The event had at last begun,all fighters were positioned into a long but steady line up on who would fight who.

Many of Japan's locals as well as many other people from across the world had arrived to partake in this event.

They bought tickets, as well as snacks and souvenirs and seated themselves in the large and massive bleechers that was affixed to the walls around the ring.

Many tv and video cameras were there shooting the event for the world to see,and many major tv networks were there as well chronicling and reporting what was to take place.

Several fighters from the SF2 line up were there,except some had taken the place of those in the contest.

Datta,Dhalsim's son stood in his father's place,he was dressed in a set of grey gi pants with black belt,a green tank top and had white bandage wrappings on his wrists and ankles,and wore a white turban on his head,but had on red war-paint decorated across his face like his father.

He sighed and remembered passing ways with his parents before leaving for the contest.

"Are you sure of this father?"said Datta as he zipped up his duffle bag.

"I am certain my son."said Dhalsim as he sat cross legged under a tree.

"As I told you before,after you saw that photo of me with Ryu and the others,that was from my past life..my past life of fighting and traveling the world to fight.

Now..after all my teachings and passing of knowledge..it is time for you my son Datta..to carry on the yoga fighting art I and my brothers hold sacred."

"But what do I fight for here father?"said Datta scratching the side of his head. "Money--fame..what?"

"Not for money or fame,young one."said Dhalsim. "Those are for the path of darkness. You will fight for enlightenment..and to show perhaps others that the yoga art is still alive and well and not just in India."

"Very well then father."said Datta as he stood proudly. "I will fight for the art and family you have brought me."

"Very good."said Dhalsim. "Just remember,winning or losing does not matter in our teachings,only that you do your best and return a true enlightened warrior."

"Yes father."said Datta. "Anything else to remember before I go?"
"Er..well..yes,there is something."said Dhalsim. "If you run into a fighter named Ryu,Chun-Li,Ken or even..that Rose woman. Tell them..I send my love and the best."

"Yes father,I will."said Datta.

"Wow."thought Datta as his thoughts returned to the present. "To think my own father knew and fought with such legends like Ryu Hoshi and Chun-Li Xiang,it will be a great honor to fight them..if I make it that is."

Julia Hawk stood with the others in one of the lines,she was dressed in a pair of dark jeans,matching vest jacket,tank top,and had on red sneakers,red grip gloves and here dark brown hair was tied to that of a long pigtail with a couple of white and red feathers in her hair at the top.

She also remembers what her brother taught her before she left for the contest.

Julia was about to take the plane to Japan at the New York airport,her brother T.Hawk was seeing her off.

"I still can't believe that you're not participating in this with me bro."she said. "Not popular enough or something?"

"As I said,little one."said Hawk. "My duties are now with the tribe and our people now more than ever."

"I owe it to our father's spirit to see it through,and my fighting days are pretty much over anyways.

I've long since passed my fighting skills to you added with your own,you will represent our people and fighting style nicely."

"Well,since you put it like that."she said. "I'll go and bring home the gold for you."

"Winning doesn't mean a whole lot,Juli"said Hawk. "Just give it your best and just win some experience is all. I would also ask you to beware of those who might be still somewhere out there in the tournament. Those who brought harm to you,myself and others in the past."

"You mean Shadowloo?"said Juli.

"Yes."said Hawk. "Guile once assured me that ever since they tracked him down in the jungles years ago,that the menace of M.Bison had at last come to and end.

But…"

"You…have some major doubts eh?"said Juli.

"Call it an old hunch sis."said Hawk. "Before I became a shaman,I once sought out teachings from the master of Yoga Dhalsim. He showed me to tap into the spirit and ki world to sense things that ordinary humans cannot. Just recently at the sacred totem shrine..I..sensed something..not of this world…and some sort of wicked energy that once belonged to the master of Shadowloo."

"You..you think Bison might still be alive?"said Juli.
"I..do not know."said Hawk. "I fear even that Dhalsim himself may not know..but..I'm just saying beware---of anything and anyone that you come in contact with. Be on your guard..and good luck."

"I will big brother..and thanks."she said as she reached up and hugged the big native american man.

"May the great spirit watch over you young warrior."he said.

"Well.."she thought as shs returned to the present. "..I'm here now..all I can do is watch,wait and fight my best. Hmm..I wonder if I'll ever see my old former teammates from Shadowloo--Juni and Cammy here?"

Sean and Mel stood in line with the rest as well.

"Feeling excited Mel?"Sean asked his younger counterpart.

"You bet I am,instructor."said Mel. "I can't wait to start kickin'some tail the minute I get out there in that ring!"

"Easy yourself there kid."said Sean. "I know exactly how you feel,but we have to tread carefully on this even in matches..so be careful of what your opponent has to throw at you in the ring."

"I'll remember,instructor."said Mel. "I only wish dad could compete with us in this."

"Same here."said Sean. "But he has enough of his hands full organizing and hosting this event…but..he did say that he and Ryu might have something planned before this is over. So..keep your eyes peeled."

"Will do."said Sean.

While outside the dome in a servilence van.

Both Ace and Dark along with a small group of commandoes watched and waited for anything to happen.

"So..this is what watching and waiting to act is through the spec ops division is like."said Ace.

"Huh…just tedious %!@@ to go through.that's all."

Dark smiled. "I take it you don't do much in the spec ops section."

"How can I when I never had to take it,Dark?"said Ace. "I'm like Guile and others in the force…I like to act when it's time to act..waiting's not my cup of meat!"

"Take it easy.Ace."said Dark. "I'm sure we'll see some action before this contest is over.

And besides that,we'll see plenty of it during the contest,as our men Guile and Cammy fight it out with the best."

"Well--yeah..that can be a bonus at least."

While back at the secret location of Shadowloo.

A second in command lt.wearing a black beret and a scar on his chin named Hanzo stood with the mysterious Q at the monitors.

"Ha ha--just look at them all."he spoke wickedly. "All players and pawns in the game that my great master has planned. None of them will know what will happen until it's too late.."

Hanzo turned to Q. "Alright our masked minion tend to the details of getting the ultra dolls ready to capture the finalists when the time is ready--and make it snappy!"

Q saluted the Lt.and turned to the armory room.

"Soon master,soon."said Hanzo. "Shadowloo will strike once you have announced yourself."

A minute later,Benson the announcer made his way into the ring and presented himself to the crowds of people who had at last seated themselves.

He then spoke into the microphone in his hand.

"GOOD EVENING PEOPLE OF JAPAN AND THE WORLD OVER!"he roared into the mic.

"YOU'RE ALL IN STORE FOR SOME EXCEPTIONAL EXCITEMENT TONIGHT!

WE ON BEHALF OF THE MASTERS AND KANZUKI CORPERATIONS WELCOME YOU ONE AND ALL TO..THE SUPER STREET FIGHTERS WORLD WARRIOR MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT!"

The crowds cheered and roared their brains out to the announcement.

"YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST AS THEY DECK IT OUT FOR GLOBAL SUPREMACY IN THE FIGHTING RING. FISTS WILL FLY,TEETH WILL BE LOST,EYES WILL BE INJURED,LIMBS WILL BE BROKEN--BUT BY THE TIME THE DUST IS CLEARED--ONLY ONE AND ONLY ONE WILL BE CROWNED--THE WORLD WARRIOR!"

The crowds cheered.

Some of the more arrogant and cocky ass fighters in the ring all thought the same ignorant thing.

"Heh-heh--and that'll be me."

Rose,overhearing their thoughts,rolled her eyes and replied. "Arrogant fools."she thought. "When will idiots like that realize that pride comes before falls..overconfidence is the devil's lure to downfalls.

Well..they'll soon learn the hard way when this is over. I do have greater faith however in the greater and more noble fighters who I have proudly fought alongside,like Ryu,Ken,Chun-Li,Guy and the rest of the street fighters."

Rose then saw the Bushin Ninja and his young disciple across from her.

He didn't notice her yet for she was obscured by the other fighters.

"It's good to see him again though."she thought. "If not for Guy,I would not be able to return to my physical form again. I'll have to greet with him later on.

Rose then looked to the skylight of the dome and sensed something for a moment there.

"Hmmm.."she thought. "I can't make it out..but..something is definitely amiss with this tournament..I just

know it!"

Amidst the fighters was a hooded and robed figure,he stood over eight feet tall and emitted a powerful and evil aura.

No one really knew that it was Akuma/Sagat himself!

"I will tear through these pointless challengers,"he thought. "but I will not use my Instant Murder on no one..save for RYU!"

Just then a man dressed in a two piece blue suit with brown hair and glasses stepped into the ring,he was carrying a clipboard.

"All right folks."he said. "Just sit tight,the eliminations are about to begin. I'll call your name from the clipboard and you and the fighter you're designated to fight.

Sakura was first in line,and she was waiting patiently for her chance to at last arrive.

Ryu and Ken watched with great intent from the judges room.

"So it begins."said Ryu.

"Yeah,I hope she makes it pretty far myself."said Ken.

The referee called the first two fighters.

"SAKURA VS AKIDA-STEP RIGHT UP!"he said.

"Alright!"said Sakura as she gleefully stepped into the ring.

The other fighter,a young Japanese like Sakura was her first opponent in the matches.

He was tall,lean and muscular like her,but had spiky brown hair and wore an off white karate gi with black belt and bandaged fists.

He was Akida,local karate expert.

"Alright,face me bow--face each other bow."

The two fighters followed the rules and did so.

"BEGIN!"

Akida made the first move as he thrust forward and did a flying kick,but Sakura dodged it and slammed him in the gut with a side kick.

Akida coughed up air and fell on one knee,but wasn't out yet.

"Fast are we?"he said as he grinned in a cocky manner. "Well,we'll just how fast toots!"

He then jumped into the air and landed in front of her and unleashed a furry of lightning fast punches into her ribs.

Sakura grunted in pain and then jumped back.

"Whoa---not looking too good for her debut there!"said Ken.

"Don't worry Ken."said Ryu. "She's just getting warmed up."

"How you mean?"said Ken raising an eyebrow.

"Watch."said Ryu.

Sakura straightened herself and got back into her fight stance.

"That all you got,buddy?"she said. "Show me some more."

"If you insist."said Akida as he ran straight at her again.

This time,he did a jumping spin kick,but as he swung his leg,the young Shotokan ducked it and then launched her own Shoryuken,smashing the youth's chin in the process.

Akida was knocked so hard that he sailed backwards and was about to fall backwards.

"Allow me."said Sakura as she thrust both of her hands forward and threw a single Hadouken fireball at him.

The projectile hit the karate in the chest in a flurry of white energy and pain.

Akida was now done for as he completed his fall and crashed to the ring floor,he was the first to be down for the count.

"POINT-WINNER!"said the referee.

"ALRIGHT!"said Sakura as she aimed a fist in the air.

"Wow,she fights just like--like Ryu Hoshi!"said one of the fighters.
"Yeah,could she--be his--student or something?"said another.

"Heh,wouldn't any of you like to know?"said Sakura with a toothy grin.

"Heh,you were right like always,Ryu."said Ken.

"Naturally."said Ryu with a calm smile. "I've taught her well."

"Yeah,well..don't get too comfy now."said Ken. "Not only will she have to best my boys..but along with the rest of the world's best and worst..be prepared for anything."

"Hmmm.."thought Karin as she saw the whole scene unfold.

"She's better than I remember,well two can play at this game..just you wait Sakura!"

Chun-Li also saw what had happened.

"Well I never."she thought. "It looks like Saky managed to convince Ryu to take her in after all..and she's learned a lot from him no doubt. I just kinda wish she wouldn't…dress like him though…that headband looks more worn on her than it did him,heh.

I also should pay him a visit if he's here..but I'll do that when a break comes..I'd better be ready---for anything."

"NEXT FIGHTERS PLEASE!"said the referee.

And so it began,a series of martial arts matches and fights were going to fill the air in the battledome this day as well as night,and it was going to be a long one at that.