective homes,all vowing to meet and fight again in the next tournament.
Ryu and Makoto returned to Japan.
Ken and Sean returned to Washington to his family and Sean continued to train under Ken's guidance.
Dudley returned to England and Cammy returned to Delta Red for some R&R and a full report to make out.
Guy and Sodom returned to Metro City along with the still comatose Rose.
Guy visits her in the hospital every saturday.

Guile managed to return from Iraq just in time for Charlie to tell him all that happened a few days ago.
Morrigan bid goodbye to Charlie and Chun-Li and went about her way to see the rest of the world. She vowed to become--a world renowned fashion desinger and made a living at it in Paris.
Baine continued her patrol aboard her ship and found a werewolf sighting in London.

Repairs to the civic center began a week later and the militart managed to scrounge up the remains of the ocean liner,finding many stolen items,including the late Blazefoot's expensive car within it.

A year later,Masters foundation managed to hold an all-new american martial arts tournament at the newly repaired civic center.
Everyone from last time except Ryu attended,and the winner in the end was--Ken,the orginal all american tournament champion!

And back in Japan at Ryu's home,the once great dojo of Master Gouken.
Ryu sat back in his spot where he was last meditating.

He could no longer sense the evil presence of the demonic vampire he sought to fight,his mind was now clear and bright as ever.
"Wherever you are Rose,"he thought. "thank you."

Suddenly,he heard a footfall.
He looked up to see Chun-Li walking up the stairs towards him.
"Chun-Li!"he said. "What are you doing here again? Is there something else wrong?"

"Nothing at all this time."she said. "I'd just thought i'd visit you for a bit."
"Oh uh--of course."said Ryu as he got up. "I'll make us..some tea."

Ryu and Li walked up to the front door,Ryu opened the rice paper door and allowed Li to walk inside.
Once they were inside,Chun-Li went up to him,emraced him and planted a full kiss on the mouth.

Ryu was suprised,but felt a sense of passion and joy from the kiss.
"Was--that a thank you from last time?"he said.
"You could say that."said Li. "Like another?"
"Most certainly."said Ryu.

The two warriors embraced and enjoyed the rest of the day together.

For two lovers and the rest of the world,all was at peace..for now.

THE END.