Diehard

Sunday July 2 2000. As if the civil war in Shadaloo couldn't be bad enough, warlord General Manuelo 'M' Bison has brought about global warfare by taking 63 Allied Nations relief workers hostage, and demanding for their release not only a $20 billion ransom - but also the surrender of an elusive female foe of his codenamed 'Deadeye', whose identity he is still yet to know no more than he knows just why he somehow detected her at conception to be his greatest threat. With her in his grasp, he will at last determine her penalty for opposition - whether to face execution, or force her to marry one of his loyalists... if not marry her himself.

Colonel William F Guile, commander of all AN forces stationed in Shadaloo, is already making preparations for a rescue mission - even while, as we speak, his troops are currently in the process of skirmishing Shadaloo City in order to free it from Bison's grasp. With regard to that skirmish, so far so good - it all appears to be going in Guile's favour.

But taking those poor hostages is a mere scratch compared to a much greater heartache also in preparation. Especially with the demands for Deadeye's surrender, Bison's forces are now making preparations to reveal the beautiful true colours of and surrender to Bison the kindly matador-turned-cage-fighter Vega Fabio de Cerna, currently aged 23, so he too can be executed - and the heartless boxer Balrog and his equally-as-vicious wife Mod Soul can taunt Vega with THAT COMMENT which has indeed incurred the wrath of Vega, his friends and his fans yes including the AN. Leading this heartache is Bison's principal arms supplier Viktor Sagat, the head of Bison's weapons dealers the Shadaloo Tong.

Needless to say, this heartache does not go down too well with Vega and all those loyal to him. Vega is currently in his quarters at the Tong Warehouse - and much as he wants to aid in the skirmish and then the rescue mission, he feels a sickening tightness in his chest at Sagat's plan. He is holding close to his heart a photo of an incredibly beautiful girl whom he spotted and fell in love with while visiting his fair homeland Spain in 1995, in fact this week will be the fifth anniversary of when he laid his deep, piercing brown eyes on her. He has since vowed to search the world over for her, and make her his wife - and his immediate needs are all too obvious. As strong as he may be, soft tears fall down his eyes, landing on the girl in the photo.

Vega: My mysterious beauty... if only you were here... I need you right now... only you can...

Guile: Well you'll only have to wait until tomorrow night!

Vega is surprised at this voice, and he turns around only to find Guile standing there. Despite still being shaken at Sagat's plan, he salutes Guile.

Vega: A-at y-your command, Colonel William F Guile SIR!

Guile: At ease, soldier... I sneaked in since Sagat is out at the skirmish...

Guile approaches Vega and hands him a dossier - and Vega's eyes light up. AN forces from around the world are bringing many if not all of those loyal to Vega to Shadaloo, so they, Vega and all other Vega loyalists already here may too take part in the rescue mission, as they too are all sickened at Sagat's plan far more than they are at Bison - and the girl Vega seeks to marry is on the list! She too is sickened at Sagat's plan and through this has realised her true feelings for Vega, only to then learn of his love for her and resulting desire to marry her - and so is more than happy to take part in the rescue mission and then wed this kindly matador! She only asks for Vega to propose and make their engagement official in December, preferably before Christmas; and the wedding -at which Guile himself is to personally officiate- has been scheduled for January 8.

Vega: Oh mi Dios... Colonel Guile, I... I don't know what to say...

Guile: Just take care of her, all right? She needs you too right now, just as much as you need her!

Vega: Oh you don't need to ask twice - tell everyone to begin all necessary preparations right now!

Guile: We're already on it! And yes, your dearest friend Princess Natalie -AKA Deadeye- is on the guest list, and even if Bison learns the truth and so... you know, she vows never to submit to him. She's very sorry to hear about the plan, and is more than willing to lend us her electric powers to help rescue those hostages! Bison still doesn't suspect a thing about her, I'm happy to report...

Vega: Make sure she gets a prison cell as near as possible to the luxury cell! In fact, why not invite her to help out with the romantic candle-lit dinner for my princess and me?

Guile: You can count on it! See you tomorrow night, Vega!

Vega and Guile salute each other once more, as Guile slips away. Vega yodels in delight, and falls back onto his bed and tightly hugs the photo of his beautiful girl.

Vega: (places four kisses on the photo!) Mi amor... gracias por su amor y apoyo!

Little does he yet realise, though, just as everybody hoped his best friend and his true love are one in the same! The girl -Natalie- is dressed as she is in Vega's photo, and is in her room at an abandoned farmhouse in Puerto Rico while the AN troops gathered there and any others taking part in the rescue mission pack up her belongings to transport them to hers and Vega's fair homeland Spain. She is practicing her special Street Fighter 'entrance' set to Europe's most famous hit song The Final Countdown -which she personally popularised as a potential theme for the hated bastard Bison- so, if Bison himself so requires it, she can make the entrance for him.

At all times, though... she holds in one hand the very rose which Vega tossed high into the air just minutes after he spotted and fell for her... so, as is indeed the case, it can eventually land in her possession when the time is right for her to know he loves her. After another practice of the entrance, and she simply enjoys listening to The Final Countdown...

Natalie: ...Ahhh, yes... that's right, that's got it...

She dances to the song... until an AN trooper enters in...

AN trooper: Princess Natalie! It's time!

Natalie simply quietly nods, and follows the trooper out with a gentle smile on her face. She knows, within 24 hours... she will at last meet the one man she truly loves - and for their first official date, they shall aid the noble Colonel Guile in rescuing those poor hostages...