Who would win if [[Franchise/StreetFighter Ryu]] were to battle [[Franchise/MortalKombat Liu Kang]]?

This is the question a {{Fanfic}} writer known as '''oweaponx''' sought to answer in the late 1990s, with the creation of a CrossOver story pitting all of the characters of ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' and ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' (or at least, of the corresponding games that had been released up to ''Mortal Kombat 4'' and the ''Street Fighter 3'' series) against each other in tournament-style battles where the outcomes were decided by reader voting. Hence, ''The Unofficial MK vs. SF Saga'' was born.

The in-story explanation: In the Street Fighter universe, Akuma manipulates Ryu, Ken, Sakura, Dan, Sagat and Adon into coming to Australia so that he can defeat them all and prove himself the strongest. At the same time, a U.N.-sanctioned military strike is planned against Shadowloo's base of operations in Thailand, commandeered by Guile with assistance from Chun Li, E. Honda, and T. Hawk; however, the planned assault is intercepted by Bison and his forces.

Meanwhile, in the Mortal Kombat universe, Shang Tsung is gathering the various ninja warriors together in a plot to overthrow Shao Kahn. Simultaneously, Liu Kang and several of his fellow Earth-realm warriors team up with Kitana, Raiden and Fujin to prepare for a raid on Kahn's fortress in Outworld; unfortunately, this venture causes them to inadvertently run into an extermination squad led by Kahn himself. A brawl immediately ensues, only to be further complicated when Tsung appears with his assembled ninjas.

Before any of the mentioned scenarios can play themselves out fully, however, from out of nowhere bright auras erupt and consume the warriors of both worlds, causing them to briefly collide. The ensuing fight is swiftly stopped before it can begin, by the one who brought them all there in the first place--a being known simply as the Alpha-Omega.

Once it has everyone's attention, and has summoned all the remaining fighters from each side to the congregation site, Alpha-Omega explains that it has brought all of them together to participate in a single-elimination tournament, to determine which of them, from either side, is the absolute best warrior. The prize? Only the final winner at the end of the contest will know what it is, but all that is known for the moment is that it is a prize that men would willingly kill to attain.

And thus, the tournament begins. But while it progresses, alliances will be made, grudges will be formed and resolved, secrets will be revealed...and the reason for the Alpha-Omega's decision to bring both sides together in the first place will eventually be unveiled...

The story can be accessed [[http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/gfd/mksf/mksfindex.htm here]].

NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the animations "''WebAnimation/MortalKombatVsStreetFighter''".

'''WARNING: Spoilers abound.'''

!!Tropes present in ''The Unofficial MK vs. SF Saga'':
* AboveGoodAndEvil: The Alpha-Omega's claim about itself. This allows it to be fair and impartial when refereeing the matches.
* AsideComment: Done in Chapter 18 by the Alpha-Omega, after Fujin complains that he hasn't had his first-round match as yet despite the final match being announced (prematurely).
--> '''Alpha-Omega:''' Oops! Hmmm. It looks like I left that one out. I did say I was everything - including prone to mistakes (or at least a certain absent-minded writer is).
* AxCrazy: A number of the evil characters on both sides.
* BackFromTheDead: The Alpha-Omega resurrects several fighters from both sides who had been dead prior to the tournament, in order to participate. [[spoiler:All those who died during the tournament are resurrected at the end of it as well]].
* BadBoss: Bison. During Guile and Charlie's mutual flashback in Chapter 9, a Shadowloo rifleman shoots Charlie in an attempt to rescue Bison. The response? Bison breaks the rifleman's neck and leaves the body behind.
* BerserkButton: Several examples abound among various characters in the story.
** Just the mere mention of Ryu or of how he scarred Sagat is enough to get the former Muay Tai king into a rage. (Of course, this was ''before'' the eventual {{Retcon}} that established Sagat as [[HeelFaceTurn having buried his hatred for Ryu]].)
** Bison serves as one for both [[ItsPersonal Guile]] and [[YouKilledMyFather Chun Li]], as Street Fighter veterans will know already.
** ''Do not'' call Blanka a freak. ''EVER''. [[spoiler:MK-1 Reptile gets ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice because of it]].
** Guy will not tolerate his fighting style or his master being ridiculed.
** Kitana does not take kindly to having Shao Kahn referred to as her father.
** Shao Kahn himself does not take betrayal well.
* BerserkerRage: Fei Long, during his fight with Stryker in Chapter 12, and later against MK-Trilogy Jade in Chapter 22. [[spoiler:He drops out of the tournament [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone out of guilt]] as a result]].
** Also Necro in Chapter 17, after Quan Chi mocks his girlfriend during their fight.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Cammy, who in this story is still an agent of Shadowloo, and Sindel, who is portrayed as being loyal to Kahn. Both get better.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler:Cyber-Akuma]], brought in to provide an opponent for Fujin.
** There's also a brief cameo by [[spoiler:Wolverine and Captain America]], who were fighting [[spoiler:Cyber-Akuma]] in another reality before the [[RealityWarper Alpha-Omega]] appeared for him.
* CantCatchUp: Yang angrily expresses this view after Yun is defeated by [[ShockAndAwe Raiden]] in Chapter 11.
--> '''Yun:''' This is unfair! How are we supposed to defeat gods, demons, and this sort of crap?!
* CharacterDevelopment: Some of the fighters on both sides get it, others...don't.
* ClothingDamage: Most prominent during the Rose vs. Sindel fight in Chapter 11.
* CombatPragmatist: MK-3 Jax throws a crate at Guile during their fight in Chapter 16.
* CrossOver: Well, yeah.
* CurbStompBattle: Several of the fights turn out this way, including and especially fights against the higher-tier MK warriors like Kintaro or Shinnok. Even ''after'' Alpha-Omega sets up rules that should prevent such fighters from being too powerful and thus domineering their opponents.
* DeadpanSnarker: The Alpha-Omega proves to be this.
* DoubleKnockout: The outcome of several of the matches.
** Sakura vs. Nightwolf in Chapter 12.
** Gill vs. MK-2 Reptile in Chapter 17.
** Tanya vs. Goutetsu in Chapter 18.
** Fujin vs. [[spoiler:Cyber-Akuma]] in Chapter 18.
%%* TheDragon: Sagat for Bison.
%%** DragonWithAnAgenda: Shang Tsung for Shao Kahn.
* EnemyMine: In Chapter 7, the Street Fighters agree to a temporary truce in order to defend themselves against the oncoming Kombatants. [[DeusExMachina Then the Alpha-Omega comes into play]].
--> ''This is one of the many things that Raiden, god of thunder, loved most about the inhabitants of his beloved Earth. Yes they all had their dark sides, and some would even kill in cold-blooded murder to get what they wanted, but they also posses a trait that the beings of most other realms lacked. The beings of Earth could, if even only momentarily, and unwillingly, put aside their feelings, demands, and personal issues aside for the common survival of all. If they were vastly out-manned, they were willing to suck-in their pride so that they could live, and protect others, even if some were doing it for seemingly personal reason.''
* EnergyBeing: The Alpha-Omega.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Regarding [[spoiler:Ryu's feelings for Sakura]]. Even ''Sagat'' can see it.
* EvilCounterpart: Shadow Charlie, Shadow Chun Li, Evil Ryu, X-Sakura and Marvel Ken.
* EvilOverlord: Bison and Shao Kahn, of course.
* FlexibleTourneyRules: Averted; the rules of the competition are very rigid in order to make all the fights as balanced as possible and to avoid outside interference.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: In Chapter 14, the Alpha-Omega gives a cryptic hint to indicate that [[spoiler:the deceased fighters are, in fact, [[NotQuiteDead not]]]].
--> '''Sonya:''' People have died already! Many more will die! I could die!
--> '''Alpha-Omega:''' Maybe, but will you? Perhaps a better question is, [[spoiler:are they]]?
* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: The Alpha-Omega takes on the form of various characters familiar to the fighters in order to referee the matches.
* GenreSavvy: Shao Kahn is aware that sending numerous warriors to attack everyone in his army except himself is a good way to leave him vulnerable to assassination by certain traitorous underlings. Fortunately for him, however, he doesn't ''need'' bodyguards to protect him.
* AGodAmI: Gill declares this to MK-2 Reptile before their battle in Chapter 17.
* GroinAttack: Dee Jay attempts this during his fight with [[TheJuggernaut Kintaro]] in Chapter 17. It works for a while, [[CurbStompBattle but]]...
* HeroicBSOD: Kitana has one shortly after her mother is broken out of her BrainwashedAndCrazy state, only to be hit with LaserGuidedAmnesia afterward.
--> '''Kitana:''' ''(to Liu Kang)'' What can I do to help my mother? Can you tell me anything at all? Has anything like this EVER like this occurred on Earth!?
* HeroicSacrifice: In Chapter 7, Ryu jumps in the way of a lightning bolt directed at Sakura by Rain. Thanks to the Alpha-Omega's intervention moments afterward, he gets better.
** Sakura gets to return the favor later in Chapter 27 [[spoiler:by jumping in the way of Baraka's blade meant for Ryu]].
* HiddenDepths: Dee Jay's ShutUpHannibal speech exemplifies this about him.
* HumansAreBastards: Scorpion expresses this view to Dhalsim prior to their fight in Chapter 11.
--> '''Scorpion:''' Mankind is constantly at war with itself, which is how Khan and Shinnok had been so successful in their attacks. Even when it was obvious that the only chance for survival lay in putting past issues aside to unite and drive them back, the fools still bickered over pointless problems. How many lives would be spared if only the jackasses who are supposed to be in charge would SUCK IN their "pride" and focus on doing what is needed to help those less fortunate? Instead of WASTING their fortunes for their toys, limos, and boats, they should have been using their fortunes to help those who didn't have the reserves when the attacks came. If they would have done that, then the poor would have been more willing to fight against what turns out to be an even darker evil than the ones they faced.
** Also Ermac's speech about humans to Shin Akuma during their fight in Chapter 16.
--> '''Ermac:''' You just right out assume that all creation revolves around you and everything you do. If you see it and like it a lot, you get it in your puny minds that you have to have it. You don't care how you get it, who has to be taken care of, or what has to be done...you get what you want, and to Hell with the rest!
* HumansAreMorons: A view espoused by several of the non-human warriors on the Mortal Kombat side. One example is Rain, as shown in his pre-fight comments to Sean in Chapter 14:
--> '''Rain:''' Typical of you humans. Waste time with idle chatter, especially in the obvious. I don't know what Kitana sees in any of you, or Jade for that matter. You're all weak, and will be dealt with properly.
** Baraka also makes his views on humanity known during his fight with Evil Ryu in Chapter 16:
--> '''Baraka:''' You have to be the dumbest race in existence. You spend so much time focusing on personal issues that you miss the real thing. It's even worse when you focus on personal issues of big people, especially your so-called leaders. Whether they are having affairs, accused of possible murder, or some other crud like that, you spend more time focused on that. It's all a big distraction from the real issues that plague the mindless masses of Earth.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Chun Li makes an appeal to [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Cammy]] before the latter can kill Sonya, urging her to remember who she really is.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[spoiler:The deceased Sakura's spirit aids Chun Li in freeing Ryu from his SuperpoweredEvilSide with ThePowerOfLove, so that both of them can live]].
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Several of the combatants die this way during the tournament. Cammy suffers this as well via a ceiling-hook during her fight with Sonya in Chapter 14 (they're fighting in the Dead Pool stage), but she survives.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Sagat uses ''a cup of coffee'' to blind Noob Saibot in Chapter 34.
* ItsPersonal: Besides the now-famous vendettas unique to each side, Rolento swears he'll get vengeance on Sektor after the cyborg defeats Sodom.
* KillItWithFire: Dhalsim vs. Scorpion in Chapter 11. Also, in Chapter 16, Shin Akuma defeats Ermac using a fire-based technique, ''then'' [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill drops him into the pits of Hell]].
** It's also how Sektor dispatches Rolento in Chapter 25.
* LukeIAmYourFather: In this continuity, [[spoiler:Bison and Rose are brother and sister]]. A variation in that both parties are aware of it, but the rest of the cast (with the possible exception of the Alpha-Omega) and the reader aren't aware of it until TheReveal.
** LukeYouAreMyFather: In this continuity, [[spoiler:Smoke is Scorpion's son]].
* ObliviousToLove: Ryu, much to Sakura's frustration. [[spoiler:Or maybe not...]]
* OhCrap: Birdie's reaction on seeing that Goro is his opponent in Chapter 15.
* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:Sakura breaks Ryu out of his SuperpoweredEvilSide this way, while Sean gets through to Ken's own SuperpoweredEvilSide by reminding him of the love of his family. Then Chun Li, with a little help from Sakura's spirit, later helps Ryu to again overcome his SuperpoweredEvilSide with this]].
* PrecisionFStrike: Too many to list all at once. One of the milder variants comes from Shao Kahn in Chapter 4, when Jade assaults him in an act of betrayal.
--> '''Shao Kahn:''' Traitorous BITCH! For your defiance, I shall personally kill you myself!
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The match outcomes were decided by reader-voting, with the competitor who got the highest number of votes for that particular poll winning the in-story fight, or, if the number of votes for the two fighters were the same, the result would be a DoubleKnockout. For example, in the Dan vs. Cyrax fight, Dan was defeated in RealLife by ''one'' vote.
* RealityWarper: The Alpha-Omega can transport the fighters to various types of arenas (many coming from both sides' respective games) in order to provide background scenery variety.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[EvilCounterpart X-Sakura]] gives regular Sakura a scathing speech in Chapter 19.
--> '''X-Sakura:''' You need to toughen up, baby! That is all you are, a big baby. You flaunt over Ryu like some pathetic, lovesick schoolgirl. Oh, wait! You ''are'' a pathetic, lovesick schoolgirl! My mistake! Anyway, that's why you lost. You need to focus more on the fight at hand, and burn thoughts of everything, especially Ryu, from your feeble mind. That's why you lost, and you know it!
* ShipTease: Among various characters, including Liu Kang/Kitana, Guy/Rose, [[spoiler:Nightwolf/Jade]], and Ryu/Sakura.
* ShoutOut: Done in Chapter 2 by a messenger who delivers a telegram to Sub-Zero and Smoke, while [[LampshadeHanging wondering aloud if he's in a video-game]] upon hearing that those are in fact the ninjas' names.
--> '''Messenger:''' If [[Franchise/KingKong a big ape starts climbing a building carrying a yelling woman]], I'm gonna take an early retirement!
** Another one in Chapter 24, done by Sagat:
--> '''Sagat:''' Now, I face Kahn and his wrath. That sounds like [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan the title of a great movie]].
* ShutUpHannibal: In Chapter 17, [[FunPersonified Dee Jay]] delivers this to [[TheJuggernaut Kintaro]] prior to their fight, when Kintaro joins the line of Outworld warriors who've been [[HumansAreMorons ripping humanity a new one]]. Dee Jay proceeds to get curb-stomped afterward, given who his opponent is, but his speech serves as a SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfAwesome for him nonetheless, especially since nobody else who'd gotten deriding speeches had done much to rebut same.
--> '''Dee Jay:''' I'm sick and tired of hearing about all of you other-worlders bashing us "pitiful humans." I'd bet the bank that your own world has it's own crap, mon. We have ours, but don't go ripping us until you have seen your own. We all may be willing to tear open each other for a quick profit, but just as many are willing to help in a time of desperate need. We all do our best to do our part, whether it be to help the hungry, or our planet itself.
%%* TheStarscream: Shang Tsung toward Shao Kahn.
* TakeThat: An in-universe one, done by Noob Saibot:
--> '''Noob Saibot:''' [[Franchise/StreetFighter Attack me if]]...nah, that's something a drag would say!
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Both played straight and averted. One instance of the trope played straight is during Chapter 6, in the middle of a fight with Shao Kahn's warriors:
--> '''Sonya:''' I know it's a real pain, Kitana, but we MUST keep on. A lot of people are depending on you to help in this. Look at your friend, Jade. She just now risked it all in the middle of Khan's ranks for you. Now, she fights your clone, Mileena. She needs to know that you still have spirit. Then, there's Sindel, your mother. You must fight to try and help her remember who she truly is, so that together, you can avenge your father's murder by Khan. And of course, there's your dear Liu Kang. He's done so much, and has been through so much. Remember, his entire Shaolin family was slaughtered upon his arrival after he defeated Tsung. Though he won't admit it, sooner or later, he'll need someone there for him to help him move on past the death in his life, so that he can live.
--> '''Kitana:''' Yes, Sonya, you are so right. Though I must admit, [[LampshadeHanging I am impressed that you can say so much while in the middle of a fight to the death]].
* VillainTeamUp: [[spoiler:Akuma]] joins forces with Bison and his Shadowloo henchmen in Chapter 19, to eliminate their mutual enemies.
* YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm: By its own self-description, the Alpha-Omega is everything and nothing, everywhere and nowhere, light and dark; it is [[AboveGoodAndEvil neither good nor evil]], neither male nor female, and it has existed from the first birth and will continue after the last death.
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