The following files are the timeline for MotM. They explain in detail many of the significant events that lead up to the current day.
WARNING! The timeline is extremely long. It spans approximately 35 files. Though you are expected to know MotM's history, it is -not- required that you read the full Timeline infofile front to back, although it is encouraged and appreciated.
Instead, please read STimeline, which is only 5 files long. This infofile is highly abridged, containing only necessary information. If you are unfamiliar with an event described in the history, please read the specific files referenced at the end of each entry.
Again, you are expected to know the history outlined in STimeline, but you are only required to read the relevant Timeline files if you are unfamiliar with the plots found in the Capcom and SNK games we have drawn from.
Feudal Japan: The Imawano Ninja Clan is founded, dedicated to eradicating evil in its every manifestation. In addition to developing formidable martial arts, they specialize in extremely powerful brainwashing techniques.
1870s: Oro, a monk somewhere in Asia, is exiled for using forbidden techniques to achieve physical perfection. A talented fighter, he has devoted his life to perfecting his body, mind, and soul. To this end, he decides to train non-stop until he attains the first of these perfections - Physical.
1900s-1950s: Goutetsu, a martial artist born in rural Japan, begins to develop his own style of martial art designed specifically to kill. Dubbing it Ansatsuken, it consists of the key arts of Hado, Shoryu, Tatsumaki, and Shungokusatsu. The latter which is what he views as the ultimate martial arts technique: A technique which quite literally transfers the user and the target into Hell, reflecting the sins of the victim back onto them. The name, 'Shun Goku Satsu' literally means 'Instant Hell Murder'. So powerful is the technique that he seals it away, vowing to teach it only those to whom he passes his art to. He chooses two orphaned brothers whom he encounters, naming them Gouken and Gouki.
1930s: Ikari Warriors mercenary unit forms.
1940s: Since beginning his quest, Oro has achieved physical perfection simply through sheer practice and training. Oro, despite being nearly a century old, is still in top physical condition and beyond, capable of incredible superhuman feats. He has likewise perfected his own style of martial arts. However, realizing that his heart and soul are not as disciplined as his body, he mystically seals one of his arms, fearing that he may use his power for evil purposes. Still extremely powerful, however, he has grown tired of the Asian landscape and decides to swim across the Pacific, preferring a South American climate. Here, he meditates. Constantly.
1970: In Thailand, a 15 year old young man named Sagat makes his debut on the extremely popular Muay Thai martial arts circuit. Showing great talent, Sagat tears through the best fighters Thailand has to offer, defeating Nuah Khan to become the 'Emperor of Muay Thai'. He will not relinquish this title for nearly thirty years.
1970s: Also in Thailand, Vega, one of three students of Psycho Power, an extremely rare style of martial arts based on psychic energies, makes his debut in history. The strongest of the three, Vega senses the potential in Psycho Power's negative energies. When his master refuses to teach him to utilize this power, Vega kills him and leaves the other two students without a master, never to become a threat. Shortly afterwards, Vega sheds the entire good portion of his soul, greatly increasing his power. This portion manifests into the infant Rose . The only other Psycho Master in the world, Chin Gentsai, senses this event mentally, but realizes that he, too, has been surpassed by Vega. He is helpless as Vega begins to build Shadaloo, planting the seeds of what he hopes will become world domination.
1978: Back in Japan, Gouken and Gouki have mastered the fighting style that Goutetsu spent a lifetime developing. Their training culminates with the mastery of the Shungokusatsu, Ansatsuken's forbidden secret technique. Requiring just as much mental focus as physical prowess, the two siblings take drastically different courses.
Gouken, who despises killing, vows never to use it or pass it on to another soul, nor to utilize the Satsui No Hadou, the 'Killing Intent'. By fighting with the desire the kill one's opponent, the purpose for which Ansatsuken was designed, they achieve the true power of the style. By denying this aspect of Ansatsuken, Gouken cripples his own ability; however, he dedicates himself to overcoming his self-imposed weakness by drawing his strength from the spirit of fighting simply for the challenge of self-improvement.
Gouki, however, cares only to improve his own strength. He believes that there is no reason to fight but to kill. Disgusted with his sibling, he leaves to train on his own, and to truly master the Shungokusatsu.
Later, Gouken seems to make good on his vow to attain power without the Satsu No Hadou when he manages to fight Saishu Kusanagi to a draw. A long-time friendly rival of the Kusanagis, Gouken and Saishu have likewise had a friendly rivalry since they began their training. Proud of his student's ability, Goutetsu advises Gouken to take on his own apprentice, and finish the cycle. Searching Japan, Gouken eventually selects Ryu, whom Saishu judges to be, "Strong-looking, but not as much as my kid." Saishu then bets Gouken a thousand yen (roughly eight dollars) that his infant son, Kyo, will one day defeat Ryu. Gouken accepts, but the bet would never see its conclusion.
1982: Soon after Gouken begins training Ryu, Ken Masters, the son of one of Gouken's closest friends, is sent to train with him. Already a budding young fighter of about Ryu's age, the two quickly become inseparable. From hence forth, the two will be rivals and best friends. Over the next seventeen years, the two are taught a style of Ansatsuken that does not utilize killing, and it suits them each well.
1984: "R" is formed, both as Rugal's alias to the world, and as his black market organization.
1986: Wolfgang Krauser, still a young man at the time, slays his father in 'honorable single combat' at the Strolheim family castle. Krauser, in accordance to the Strolheim family rules, becomes the new head of the family.
1988: Go Hibiki, the most talented Muay Thai fighter since Sagat came to power, challenges the Emperor to a duel. Sagat accepts. Sagat, though outclassing his opponent, is complacent and overconfident. After ten minutes of fighting, the careless Sagat is struck in the eye, losing his sight. So enraged by this, Sagat loses control and utterly brutalizes Go in the ring. Go later dies of his injuries in front of his teenage son, Dan Hibiki.
Hungering for vengeance, Dan seeks out a master to complete the training his father never would. He eventually finds Gouken and his two students. Sensing great willpower in the boy, Gouken agrees to take him in.
1989: Gouken begins to realize that Dan, if trained to fight, will only use his power for vengeance. He refuses to train Dan further until he gives up that goal. Dan does not, and leaves to develop his own style of martial arts, Saikyo-Ryuu. And thus, a legend is born.
1989: Geese Howard's rise to power amongst the crime rings in Japan is nearly complete, and has been going on for at least the last decade, anyway. Southtown, Japan, becomes his base of operations.
1989: Gedo High founded. The school, aimed at reforming delinquent youngsters, instead becomes a nest of criminal activity. Gedo High becomes the heart of Southtown's youth gang problem, but because of their numbers and power, little can be done.
1990: The Imawano Ninja Clan, which has existed since its creation behind the scenes, manipulating events throughout Japan, changes leaders. With the death of its previous leader, the heir, Mugen Imawano, ascends to command. He is extreme in his beliefs, labeling ideas like 'love' and 'friendship' as things which simply induce tolerance of evil. He longs to eradicate these things in future generations. To this end, he decides to train one of his two sons, Hyo, to become his successor.
Shortly after Mugen takes command, his younger brother, Raizo Imawano, who shares a similar, but less extreme, ideal, flees from the clan. He believes that educating youngsters to create a generation of brilliant and moralistic young men and women is the key to eradicating evil. To this end, he begins to accumulate the funds to begin Project Justice, better manifested as Justice High School.
Justice High School is founded later that year. Fearing reprisal from his clan for his actions, Raizo hides his wife, Shizuku, and young son, Batsu, away.
1991: Tung Fu Rue, currently teaching Hakyokusaken to both Geese Howard and Jeff Bogard, discovers Geese's connections to organized crime. He spurns Geese as a student, instead opting to teach Jeff Bogard the final techniques of the Hakyokusaken style. Geese, enraged by this, gathers some of his henchmen and attacks both Tung and Jeff, killing them before Jeff's training can be completed. Terry Bogard is left to grow up on the streets of Southtown, getting into numerous street fights to improve himself. His brother Andy Bogard flees to the Shiranui dojo in a remote region of Japan, and begins training there.
1993: Krauser recruits Lawrence Blood, and begins considering who else to add to the House of Strolheim's ranks of fighters.
1994: Rugal's group encounters the Ikari Warriors in an African jungle, as the Ikaris have been hired to intercept a drug shipment meant for "R." Rugal's group kills much of the Ikari Warriors there, and Rugal himself eliminates their current CO. Heidern becomes the new CO as the devastated merc unit retreats. Months later, Rugal attacks Heidern's family and kills them, as well as destroying one of Heidern's eyes before Heidern manages to repel him.
1995: Ikari Warriors begin rebuilding and shift their focus of operations to oppose groups like "R" and Shadaloo. Clark and Ralf are recruited to the group and soar through the ranks. Later this year, they prove they are bad enough dudes to rescue the President of America.
1996 - Art of Fighting 1 (Game: Adaptation of Art of Fighting) - Southtown
Aside from a date change, this is essentially a retelling of Art of Fighting with a few changes. Geese has kidnapped Yuri Sakazaki and uses her life as a bargaining tool to convince Takuma to become "Mr. Karate." Takuma agrees, donning a Tengu Mask to conceal his identity, and works for the Syndicate as an enforcer against his will.
A week later, Ryo and Robert take matters into their own hands. Robert heads off to find clues about where Takuma has vanished to, and Ryo to find clues about where Yuri is being held. Their method of finding clues was a sector by sector beatdown of the various criminal scum in Southtown.
Of note, Ryo defeated Ryuhaku Todo, prompting the elder Todo to quit the Syndicate and flee Japan while he reconsidered what direction his life was going in. Ryo also beat King, who was impressed by his behavior and passed on what she knew from drunken Syndicate patrons blabbing things to her.
Robert on the other hand is stuck facing mostly the 'pure scum' of the Syndicate. Eventually he bashes enough heads in that he comes across someone who recalled that Mr. Karate fights with a style similar to Robert's, and that Mr. Karate is currently guarding a warehouse in preparation for a drug deal.
Robert and Ryo meet up at the exact same warehouse, and deal with the various thugs there. Mr. Big and Mr. Karate confront them, but Mr. Karate is secretly holding back and hoping to lose, giving Robert and Ryo the chance to beat these more experienced fighters. Yuri breaks loose of where she was being held in the warehouse, unmasks Mr. Karate to reveal Takuma, and they all go home happy. Syndicate reprisal against them is mild; Geese sends a gang or two to their dojo, then loses interest as he had outright expected to lose Mr. Karate somewhere down the line.
Winner: None, this was not a tournament.
1997: A very quiet year for the most part, as far as 'SNK' timeline goes. King of Fighters '97 happened, and Billy Kane won, but not many notable people entered it to begin with, so this was no surprise.
1998 - Daigo Kazama enters Gedo High as a Freshman. One by one, the wild gangs of Gedo High fall under his control, and peace is established. Unfortunately, Gedo's negative reputation persists despite Daigo's reforms.
1998 - King of Fighters '98 (Game: Adaptation of Fatal Fury, i.e. KoF '92)
Southtown
Terry and Andy reunite, feeling the time is right to get revenge on Geese for killing their father. They enter King of Fighters '98, and befriend Joe Higashi in his first major tournament debut. Joe loses to Andy in the quarterfinals, who in turn loses to Terry in the semifinals. Terry beats reigning champion Billy Kane, then proceeds onward to the rooftop of Geese Tower.
Geese presents Terry with a briefcase of prize money, though Terry hotly kicks it off the edge of the roof and challenges Geese to a fight. Geese arrogantly accepts. Fifteen minutes later, a last-ditch Power Geyser by Terry sends Geese over the edge of the roof. Geese is presumed dead, and hospital records are edited to reflect this to keep his enemies from looking for him. In actuality, Geese is alive and flees Southtown to train and recover from his wounds.
Winner: Terry Bogard.
1999 - Street Fighter/World Warrior
Finally, Ryu and Ken's training will be put to the test. Deemed ready to test their skills by their master, Ken is dispatched to the US Martial Arts championship, seeking to prove himself in his homeland. He easily makes it into the final round, tearing through a number of less than notable fighters. At the same, the long-standing champion of the US Martial Arts Championship, Charlie, defeats Robert Garcia, thus preventing the destined match between Ken and Robert. Moving into the final round, Ken and Charlie square off. In a dramatic battle, the two match one another hit for hit. The battle finally ends when Ken, with a flurry of rapid Hadokens, breaks through Charlie's Sonic Boom for a knockout, thus ending Charlie's long reign as the greatest American martial artist.
Winner: Ken
Meanwhile, all the way around the world, Sagat, Emperor of Muay Thai for decades, has finally chosen to prove to the entire world that he was not only a Muay Thai God, but the powerful fighter of all time. To this end, he hosts the first 'World Warrior' tournament, an open competition where any fighters capable of qualifying competed against one another.
Aware of the impressive strength of Sagat, as well as the global status of the competition, Ryu selected the World Warrior tournament to be his debut. He had little hopes to win; He wished only to test his abilities against a diverse background of fighters, having fought only Ken up until that point. He was in for a surprise.
With backgrounds hailing from all walks of life, the competition with a few fighters standing out among the rest. In the earliest rounds of competition, Joe Higashi and Adon, the personal student of Sagat himself, clash. The Muay Thai battle concludes with Adon managing a marginal victory. However, a number of fighters advance into the final rounds -- Ryu, who comes from out of nowhere with a series of exciting wins. Gen, defeating a recent Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, Goro Daimon, also secures a position against Andy Bogard. His brother, Terry, fresh off of the win at the King of Fighters tournament which propelled him into fame, is set to face Ryu after demolishing renowned boxer M. Bison in the earlier round with a Rising Tackle.
The battle between Gen and Andy is best described as one-sided. Far more experienced, Gen sustains only a few hits from Andy before ending the fight with the Zan Ei. However, almost as soon as Andy hit the ground, Gen himself collapsed. It was learned that Gen was suffering from a fatal disease, and required immediate medical attention. The match was declared a draw, and neither advanced.
With both Andy and Gen removed, Ryu and Terry faced one another for the right to challenge Sagat. Terry, having more experience with diverse fighters than Ryu, initially seems to have the upper hand. However, despite taking heavy damage early on, Ryu refused to give in. As he counter-attacked with his Tatsumaki, nearly knocking Terry off his feet, Sagat watched on, intrigued with both combatants. As Ryu adjusted to Terry's bizarre hybrid fighting style, the two gradually evened out. The battle finally concluded when Ryu managed to leap over Terry's ace in the hole, the Power Geyser, to unleash his Shoryuken from behind. After the fight, which could easily have gone either way, Ryu helps Terry up, as the Hungry Wolf departs on good terms, not in the least displeased that he lost, especially after the battle he enjoyed.
After spending a day recovering, the entire world tunes in for the final round of the World Warrior tournament. Rumor spread that the young, unknown fighter may manage to defeat the Emperor of Muay Thai. Having developed a tremendous fanbase with his underdog style, Ryu and Sagat finally squared off, with the entire world anticipating Ryu's victory.
Except that, from the outset of the fight, Sagat seemed too much for Ryu. With a distinct upper hand, Sagat tore into the younger fighter with relatively few, but crippling attacks. Ryu managed to land a great deal of hits, but being the titan that he is, the Muay Thai God was easily able to sustain the damage.
Performing fantastically, in spite of his losing status, Ryu was finally sent to the floor when Sagat plowed into him with one bone-crushing kick. Having finally proven, both to himself to the world, that he was superior, Sagat stretched out his hand to Ryu moments before the round would have ended, to help him up.
It was here that Ryu saw the way to victory - All he needed to do was lash out with a Shoryuken, with Sagat's guard down. Up until that point, neither Ryu or Ken fought with the intent to kill motivating their attacks. However, if he wanted to win, all that was required of Ryu was that he kill Sagat.
Burning with newfound power, Ryu surged forth with the Metsu Shoryuken, tearing into Sagat's side right up to his breast on the opposite side of his torso. Ryu nearly tore Sagat apart, sending him flying out of ring and showering it in blood. Collapsing immediately afterwards, Ryu awoke to find himself the World Warrior champion, but covered in the blood of his opponent. Both horrified and proud at the same time, Ryu left the moment he heard that Sagat would survive, returning back to Japan to meet with Ken.
Sagat, after awakening from a week long coma, realized that he, the Emperor of Muay Thai, had been defeated. Not only by an utter unknown, but with a cheap shot like that. Enraged beyond belief, he swore vengeance, and immediately began to develop new techniques designed specifically to counteract the key arts of Ansatsuken.
Winner: Ryu
1999 - King of Fighters '99 (Games: Adaptation of Fatal Fury 2 and Special)
Various Locations Worldwide
Krauser takes over KoF and hosts it this year. His intents are two-fold: He wants to find viable candidates to join the House of Strolheim, and especially to meet Terry Bogard, the first man to ever defeat Geese in a straight fight.
Thanks to Krauser hand-picking who would be invited to the tournament, it is an all-star cast this year. Fan favorite Mai Shiranui loses early on to a massive thrashing at the hands of Takuma Sakazaki, although Saishu Kusanagi narrowly defeats the Kyokugen founder in the next round. Terry faces off against Saishu in the semi-finals, and manages a close win over the elder Kusanagi.
Krauser fights Terry the next day, and almost everyone who possibly can be near a TV during this, chooses to watch. They're treated to a neck and neck match, though Terry's attempt to smash into Krauser with an Overshoot Geyser is met with a Kaiser Wave at the last second. The effect is not unlike having a train smash into Terry, and he sails back a good thirty yards, unconscious. He gets back up a few minutes later, and finds Krauser congratulating him on a good match. Krauser also offers to let Terry join Strolheim, though Terry declines, saying he has his own path to follow. Each departs with a deep admiration and respect for the other.
Winner: Wolfgang Krauser
1999 - Final Fight
Metro City, one of the largest cities in North America, has come under the control of the powerful Mad Gear Gang, headed up by a man named Belger. Vowing to destroy Mad Gear, Mike Haggar, former pro-wrestler, is elected mayor. However, in order to eliminatae the threat posed by the new mayor, Mad Gear thugs kidnap his daughter, Jessica. This is, more likely than not, the single greatest mistake anyone has ever made in the history of crime.
When the authorities are unable to recover Jessica, Haggar teams up with her boyfriend, Cody, and a stranger, a Bushin student named Guy, who is dedicated to fighting evil in all its forms, to get her back his way. This involves systematically beating the crap out of Mad Gear's top thugs, including Katana and Rolento, who was still a member of Mad Gear at the time. Eventually, the trio reaches Belger in his skyscraper, the base of his operations, and Mike Haggar throws him out the window. With Jessica rescued, all seems well, until Cody leaves--Though Mad Gear was crippled, he couldn't allow himself to give up until they were all defeated.
2000 - Fatal Fury 3 (Game: Adaptation of Fatal Fury 3) - Southtown
Geese Howard comes out of hiding to take back 'his' city, Southtown. He meets a little opposition from various crimebosses who've taken his place, but the Syndicate quickly welcomed their leader back once a few of these usurpers were flung off of the rooftop of Geese Tower, with far more fatal results than what met Geese when he took the plunge.
The Syndicate immediately takes to the attack, in a sweeping effort to remove every last do-gooder that flocked to the city after Geese's "demise." Several fighters and law enforcement agents are ambushed over the next few days, with Geese himself participating in a few attacks.
Geese is visited at his rooftop office one day by the Jin brothers, Chonshu and Chonrei. They demand he return of the "Scrolls of Immortality" stolen by Geese from the Jin family. Geese refuses, and a fight breaks out. Geese wins, and flings the unconscious Jins off the roof, followed by a Shippuken to make them fall all the faster. They hit the street below and the Jin family is ended with their demise.
A mere two minutes later, Terry Bogard storms onto the rooftop as well and confronts Geese. Furious at seeing many of his friends injured in cowardly ambushes over the last few days, Terry resolves to eliminate Geese. After five minutes of brutal fighting, a bruised and beaten-up Terry lands a jumpkick on the exhausted Geese, sending him over the edge of the roof too. Geese apparently had mastered something from the Scrolls of Immortality however, as he dies... then is resurrected an hour later by their power.
Unfortunately for Geese, the power of the scrolls is exhausted; he'll have to survive any more "fatal encounters" on his own, like he did with the first fall off a rooftop.
Loser: The street and road right along Geese Tower probably didn't look too good after seven lesser crimelords, the Jins, and Geese Howard all made their impacts on it.
Winner: The concrete industry probably got a few extra bucks for all the road and street repaving that had to be done. As far as fighters go, no winner. This sequence of events was not a tournament.
2000 - After Fatal Fury 3 (No videogame equivalent)
Rugal manages to track down the island off the coast of Japan where the Orochi's seal is maintained. After defeating its guardian, Chizuru, Rugal partially breaks the seal and absorbs what power he can before Goenitz shows up and attacks him. Goenitz destroys Rugal's right eye, but Rugal is currently riding the wave of the power he absorbed, and repels Goenitz. Exhausted, Rugal departs before a re-energized Chizuru can finish him off.
Chizuru begins considering ways to reinforce the seal, or perhaps destroy Orochi forever, as the seal has been weakened several times already throughout history. News of this incident never gets out to the world at large.
2000: Mugen Imawano dies, but not before leaving his legacy in the hands of Hyo, who becomes the leader. Using his own techniques to brainwash his son, he instills his virtues in the boy, to extend his mission beyond the grave. Hyo promptly enters Justice High, which has yet to be destroyed by the Imawano Ninjas. Unaware of his brainwashing, he begins to make plans to use the school as the vehicle of his father's own plans.
2000 - Final Fight Revenge
NOTE: Final Fight Revenge is an obscure Sega Saturn game. Some of the events within it help explain the Final Fight's cast transition to the events of Alpha 2 and 3, and are being upheld as part of MotM's storyline. Other things are patently absurd, like "Zombie Belger", and those AREN'T part of our story.
Cody, Haggar, and Guy clean up the Mad Gear gang, as the few remaining members struggle to piece it back together. Also during this time, Rolento, a militaristic man, decides to leave Mad Gear behind and start his own private army, to create his own state. It is suspected that this is really simply more of a way for him to prove himself better than his long-time rival, Heidern, and his Ikari Warriors.
2000 - Final Fight 2
The final remnants of the Mad Gear once again attempt to make a comeback under a new leader, Retu, after being kept alive by Katana. To this end, they once again attempt to manipulate their greatest enemies, kidnapping Genryusai, a Bushin Master, and his daughter Rena, fiance of Guy. Rather displeased by this, Mike Haggar takes to the streets with Maki and Carlos, a boarder who decides to help out, and eventually throws Retu out a window to his violent death. Guy was not able to participate, being half-way around the world and training, and did not even learn of the events until things were resolved. Cody, meanwhile, had been arrested under false charges placed by his old enemy Edi. E, corrupt police detective.
2000 - Street Fighter Alpha 2
Upon returning home to Japan at the end of the year, Ryu--still struggling to understand how he won at the World Warrior tournament--and Ken return to the old dojo to find a horrible sight...the dojo in ruins, and Gouken slain. Near the blasted dojo, they find a young girl. Terrified, she shakily describes what had happened--someone, a demon, had killed Goutetsu. She had come to Gouken's dojo to tell him of the news, only to discover that the demon had followed her. She was barely able to survive, as the demon showed enormous fighting ability and power. Eventually, Ken and Ryu take the girl to a neighboring village, then set out on their quest for this so-called 'demon'.
Departing home, the two warriors decide to split up and search the globe for the mystery fighter. They are aided by stories of a black demon who shows up to challenge great fighters, invariably killing them in combat. However, as Ryu and Ken are hot on the trail, other events are rapidly unfolding around the world.
Finally recovered, Sagat is consumed with rage for Ryu, and the cheap manner in which he had been defeated. His student, Adon, is so enraged with his master, who embarassed the entire Muay Thai style, that he challenges him. Sagat, so infuriated that he cannot focus to fight, is narrowly defeated, but only after his Tiger Genocide tears into Adon, leaving the new 'Emperor of Muay Thai' to spend nearly a month on his new throne in a full body cast. Disgraced both by Ryu and Adon, Sagat leaves, hungry to attain revenge any way he can. He finds, to greet him... Vega.
After thirty years of preparation in secret, Vega and Shadaloo are nearly ready to make their move. The key to this? The 'Psycho Drive' a device supposedly capable of making Vega utterly invincible. Having remained hidden via bribery, among other methods, Shadaloo is almost prepared to emerge... But for the first time in its history, forces around the globe are slowly moving into place to oppose him.
The foremost of these was a man named Charlie, one of the US Air Force's top pilots. Strongly opposed to injustice, his independent investigations into drug trafficking in and near many of the theaters of combat where he had served all lead back to one word: 'Shadaloo'. Unable to shed further light on the subject, his superiors refused to allow him to investigate further. Sensing something amiss, and unable to simply allow things to continue, Charlie and his most loyal men went vigilante, going against orders to stage their own investigation, with or without approval. Taking with them a small amount of military hardware, the team left the base for foriegn territories, on the trail of Vega and Shadaloo.
Almost immediately, the military dispatched the one man best suited for the task of bringing Charlie back: Guile, one of his subordinates and the top student of Charlie's self-designed style of martial arts. Guile travels the globe in search of Charlie and his men, unsure of his commander and friend's motives, but unwilling to disobey the orders he had been given.
Simultaneously, Chun-Li, female martial artist extraordinaire and top agent of Interpol, also discovers signs pointing to the mysterious Shadaloo--all of which are ignored by her superiors. As equally unwilling to accept this as Charlie, she goes against orders and begins her own investigation. Eventually, she hears word of Charlie and his organization's work, and seeks them out in order to cooperate to achieve similar goals. Charlie and Chun-Li, now partners, split up to follow Vega's scent.
In two separate events, the duo catch up to Vega - shortly one after the other, in Thailand, Shadaloo's base of operations. Chun-Li manages to reach him first, challenging Vega directly. However, she is beaten badly by Vega's Psycho Power, but Vega allows her to live. As he flies off in his chopper, he informs Chun-Li that he recognizes her as the daughter of a man he killed long ago. Shocked, but too wounded to go after the Shadaloo leader, Chun-Li swears vengeance.
However, on his journey across Thailand, his chopper is intercepted as a swarm of energy attacks bombard its rotors, crashing it--Charlie, too, had finally come head to head with Vega. As the two battle, he fares far better, aided by the fatigue that Vega had sustained battling Chun-Li as well as his own talents. An almost completely even battle, Charlie finally corners Vega, ready to deliver the killing blow... When a second chopper arrives, this one bearing a US Air Force insignia. And, even more surprising, it takes aim at Charlie, and not Vega! Staring the helicopter in the face, Charlie's end is virtually assured... Until a second volley of Sonic Booms impact the chopper, crashing it before it fired a shot. Guile, who had been sent to -stop- Charlie, emerges. Incapable of dealing with his superiors' orders, he, too, had gone vigilante. But by the time the duo is ready to face Vega together, he is already aboard a third chopper, flying off to fight another day. The two are left to their own devices, to rendevous with Chun-Li and plot their next move.
Ryu, who has made more progress in tracking down his master's killer than Ken, eventually follows his final lead to Gokuentou. Exploring one of the deepest caves on the island, he finds himself in what looks like some sort of home...and is, for the first time, confronted with Gouki, his master's killer. Swearing revenge, Ryu immediately challenges Gouki, only to be soundly defeated by his opponent...who, furthermore, claims to have held back. However, Gouki allows Ryu to live, informing him that he senses the Satsu No Hadou in him--the killing intent key to the true power of Ansatsuken. Gouki coldly encourages Ryu to bring out this power, the same one that had defeated Sagat, believing that with it, Ryu may prove a challenge for him at last. With that, he demonstrates his power...by destroying the entire island with one stroke. Left floating in the ocean, Ryu is left to wonder of the evil that lurks inside himself. Desperate for answers, once more sets off in search of Gouki.
2001 - King Of Fighters 2001 (Games: Adaptation of KoF '94 and KoF '95)
Various Locations Worldwide
Rugal Bernstein storms into Strolheim Castle and attacks Wolfgang Krauser. Still at 'Omega' power from having just recently siphoned and partially unsealing Orochi power, Rugal manages a marginal win over Krauser, though Lawrence Blood manages to repel the injured Rugal afterwards, saving Krauser's life. Using his wealth gained from his prominence in the global black market, Rugal hosts KoF 2K1, and adds the Team Combat rules to the tournament.
Team Japan is one of the most hotly contested spots, a mini-tournament being held to determine its roster. Goro Daimon loses to Benimaru Nikaido in the semi-finals, but defeats the other semi-finals loser to place 3rd. Kyo Kusanagi, in his first tournament ever, defeats Benimaru by a fair margin, though it would not be accurate to say it was a one-sided battle. This is where Shingo Yabuki first learns of Kyo, who would soon become Shingo's idol and hero.
Team Mexico defeats Team England in round 2, much to the dismay of Kasumi, who had entered in hopes of defeating the Kyokugen fighters and avenging her father's defeat at their hands several years ago. While she fails to get her revenge, and to this day holds a grudge against the Kyokugen dojo, Ryuhaku is deeply moved at seeing his daughter fighting in an international tournament and returns home to reunite with her, and the two have gotten along wonderfully ever since.
Team China, consisting of the Psycho Soldiers, loses about midway in but Athena becomes an overnight success, using publicity gained in KoF to launch a second career as an idol singer.
Team Japan defeats Team Russia, consisting of Iori, BlueMary (hired by Geese through 'dummy' corporations), and Billy, in the semi-finals. This meeting would herald the start of the rivalry between Kyo and Iori. Iori nearly killed Mary and Billy in a fit of rage towards his "useless teammates", though stumbling last-ditch efforts on their part manage to repel him, barely. Mary finds out she's been duped into working for the Syndicate, and promptly cancels her contract with her employers.
Team Japan narrowly wins the final round, and Rugal promptly invites them onto his airship, the Black Noah, to award Team Japan their prize. After they received it, he challenged them to a final match: Himself and a recently abducted and brainwashed Saishu Kusanagi vs. Team Japan, in KoF Team Combat rules. He would not let them leave unless they won, and if they lost, they would become bronze statues for his growing collection of excellent fighters Rugal had defeated.
Team Japan needed little further inspiration. They accepted the match on the spot. It eventually came down to Kyo vs. Rugal. Even as all hope seems lost, Rugal suddenly collapses to one knee, as Orochi power in him visibly fades. Seconds later, the loss of power stops; he still has some of it in him, but is no longer at "Omega" level. Kyo ends the battle with an Orochinagi, and Team Japan leaves. Saishu is freed from the mental control Rugal had over him, due to the trauma Rugal took from both losing some of his power, and eating an Orochinagi. He returns home with Kyo.
Winner: Kyo, Benimaru, and Goro Daimon as Team Japan. They disbanded shortly afterwards however.
2001 - Rival Schools
Hyo Imawano has not only been able to ascend to the head of the Student Council at Justice High, but he is also its greatest student. In the shadows, however, he has been at work, bringing the entire school under his control. Utilizing his brainwashing techniques, he takes command of the entire staff and student body, and goes ahead with the kidnapping of youth throughout Japan. Those deemed suitable to join Justice High are kidnapped and brought into the ranks, mentally controlled. Here, he instills a hatred of love, friendship, and evil (which he views as all under the same umbrella), and prepares to take over Japan with his developing army. His only non-brainwashed ally is Kyosuke Kagami, his brother, who works with him in selecting suitable students.
More than able to conceal his actions from the proper authorities, the only thing that stands in Hyo's way are his own victims: The students, unwilling to sit and watch as they disappear one by one, stage their own fight. They come from throughout the area, drawn to Justice High. The only school which had not fallen victim to kidnappings, but instead grew in size, Justice High was the prime suspect.
Daigo Kazama, leader of Gedo High, investigates the occurences on his own. He journeys to Justice High School, to confront the source of the disappearances. He comes head to head with Hyo Imawano. After a duel, Daigo is defeated. He is quickly taken prisoner, and held there.
Seeking his mother Shizuku, who disappeared as well, Batsu Ichimonji transfers to Taiyo High School, in order to get closer to Justice High School. He was joined by Kyosuke Kagami, who decided to pretend to assist him in order to keep tabs on his progress, and the progress of other groups investigating Justice High's activities. They were on their own; Many of those who would otherwise rally to their cause were busy with their own matters. This was the students' problem... And they would find the spirit to solve it, on their own.
Tensions came to a head in a final confrontation between Hyo and the students who had, one by one, found their way to Justice High. Holding them off with his legion of brainwashed staff and students, Hyo is shocked to see the incredible power they receive when working together, as friends--something blatantly in conflict with what he expected to be true. Prejudices and rivalries placed aside, one after the other, begin to buckle the fierce mental brainwashing Mugen had placed on his son. Seeing setbacks, hatreds, and other issues be dealt with in the spirit of cooperation had a noticeable effect.
The mind-controlled Raizo was defeated after reuniting with his long lost son, Batsu. Roy Bromwell, who despised the Japanese, overcame his racism to assist his students for the common good. Even Gedo High, which Hyo viewed as a nest of criminal activity, proved to Hyo their true nature. The final straw came when he was confronted by his own brother, Kyosuke Kagami. Kyosuke, having seen the camaraderie and friendship of the students, could no longer stand to work with his brother, no matter how much he cared for him. The two fought, but Hyo could not devote himself to the battle; He was torn. With this advantage, Kyosuke defeated Hyo, shattering Hyo's brainwashing completely. Hyo, too, had an epiphany. He followed in Raizo's footsteps, and chose to become a regular student at Justice High.
Following the battle, things returned to normal. Kyosuke returned to Taiyo High with his newfound friends. Shizuku, Batsu's mother, had been kidnapped by her husband, but released once his brainwashing was cured. Raizo decided to try Project Justice a second time, free of the Imawano Clan's interference. Even Roy Bromwell, who had once hated his Japanese classmates, finally came to be at peace with those around him. Daigo, as well, was rescued, though his pride was forever scarred. Things seemed to be peaceful, once again.
2002: Early in the year, a gang known as "Skull Cross" began rioting in Metro City, a ruse to draw police attention onto the streets while the gang's stronger members attacked the city jail and liberated many of the inmates, including some of their previously arrested leaders. Mayor Mike Haggar, Maki, Carlos, and Guy are joined by Lucia, and then Dean, in cleaning up the city of this criminal menace. Already quite experienced at it, this band of crimefighters quickly plows through Skull Cross forces, and order returns to the city. The lingering remnants of the Skull Cross gang are recruited into Mad Gear by Katana.
In the shadows, however, dark forces once more cluster around Justice High. With Hyo and Kyosuke having betrayed the Imawano Clan, the Imawano Clan underwent radical changes. Renaming themselves the Darkside Society Organization, they sought to finally eliminate all those who knew of their existence: Batsu, Kyosuke, Raizo, and Hyo.
To achieve this, they assigned their greatest ninja, Kurow Kirishima, to do the task. However, Kurow was not content with simply being an underling. Working against his superiors, Kurow aligned himself with Shadaloo in secret, intending to use them as a stepping stone to true power. As Shadaloo utilized his information to wipe out the Darkside Society Organization, he began to set his own plans into motion: To repeat Hyo's plot to take over Japan. This time, however, he intends to first turn all the schools that once stood against Justice High against one another.
In exchange for Shadaloo's aid, he promises to supply them with the best students Justice High has to offer, once he has it under his control. He erects the Darkside Student Congress to further his goals, but remains in the shadows, having yet to make his first move.
Meanwhile, Shadaloo's work on the 'Psycho Drive' progresses at a suitable pace. Vega begins to suspect that his Psycho Power will soon surpass the limits of his own body, and begins searching for a suitable replacement...
Early 2003: IC play begins.
(Note: Most background events can be assumed to happen during 2002. Athena's had a few successful singing tours, Shingo's gotten rather half-hearted training from Kyo, and so forth. Chances are if it's part of the character, and it didn't happen in a previous theme listing, it happened during 2002 or at whatever time common sense suggests.)