Tales of Ash

The Tales of Ash, also known as the Ash Saga (アッシュ, Asshu-hen) is the third story arc in The King of Fighters series. It covers the events found in The King of Fighters 2003 through The King of Fighters XIII.

= Past =

Ancient Times, -Another Side-
Within old Europe, a mysterious group known as Those from the Past began emerging as the counterparts to Orochi's Hakkesshu. Their leader, Saiki, was a power being who possesses control over time. Sometime after Orochi was sealed, many members of Those from the Past were wiped out, at the hands of the Blanctorche Family, a group of nobles who protect the innocent and have a mastery of the elements of light.

Late 1990s
By the late 1990s, Elisabeth Blanctorche is the last known remaining Blanctorche. At one point, she became the childhood friend of Ash Crimson and they were raised in the same mansion together. She used to act as his older sister figure, until a fire burned down the mansion and many of her clansmen to the ground. As the sole remaining Blanctorche, she lives with her butler, Jacques, near the remains of her family's home.

= Story =

Welcoming All Oncomers
Two years after The King of Fighters 2001, The King of Fighters tournament returned in full force. Once again the rules were changed, with the "Striker System" being dropped completely, and the matches returning back to the 3v3 team matches. However, now matches took place in a single round, and fighters could freely swap out with other standby members at any time.

The King of Fighters XIII
=Characters Introduced=

Original Characters

 * Ash Crimson (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Duo Lon (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Shen Woo (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Malin (Playable in 2003 and XI)
 * Adelheid Bernstein (Playable in 2003 and XI)
 * Maki Kagura (Playable in 2003)
 * Mukai (Final Boss; Playable in 2003)

Garou: Mark of the Wolves

 * Tizoc (The Griffon) (Playable in 2003 and XI)
 * Gato (Playable in 2003 and XI)

Original Characters

 * Oswald (Playable in XI)
 * Elisabeth Blanctorche (Playable in XI, XII and XIII)
 * Momoko (Playable in XI)
 * Shion (Sub Boss; Playable in XI)
 * Magaki (Final Boss; Playable in XI)

Fatal Fury/MOTW series

 * Duck King (Playable in XI)
 * B. Jenet (Playable in XI)
 * Hotaru Futaba (Playable in XI; PS2 Only)
 * Tung Fu Rue (Playable in XI; PS2 Only)

Buriki One

 * Gai Tendo (Playable in XI)
 * Silber (Playable in XI)

Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter series

 * Sho Hayate (Playable in XI)
 * Jyazu (Playable in XI)

Fatal Fury series

 * Raiden (Playable in XII and XIII)

Original Characters

 * Saiki (Playable in XIII, in both version, as Mid-Boss and Sub Boss)
 * Evil Ash (Final Boss; Playable in XIII)

Fatal Fury series

 * Hwa Jai (Playable in XIII)

NPCs

 * Rose Bernstein (Appears in 2003, XI and XIII)
 * Botan (Appears in 2003, XI and XIII)
 * Shroom & Rimelo (Appears in XI and XIII)

Original Characters

 * Kyo Kusanagi (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII; his NESTS version is playable in XI [only in PS2], and XIII, as a DLC character)
 * Benimaru Nikaido (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Goro Daimon (Playable in 2003, XII, and XIII)
 * Chin Gentsai (Playable in XII and XIII)
 * Chang Koehan (Playable in 2003)

Fatal Fury series

 * Terry Bogard (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Andy Bogard (Playable in XII and XIII)
 * Joe Higashi (Playable in 2003, XII, and XIII)
 * Mai Shiranui (Playable in 2003, XI and XIII; PS2 only in XI)
 * Kim Kaphwan (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)

Art of Fighting series

 * Ryo Sakazaki (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Robert Garcia (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII; PS2 Only in XI)
 * Takuma Sakazaki (Playable in XIII)
 * Yuri Sakazaki (Playable in 2003, XI and XIII)
 * King (Playable in 2003, XI and XIII)

Ikari Warriors series

 * Ralf Jones (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Clark Still (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)

Psycho Soldier

 * Athena Asamiya (Playable in 2003, XI, XII, and XIII)
 * Sie Kensou (Playable in XI, XII, and XIII)

Original Character

 * Iori Yagami (Playable in 2003, XI, XII and XIII; the last game shows a flameless persona of the characteer)

Fatal Fury series

 * Billy Kane (Playable in 2003 and XIII; Console and XIII Climax ver. Only)

Art of Fighting series

 * Eiji Kisaragi (Playable in XI)

Original Characters

 * Leona Heidern (Playable in 2003, XII and XIII)
 * Mature (Playable in XII and XIII)
 * Vice (Playable in XIII)
 * Chizuru Kagura (Playable in 2003)

Fatal Fury series

 * Geese Howard (Playable in XI; Console Only)

Art of Fighting series

 * Kasumi Todoh (Playable in XI)
 * Mr. Big (Playable in XI; Console Only)

Original Character

 * Shingo Yabuki (Playable in 2003 and XI)

Fatal Fury series

 * Ryuji Yamazaki (Playable in 2003)
 * Blue Mary (Playable in 2003 and XI)

KOF '99

 * K' (Playable in 2003, XI and XIII)
 * Maxima (Playable in 2003, XI and XIII)
 * Whip (Playable in 2003 and XI)
 * Jhun Hoon (Playable in 2003)

KOF 2000

 * Vanessa (Playable in XI)
 * Ramon (Playable in XI)
 * Hinako Shijou (Playable in 2003)
 * Kula Diamond (Playable in XI and XIII)

KOF 2002/UM

 * Kusanagi (Playable in 2003; Console Only and Canonical Debut)

=Notes=
 * Starting with The King of Fighters XI, the series drops the years that the games take place in. Because to this, it will become very hard or even impossible to determine exactly where and when certain backstories took place starting from here on out, unless confirmed by SNK themselves.
 * All characters who debut in The King of Fighters series (starting with The King of Fighters XIII) do not have their ages displayed, adding more to the uncertainty.
 * Certain characters who debut in the Console release and not the original Arcade release are considered non-canon.
 * The King of Fighters XII is a "Dream Match" game, and is therefore non-canon.