July 27, 2024

“If anyone outside of your family knows what it was like when it came to you and your brother, it’s me…”

Chelsea LeClair says this with a sigh as we’re in my mother’s living room following the promo that I did against my two opponents.

“I saw him bully you and treat you like total crap and I don’t blame you a bit for feeling how you feel.”

“I appreciate your support, Chelsea…” I said with a sigh. “I just don’t know what Eddie was thinking trying to blindside me by getting us in the same room like that. How can he betray me like that?”

“He wasn’t betraying you, Andrea….” Chelsea said with a sigh of her own. “He was just trying to help you get past everything. I know Roddy was never someone that I would want to be around because he was gross and disgusting and I remember he made some… ‘advancements’ toward me before he got arrested and all… but sometimes prison changes people. I’m not taking his side, but it’s not good for you to be holding onto this pain much longer…”

I took a bit of a deep breath as I thought about what Chelsea was saying. A part of me knew she was right, but as I reflected on so much of what he put me through growing up, all I can focus on is how happy I was when he was sentenced to prison, how ecstatic I was that he was staying in there as long as he was in there, and how upset I was when he got released early for good behavior.

“But to forgive him for all of that? When he openly called me an accident? When he didn’t even want me to be born? When he had a hand in ruining every birthday that I can remember up until the age of 14 and how it only stopped because he ended up going to jail?”

“Andrea, please have a more open mind about this. I’m not saying you have to have any sort of personal connection with him in any way. Forgiving him doesn’t mean that such a relationship is going to happen. But, you truly deserve better than this. Don’t you think that if you were able to move past all the pain, then what wound up happening with your first run in Sin City Wrestling wouldn’t have happened at all?”

At this point, I was less angry and flustered and more confused than anything.

“How does Roddy and the way he treated me when we were children have anything to do with my first run in SCW?”

“Think about the things he was saying about you and how he was treating you when you messed up with something or made a mistake. Remember when you lost your mother’s debit card when she was getting you a dress for Homecoming that year and he made fun of you and called you a dunce and the ‘stupidest person ever’?”

“A gross exaggeration if there ever was one…”

“And how many times in the early part of your SCW career did you have to deal with Kate Steele and Evie Jordan making gross exaggerations if not outright lies about everything going on with you at the time for better or worse?”

“Touche…”

“Think about how he was always rooting against you to ever amount to anything from a talent competition in 8th grade to wanting to be a wrestler at all. How is it any different than those times during that hurtful part of your SCW career where you had other Bombshells rooting against you when you didn’t do a damn thing to them aside from beating them in the ring? How is it any different from some of those women celebrating your failures all those summers ago? It affected you the exact same way that it affected you whenever your brother would celebrate your misery ranging from falling off your bike to getting grounded by your parents for scoring a “D” on a quiz. It’s not any different, Andrea…”

Something really lit up inside of me when I was really beginning to compare how Roddy treated me growing up to how idiots and horrible women like Diamond Steele and Evie Jordan were treating me in the early part of my first run in Sin City Wrestling. This was of course, without mentioning how the likes of Krystal Wolfe and Roxi Johnson took cowardly cheap shots at me while I was gone and took no accountability or responsibility for their bullshit. My brain was flashing back to the misery I was feeling and in my heart, that pain was just beating through me. I never wanted my first run in SCW to go down the way it did, but I realized that my regrets were starting to fade a bit when an epiphany entered my brain.

“...that’s why I collapsed so badly the first time I was in SCW…”

Chelsea widens her eyes, not quite understanding what I meant at that point.

“I was triggered, Chelsea. I allowed those bitches I dealt with at the time to trigger me. I handled it all horribly because I never got a true resolution with Roddy. The way he bullied and tormented me isn’t that much different then the way I was treated around the time I was the SCW Bombshells World Champion. The only reason why that bullying stopped was because he went to prison and I never overcame all that trauma directly. So… when I was dealing with similar crap from the likes of Evie and Kate…”

I sighed, expressing some regret and seeing the bigger picture of why I fell as hard as I did.

“I had no way to cope with it or face it because I never did with Roddy. All I did was just cower in a corner and cry with him because I felt powerless… just like I felt powerless when everything around me in Sin City Wrestling was collapsing. When I became what I became… it wasn’t because I wanted to be that person, it was because I felt like I had no other way out. When you had the likes of Keira Fisher celebrate my downfall after a battle royal at one point… I just didn’t know what else to do…

Tears of regret were flowing down my face.

“How the hell could I, when I never learned how to overcome the abuse I endured from my own brother?”

Chelsea gives me a huge embrace and wipes the tears away doing everything that she can to help me push through this.

“That’s why forgiving him is the best thing for you to do, Andrea. I know it’s hard and I know it feels like you are excusing his abuse toward you, but trust me, that’s the last thing that you’re doing. You deserve better than to experience this pain on a repeated basis. You deserve to have peace and you deserve to have a better time in Sin City Wrestling than the first time around. I worry that if you can’t move past the pain from Roddy that you’re going to eventually fall back into what you were before and nobody wants that and you, especially, don’t want that.”

“I completely agree on all of that, Chelsea. But I don’t know if I’m ready…”

“Girl, look at how you’ve improved and been a hell of a wrestler and an even better champion in between your SCW stints and tell me again that you’re not ready to let it go and move forward…”

Putting it that way, I could definitely smile knowing that she was right and that despite everything I’ve ever been through, I’ve somehow been able to be better and stronger as a wrestler and a person with time.

“There’s no way I am going to deny that truth…” I admitted with a sigh of relief. “You’re right. I’ll… find a way to get ahold of him and…”

Just the thought of contacting Roddy made me cringe a bit but I knew it had to be done.

“...we’ll go from there…”

I took a deep breath as I pulled out my phone and texted Eddie asking if he had Roddy’s number knowing more than likely that would be the case. There was silence for a bit before my phone went off and I saw that Eddie responded back to me with his number. My nerves got jumpy knowing I was a phone call away from finally putting a painful past behind me for good.

August 1, 2024

On this night, I was on the deck of the cruise. I was thankfully alone as that’s exactly what I wanted to be when what I was about to do were to take place. I dialed Roddy’s number, closed my eyes, said a bit of a prayer in my mind hoping that this didn’t blow up in my face, and I pressed “SEND” to officially make the call. I waited and heard a few dial tones before I heard his voice.

“Yeah? Who is this?”

“...hey….” I said nervously. I heard silence on the other end and those few, tense moments were really getting to me.

“Andrea?” he asked, sounding a bit surprised.

“Yeah… it’s me… I asked Eddie for your number.”

“I see… so… what’s happening here?”

“You hated me when we were growing up and on the few times I even bothered visiting you in prison to tell you how wrong you were about me, you continued to root for my failure and you continued to insist that if you were never arrested, you’d be having my success and not me. You’ve always been a horrible brother up to the last prison visit which was early 2018. But now, you’re out of prison and you want to make things right with me? Why should I believe that? Tell me, WHY?!?!??!”

I could hear Roddy sighing on the other end.

“People change…”

“And suddenly because you’re out of prison, you’ve changed?”

“You remember when I got my former girlfriend pregnant right? Just before I got arrested?”

“Yeah…”

“Between your last prison visit and my release, I met that child… my daughter. As it turns out, she almost didn’t make it when she was born… epilepsy. She had some developmental struggles as her mother detailed to me and when I met her and had a conversation with her for the first time, it was like… none of it happened. She overcame that. She leads a normal life. She’s just like any other teenage girl…someone that has a bright future ahead of her. I was a sexist douchebag when we were growing up and I thought women had a ‘certain role’. But seeing how strong my own daughter is… it changed me, Andrea. I realized how wrong I was about women… how wrong I was about you…”

I was a bit surprised hearing this from him, considering the years of abuse including “women belong in the kitchen” from him.

“...but I heard about, and when I got a chance, saw how you fell apart after Dad passed away and what you became in Sin City Wrestling when you were there the time before…”

My eyes widened a bit, definitely intrigued.

“You know what I felt when I saw you turn into that?”

“Happy…” I said with a scoff. “...you were overjoyed to see me suffer. You always were.”

“Andrea, that’s where you’re wrong… and if you don’t believe me, Eddie and Mom can vouch for this. I wasn’t happy to see you like that. In fact, I felt guilty… guilty to the point of tears, Andrea… because deep down in my gut, I couldn’t help but feel like that was my fault… that I was the reason why you became what you became. I broke you down so badly that when Dad died and you were dealing with the same treatment from a couple of your peers in SCW that I gave you when we were growing up, you collapsed… and I feel horrible about it to this day. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for all of the pain that I caused you and for everything I’ve done to you. ‘Young and stupid’ is nowhere near an excuse and I’m going to be a man and own up to that. I was extremely, incredibly wrong about you and you have had a much better wrestling career than I would’ve. I was wrong in ever telling you that you only ever were successful because I was incarcerated. Knowing you, you still would’ve found your way into the business even if Dad refused to train you.”

The tears were filling up my eyes again as I didn’t know what to think hearing this from him.

“You’re a courageous, beautiful young lady Andrea… a sister that I took for granted…”

Be still my healing heart…

“...a sister I should’ve made an effort to know, someone very special that I missed out on. I fucked up and I’m sorry… I’m sorry for the long term damage I caused you. I’m sorry for how my actions for years affected your wrestling career… and especially your previous run in SCW. I take full responsibility that you ever were that person. You became that because of me, because you didn’t know how to handle those shallow bitches you were dealing with back then. And for fuck’s sake Andrea, don’t let ANYONE treat you the way some of those people did the first time you were there.”

I did what I could to compose myself and get back to a level playing field emotionally.

“You’re a special person, Andrea… and if it’s coming from ME, you can’t deny it anymore…”

“Thank you…” I said softly, still absorbing all the shock that was going through me at the moment. “I forgive you…”

I sighed before I continued on.

“I can’t hold onto this pain anymore. I have to let it go and that’s what I am doing. I truly believe you mean what you said. But, I do need to make something very clear.”

“What’s that?”

“While I do forgive you, it’s going to take an enormous amount of time and so much of your efforts for us to come anywhere close to having any sort of relationship with each other…”

“I understand. I was expecting you to say that.”

“I appreciate the apology and your kindness and I will always be grateful that this very moment was the first time you’ve ever been nice to me. I don’t mind seeing you at family parties and even having small conversations with each other, but don’t expect me to just welcome you into my life with open arms… not after everything you’ve ever done to hurt me. You’re going to have to earn my trust if a relationship between us is even going to be on the table.”

“I understand. I’m not going to force you into anything. But I’ll be here for you if you ever decide you need me for anything…”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Have a good night, Andrea.”

“Yeah… you too…”

I hung up at that point and I took a deep breath. My eyes were drying and I felt this huge sense of relief that after all the years of carrying such a horrible pain within me that I was finally able to let it go. I was numb for a bit, not knowing the effects of what just happened, but I knew in my heart that forgiving and letting go was the right thing to do. I was also feeling pretty relieved knowing that with the source of my pain that drove me to what I was prior in SCW the first time around being gone, that the risk of ever relapsing back to that person just became significantly reduced. Still, with Summer XXXtreme ahead and some people expressing skepticism about me, I knew I had a long way to go myself.

August 2, 2024

I was reliving a haunting memory being in a familiar cabin of the cruise. While a part of me still hated being in this particular cabin, just like with the forgiveness of my brother, I knew that revising a painful experience as far as SCW is concerned had to be done. The camera was on me and I was still remaining strong and confident as I began to express my thoughts.

“I remember this particular cabin all too well. Four years ago, I was in this cabin of the cruise feeling like I was an absolute failure… feeling like I was a complete fuck up to my family. I was broken and shattered and I literally just wanted to dock back on the United States mainland and go home. I’ll be the first to admit that after I left the cruise that particular day, I didn’t know if I wanted to come back to Sin City Wrestling at all. I had thoughts of leaving at that point. In hindsight, maybe I should’ve taken a hiatus for a few months and then maybe come back stronger. But when I was in this cabin after losing a triple threat match for the SCW Bombshells World Championship and being pinned by Evie Jordan again… I was seriously spiraling toward rock bottom. I still remember hating myself for losing to her again… I still remember feeling like she was right even though we all know the truth in that someone garbage and stupid like her was never right about me to begin with… I still remember imaging my father getting on my ass and telling me that I let him down. I don’t have the strongest or the brightest memories of the Summer XXXtreme Supercard, I will be blunt there. I remember being in this cabin hating myself for being a failure and truly believing that I was a flash in the pan and that there was no way out…

It was a disgusting, horrible experience… one that the next year at the same event didn’t erase. I mean, yeah I beat Samantha Marlowe in a majority falls match the next year, but I had already become who I was in my last run and I was deep in my own darkness. Even though I beat Samantha Marlowe the year after that horrible triple threat experience, it wasn’t exactly a shining moment for me. I won the match, bragged about it that night and the next day and just carried on with my miserable business and then shortly after that, I won the SCW Bombshells Internet Championship. By the time I beat Sam at this event three years ago, I just didn’t care anymore. I was actually dead set on quitting SCW THEN but I held off because I suddenly found myself in a tournament where I won that aforementioned championship. It’s been hard to forgive those that wronged me back in 2020, I will be the first to admit that. But the person that has been the hardest to forgive hasn’t been Evie or Diamond or whoever was rooting so hard for me to fail back then…

Hell, the hardest person to forgive isn’t even my own older brother…

The hardest person to forgive has been myself… for making the mistakes that I’ve made. You know, for so long I had been armchair quarterbacking this thing thinking “maybe if I did this different” or “maybe if I won THAT match” or “maybe if I didn’t say this that made so many people want to root against me”. I take my share of the blame for the way things were back then and I am done wishing that things would be different and I am especially done with giving anyone that ever wronged me back then any power over me. I made my mistakes and I lost the matches that I lost at the worst possible time and anyone can throw that in my face as much as they want but the fact of the matter is I still managed to dig myself out of the grave and I still managed to carve out an impressive career the first time around even though I was my own worst enemy. Right now, all I am thinking about is the future and how great I can prove to be in this company now that I am no longer in my own way. So yes, I forgive myself for screwing up, for losing the matches that I did, for allowing useless people, a particular one that thankfully doesn’t work here anymore by the way, to get the better of me.

I am done being a victim of my own past and I’m going to fight for my future and that’s what is going to put me over the top this Sunday because as coincidence would have it, I am going into ANOTHER triple threat match on the cruise. A title isn’t on the line, but for me, it might as well be because winning this triple threat match would absolutely ERASE the awful torture I put myself through in this very cabin and if you don’t think I want this match more than my two opponents combined, then you REALLY need to take into account the fact that I’m the only person of the three of us that has actually said a word. I don’t know what’s going on with you, Kallie Reznik. I thought coming out of the Blast from the Past tournament on the run that you had considering the circumstances with having a greenhorn partner and all would have motivated you to rise up the ranks and start challenging for championships and yet, all we’ve seen from you in Sin City Wrestling since that tournament ended is…

….what?

I can’t even think off of the top of my head any matches you’ve been in lately since that tournament even though there’s a chance you might have been but unfortunately, you have thrown that momentum from the tournament down the drain. I don’t know what happened to you. I don’t know if you’ve lost your fire or if you’re just content palling around with the people of Wolfslair and being in the background, but the way I see it, that’s not going to fly with me. If you don’t want to win this match, if you don’t even want to be a part of this match, then that’s your prerogative. I don’t hold a personal grudge against you or anything. You’ve never said a word to me. We’ve never met in the ring until Sunday and honestly? There’s not much more I CAN say about you considering that I barely even know you  and that there’s nothing for me to forgive you for. I just HOPE you show up and bring your best… I want to see that fire that led you to the final four of this year’s mixed tag tournament but if your silence up to this point is an indicator of anything, I’m not exactly sure that I will see that fire from you…

Which is crazy considering you were very vocal during the tournament…

And speaking of “vocal”... lord knows four years ago, Kate Steele was one of my most vocal critics because… envy? I don’t know. We’ve never liked each other and I’m pretty sure that fact remains true today. The history between us, to a degree, is my fault too. I know I said some things to you in which I should’ve chosen my words more carefully and while it’s been four years and I obviously don’t remember word for word anything I said that got you angry at me to the point where you were rooting for me to fail, I do acknowledge even then I wasn’t everyone’s favorite person because my way with words rubbed people the wrong way.

But at the end of the day, Kate?

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

I remember how you were one of the people rooting for me to fail and running up the score when I did. You even went as far as writing me off calling me ‘old news’ which has aged horribly considering that I was away from this company for two years and STILL accomplished more since that time than you have. I had a memorable Internet Championship reign because I had an undefeated streak attached to it while the only thing your reign is largely remembered for these days is being the predecessor to Myra Rivers’s 350 day reign and that’s a truth I’m not going to apologize for bringing to light. You, Kate, are the last person that should be calling ANYONE old news and I’m not going to hold back on you because I really AM facing a hell of a mountain here… a mountain of regret stemming from old experiences and you were a part of that considering Blast from the Past that year and everything. You were shading me AFTER I lost the title because me losing the title wasn’t good enough for you to just shut the fuck up with your shade, right?

No, you had to run up the score the way so many did back then all because why? You were butthurt over a few little misplaced words that came out of my mouth during a phase of my career where I was learning and growing? That speaks to the kind of person that you were back then and that you still are now because seriously, I have seen some of the crap you’ve been posting on Twitter the last day or two about how people are coming down on you, making you public enemy number one and not giving you a chance and yeah, perhaps that context wasn’t Sin City Wrestling related in the slightest, but for fuck’s sake Kate, look back at your track record here and tell me why you should be treated any differently than how you’ve been with what you just described there when you just follow the same flow and the same pattern over and over and over again? That right there, that tweet that you posted with all the moaning that you did about that?

That’s exactly what I meant when I said that you’re the kind of person that doesn’t take responsibility for anything that you’ve said or done that has either rubbed people the wrong way or that has hurt someone. I’m going to be really open with you right now about four years ago when you ran up the score, throwing the shade that you did going into your title defense against Myra, throwing cheap shots without coming to me and asking me what I meant when I said a certain thing, saying I was old news before I rock bottomed in that battle royal and all of that…

It fucking HURT, Kate.

It did… because aside from whatever I said that offended you, I did NOTHING to you but you took the liberties that you did to run me down and pour dirt on the grave of my title reign just because you could. You were one of the faces of my downward spiral during the worst summer of my life and I don’t expect you to even apologize. I don’t expect you to acknowledge that the way you treated me back then was entirely fucked up. I know you never will and I’m at peace with that, but I guess in a way, beating you… and especially pinning you, would feel like I’d be reversing the damage and finally overcoming that summer quite a bit. Most people would say I’d be CRAZY to forgive you… or hell ANYONE… that played a role in that summer of hell from four years ago that actually made me want to LEAVE this company, if not QUIT WRESTLING altogether.

But you know what, I am going to.

I’m forgiving you for your role in that…

Because someone like you and someone like Evie or anyone else that decided to pile on me and write me off for dead and massively overreacted to ONE summer slump during a time when I was grieving my father doesn’t deserve, and will never have, any power over me or how I feel about myself as a wrestler and as a person. I forgive you with the realization that you’re never going to come around and apologize for how you treated me back then, but that’s okay. I don’t need your apology Kate, I just need to go into that ring on Sunday, beat you, and continue to prove that I am better than what I used to be. I don’t wish you any ill will and I’m not going to sit back and root for your failure during this latest trip down SCW Avenue for you… because I’m not stooping to that level…

I’m not going to treat you the way you treated me…

I’m just going to step in that ring against you, beat you, and step off this cruise with a MASSIVE weight from the past off of my shoulders…"

I narrowed my eyes for a bit and felt that determination in my heart. It wasn’t easy, but I shut off the camera without feeling any anger or hatred for Kate Steele at all given how she was one of those people that treated me awful back then.

For me personally? That’s one hell of a sign for my future…

She wasn’t entirely sure how she had been roped into this one. She knew a bit of yoga. The idea that she was a screaming banshee had somehow become public knowledge, and she was originally just going to lounge around on the cruise, soak up the sunrays and think about better days. Instead, Alex had been given a bar takeover, and she was expected to run a 6AM Scream Yoga session. Part of her wondered if this was just an elaborate rib.

Regardless, the hungover lady rolled out her mat and set herself up in the allocated space on the deck. There was a surprisingly decent crowd who had turned out. Maybe a case of some people thinking it’d be funny. For others a good excuse to just let out some excess energy. Confessional for those who wouldn’t quite understand the scream part of scream therapy. Much to Alex’s disappointment, she had not in fact purchased a Grinch suit to wear.

Much to her sorrow, Alex had brought his giant bird outfit that he had worn to the Triad Draft Party, that she had first bumped into Sean at. Which meant, in the crowd of sunnily dressed, athleisure wearing ladies, and too many blokes in their speedos and briefs, there was her husband.

Dressed up in an outfit covered in feathers, a fake beak and a headpiece. Sweating up a storm in the clearly poorly aerated outfit. Sometimes she truly wondered what attracted her to him. She was certain that in the throng of gatherers that had also gotten up this early, there were a few other SCW talents. Scouting, looking and attempting to discern what it was that these crazy people were doing. None that she could discern from first glance. No time better than the present. She clapped her hands together, gathering people’s attention.

“Alright, ground rules. Keep your hands to yourself, stick to your mat. Don’t look at anyone else, don’t be a fucking creep. Please ignore the giant chicken man, and whilst I encourage you to be liberal with getting your inner turmoils out, be aware that everyone here can and will hear you.” Luna shouted out, looking around at people. Bringing attention to the giant chicken man, in turn made a lot more people notice him. Sitting front and centre.

She already needed a drink. Hair of the dog.

“Alright follow along. Be considerate. You don’t have to make noise, you don’t have to scream. If someone else is releasing, let them have their moment of peace. If I’m talking, you’re listening. If I am moving, you are following. If I tell you to fuck off, the big scary security guy over there is going to rough you up and then politely ask you to fuck off. Alright, stand with me.”

The group stood on their mats watching intently. Something soothing about being the centre of attention. She was more narcissistic than she let on. Even if she did currently look exactly how she felt. She took a deep breath in, holding her palms together, and slowly exhaling. Nobody was being a weirdo just yet. Well, just one. But that was understandable.

Fucking Alex.

She took in another deep breath and at the peak of her breath in…

“My husband is a fucking moron!” She shouted out at the peak of her breath. A few people were laughing, losing focus. A smile settled on her face. She was at least going to have a bit of fun herself.

What she didn’t realise was this was going to unleash the floodgates. Another deep breath, followed by a slow transition into a low lunge. This in turn resulted in a few people just letting out primordial screams. More laughter, and then more screams.

“My wife doesn’t know I know she’s having an affair and likes watching from our nanny cam!” A random person shouted out rapidly. Luna screwed her nose up a bit. A few people fell from the pose as they broke into laughter. The person looked instantly embarrassed.

“Not sure we needed to know that, but you do you.” Luna said, straightening up as she in turn transitioned to a Natarajasana, watching as a few people’s eyes bulged out of their heads. Clearly a lot had turned up to participate in the yelling, not realising that the yoga component was going to be a bigger part of it.

“My wife wouldn’t wear matching outfits, and it hurt my feelings!” Alex shouted out this time. Doing his absolutely best to try and match the pose. His pants had a surprising amount of stretch in them, even if he was going red in the face trying to do it.

“I don’t know who Song is, and at this point I’m too afraid to ask!” Another random voice. Luna was doing her best not to laugh as more and more people started yelling out random things. From the gratuitous and frankly borderline gross, to the dumb things and simple observations.

This continued on for the next thirty minutes or so. More and more people are joining in, non-attendees now standing at the edge of their little circle, listening and watching in. Fifteen or so minutes in, people seemed far more relaxed. Smiles on their faces. A genuine surprise it would seem at the humanity that The Conspiracy couple were capable of. A real split from the on-screen persona that people would be so akin to.

“My wife is going to be world champion, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Alex shouted. A few cheers, a few whoops. A moment of embarrassment for her. There was always going to be part of her that couldn’t handle hearing nice things. A few murmurs and nods, a few agreements. She knew that come showtime, she was going to be booed almost off the ship. She knew that in a scenario where she won the championship, the crowd might be muted.

That was her fear. The fear that if she won, nobody would care. Or they’d be so shocked that they just would reject her. Reject the idea of her as champion. Reject the idea that someone from The Conspiracy was going to be the world champion. That was her fear.

“I’m afraid of the reaction if I win.” She mumbled to herself. Nobody heard, but Alex could see the sudden wash of concern. No rest for the wicked. She went through the rest of the session, more strange admissions from people. More laughter, and by the end of it, most people seemed to be in good spirits. There were smiles all around, and people seemed to be in good spirits.

She was doubting herself. A camera crew were on their way over. She’d front loaded her morning, in order to ride out her hangover for the rest of the day. But she was feeling slightly too lucid for the moment. She had to flick that switch in her head. To turn it on for the cameras. To be slightly less raw than she had been. To be the fighter that people knew her to be.

“You made people like you today. You made an impression. You have a connection now. There won’t be silence when you win. They will cheer or they will boo, but either way. It’s going to be the loudest reaction you’ve ever heard. These waves are going to hold their voices, and you’ll know. You’ll know you’ve made it.” Alex said as he stepped up to her. Wrapping an arm around her waist, his yoga mat in his other hand. The smile, the happiness. The smell of sweat from the man that had been boiling inside his stupid chicken suit.

“You stink.” Luna said back, smiling at him. The words were kind, but the doubt was in her head. The doubt that she would be rejected. The woman desperately craved being idolised. The Idol and The Masochist. Conflicting and competing ideas.

“You need a drink. I’ll grab you one.” Alex said, rubbing her arm slightly, before pulling away from her.

“Grab my sunnies too. I can’t stand to look at that garish outfit in full colour.” Luna said in response, screwing her nose up as she looked at him. He just smiled and nodded. And she breathed out heavily.

This was really it.


Luna is sitting cross legged on a yoga mat. There are a few people milling about, but they appear to be leaving. Rolling up their own mats, talking about where they are going next. A few standing around gawping at Luna and the camera crew that had arrived.

“A poignant question. Can I do it? That’s the question you asked me to ask myself. To ask myself, if I do this can I handle the pressure? Can I handle putting the bombshell division on my back? Can I fight off the demons of my past and be the champion you want me to be? To be the champion that this place needs me to be. It’s a question I ask myself over and over. It’s a question that people constantly throw at me. The holding over my head of the bullshit expectation of perfection. To be more full of vanity than I ever was. That’s the expectation, and the insults that come from not matching them.”

“Krystal Wolfe was the queen of asking me to doubt myself. To try and throw my two short reigns in my face. To try and throw this idea that simply because I stumbled soon after picking up my first ever title wins, that I am somehow lesser. That my victory meant nothing. I don’t quite agree. I don’t quite agree with the idea that because someone didn’t hold it for the eons known and made a historic and record breaking run at the top, that their achievements are diminished. We can all have a bad day. We can all have an off day. We can all have a learning experience.”

“That’s what I chose to take from my failings, Kayla. I chose to take them as lessons. I chose to take them as ways for me to better understand what it takes to be champion. What it takes to hold up to that pressure. What it takes to be the one that people are watching and wanting to fail, because then it validates all their negative remarks. It validates every negative thing they’ve ever said. It validates the criticisms, it validates the hatred. See I think the telling thing here Kayla, is the way you talk about things.”

Another raw look at the woman. No make-up again, simple athleisure wear, her hair tied back in a messy and loose bun. The bulk of her hair swaying with the slightest movement, the sway of the ship swinging it about. She rubs a hand over her face, massaging under her tired looking eyes.

“You say you doubt that I can take the championship from you. You backtrack on what you’ve been saying for months, because now you have to play the adversary. You have to be on the same level as all the others that can’t admit that maybe someone can beat them. That maybe someone can be their better. Except… you do think I can beat you. You know why I know that?”

“It’s the words. You’re not asking if I can handle the pressure of being in the main event. You’re not asking if I can handle the pressure of standing across the ring from you. You’re not asking if I can do that. You’re asking if I can handle what comes after. You’re asking me, if I can handle the pressure of being the top bitch in the Bombshell division. You’re asking, because deep down. There’s this little part of you that doubts yourself. That doubts that you can stand up to Luna Pasilno. That doubts you can run it back again.”

“There’s this nagging feeling in the back of your mind. That this might be the end of two belts Kayla. I can hear it, I can feel it. All that confidence, bravado and arrogance. It means nothing when you’re already looking at if I can succeed in being the bearer of the weight. You can hide it with affirmations of belief, you can hide with claims of grandeur. You can hide behind your own protections all you want, but the truth is Kayla. You don’t just think I can win the championship.”


She raises a hand to her hair, slowly pulling it out from its bun, standing slowly. We momentarily see Alexander Raven, handing Luna a pair of sunglasses with a quick thumbs up before quickly jetting off and out of frame. A quizzical cocking of the eyebrows, followed by a head shake as she puts the sunglasses on. Hiding the growing irritation in her eyes. Scream yoga clearly not doing its job.

“This is more than just a possibility in your mind. This is more than a possibility in everyone’s minds. See I might have lost more in my journey to the top. I might have stumbled more, I might not have the stunning pearl white home and away record. But I do have the ability Kayla. I have the ability to be the upset. I have the ability, the fucking talent and the skill to be the top of the division. Going into that Blast from the Past, there isn’t a single person that would have believed Luna and Sean were going to win the whole thing. Why would they? Luna is just a loser, and Sean was an unknown here.”

“So we went out every fucking week and smashed it. We went out every week and worked in sync. Tandem pins, tandem wins and we proved that we are the danger team. I proved that when the pressure is on, I can fucking perform. I can stand on my own two feet and be the winner. I can stand on my own feet and pull anyone to a victory. I proved that I am the woman of this year. Truthfully? Alex and I are probably on track to be the winners of most hated this year. We’re on track to be the standouts this year, and we are fucking on track to be the two most powerful fucking people in Sin City, and that? That is because we haven’t sat back on laurels. We haven’t rested.”

“We are the workhorses. For better or worse, there is nobody that is here more than us. There is no one getting more reps in the ring. There is no one racking up more wins, and hell we’ll take the losses too. Nobody comes fucking close to us. So yeah, you might be pretty and pristine in your record. So few losses, but they’re always at the big events where it matters. You want to talk about pressure? You want to talk about not being able to handle it? Evidence points to you not being able to handle it when it matters the most. You dragged Juliana to the main event, due in part to her infernal and incessant squealing for recognition. The faux humility of the second most arrogant cunt in this company.”

“Who is number one?”


Another quick cameo. Raven hands her a glass, of what appears to be her new favourite, a mimosa. Another thumbs up and then he is gone again. A flicker of irritation jetting across her features, her lips curling into a scowl. Angry, angry lady.

“Unapologetically so, and I don’t blame you for it. I’d be an arrogant insufferable cunt too if I had the record to back it up. I’m already an arrogant, vainglorious insufferable fucking cunt, but that’s just part and parcel for who I am. You know what my issue is, Kayla? I’m too nice to those who I think deserve just a modicum of friendship. I’m too nice to those that I think deserve to have one friendly person in their purview. To have one respectful opponent. To have one person who gives a damn about the friendships that we can actually have in this business. I’m too nice.”

“I was too nice to Ariana, and that cost me. A point you made abundantly clear about your disdain for. A point I hold with vitriol in my heart. A woman who for better or worse, is a selfish and self-idolising bitch. But I’m learning my lesson. I’m learning that if I want to be champion, if I want to be the woman that all others lust after. If I want to be the number one, I have to be ruthless. I have to be hateful. I have to be angry. I have to tear down this semblance of kindness that I build up for those I thought deserved it, because the truth is, they fucking don’t. None of them deserve it. Not Ariana, not Tempest, not even fucking you.”

“My love for people is my greatest undoing, and I am tired of being doubted because I think myself worthy of being respected. Being hurt because I happen to care just a little bit about the woman across from me. I’m the bad guy, and I’m the crazy one. Just because I happen to be able to show love to people. Always love, and in return? Hatred. Doubt. Fear and accusations of being irrelevant. Tied to a shadow, tied to a person who I am soon going to exceed in success. I love Alex, but this is my fucking time.”

“So if I have to break you Kayla? I will. If I have to hold you under the water in a nearby pool, I will. If I have to throw your fucking limp body over the edge of the ship, I will. That’s not hyperbole, that’s fact. I will do anything I need to, to make sure you fail. To make sure that you stumble. To make sure that you fall. To make sure you understand that this wasn’t just another title defence. That this wasn’t just another match for me. That this was the be all and end all. See if I lose here? I don’t know what comes next. I get thrown back to the bottom of the pile. Have to crawl up and through Krystal Wolfe, Ariana Angelos, Alexandra Calaway and hell, probably even Juliana, who at this point probably has a bigger bone to pick with me than anyone else.”

She takes a long, deep drink of her mimosa, as she crosses over to a railing of the ship. Looking out into the sea. Out toward the rising sun. The light reflecting off the water’s surface. A gold and blue morning.

“What you need to remember Kayla, is I fought my fucking way here. I beat Kat Jones, Kallie Reznik. I have repeatedly beaten Alexandra Calaway. Samantha Marlowe hasn’t been seen since I beat her fucking ass. Kim Pain? Gone. I stepped up to Tempest, I got myself thrown about by Courtney Pierce, Krystal Wolfe and Tempest. I have spent this whole year fighting. Clawing and biting my way to this match. I didn’t drag anyone to a match, I made them do everything they could try and escape it. I’ve made every person I’ve fought understand that if they don’t care to show me respect? I’ll claw their fucking eyes out.”

“This is everything to me Kayla. Can I do it? You’re damn right I can do it. I can beat you, I can take the championship, and I can continue bringing the Bombshells of this company to the main event. I can beat the Kayla Richards of the world and remind everyone who the fuck Luna Pasilno is. Because I think everyone is quick to forget. I think you’ve been quick to forget what it took for me to get here. I’m not going to spout off a sob story about doing this for my brother. I’m not going to spout off more woe is mes, and pretend like I am owed the world because of it. I am owed this because I fucking worked for it. I deserve this, because there isn’t anyone who is putting in the work that I am. There isn’t a single person, yourself fucking included, that has done what I’ve done. I’m going to be a three time champion, and I’ll be a fucking grand slam champion. You can peddle about in the Mixed Tag division, and when Alex finally gets his way? Maybe we’ll come for those again.”

“See, this is about more than just proving I belong. This is about proving everything The Conspiracy has said over the last two years, true. About proving that we have been continuously overlooked. That we have been slighted at every turn. That people have done everything they can to deny us, because in accepting us? They lose all their power. They lose all control that they have had, because the Workhorses will not let them ignore it anymore. No one will be able to say I don’t deserve this. Nobody will be able to ignore me any longer. So I hope you’re ready Kayla.”

“I hope you’ve asked yourself can you do it? Can you stop the inevitability that is Luna Pasilno? Can you take another loss? Can you come back stronger next time, or have you achieved everything you can? Have you reached your zenith, and now the only way for you is down? I know what I’m putting my money on, bitch.”


She stretches her arms out wide, basking in the morning sun. Basking in her own arrogance. Basking in the idea of what is to come.

And then…

Darkness.

Silence.

Nothing.

Gabriel: I understand.

Tempest had finally found herself to the point where she could divulge some of her past to the man who had taken her in under his proverbial wing and helped her to become the woman that she was right now in the sport of pro wrestling. For the longest of time, she had preferred to keep her private life just that … private. And she was not about to share such personal woes with what, at the time, amounted to more than just colleagues.

But slowly over time, the seemingly unthinkable had happened. Tempest had taken many of those within the gym close to her heart and bonded with them, whether she wanted to admit it openly or not. And the man that she was currently seated beside in the White sands of the Hawaiian beach, he had been right about what he had said earlier. If she could confide with a man such as Austin James Mercer, and she could confide in him.

And so she did. She confided everything. Or as close to everything as she was willing to expose herself with at this point. Doing such things was still somewhat alien to her, but it still was a weight lifted from her shoulders when she was able let someone in past those walls she had erected so many years ago.

Gabriel: I have to admit that if I had suffered a loss like that, I don't think I'd want to revisit the source. Whether it's the same ship or not.

Tempest: And obviously it's not, but the memories still linger.

Gabriel nodded in understanding.

Gabriel: Of course they do, and chances are likely they always will. I'm grateful to say that I've not suffered a loss like you have, I can't imagine that sort of pain. I can only say that you are a formidable woman. It will get easier.

Tempest sighed, watching as Hazel and her own stepdaughter had just about finished burying Gabriel and Odette's son in the sand.

Tempest: I wish I could believe that. I really do.

Gabriel: Well, at the very least you have a related memory that can help you heal.

He nodded his head forward, indicating the young girl that had befriended his own son.

Gabriel: Similar wounds cause similar scars Alleyne. But heals one set of wounds…

Tempest: … Heals the other.

Gabriel could only smile at her understanding of his logic. They remained silent, comfortable in one another's company as they watched the children at play until finally, the head trainer and patriarch of the GO Gym addressed her once more, but this time without taking his eyes off of his children or her own.

Gabriel: Are you taking her on the cruise?

But Tempest shook her head in the negative, whether he saw it or not she was unsure.

Tempest: I'm not sure it's the best idea, if I'm going to be honest. Not just because she'd end up seeing me in a match, but she's never been on a cruise before. And I worked hard to keep her from being exposed to the business.

Gabriel: She got exposed to the business the first time she met Austin. She got exposed to the business the first time you brought her to the gym and she and Lucas played together inside of the ring.

Gabriel turned his head to look at her with a smile on his face, knowing what buttons to push in the most light-hearted of manners.

Gabriel: Face facts. That there is a future Bombshell in the making!

Tempest: Over. My. Dead. Body!

Her reaction was enough to cause Odette to bark out in laughter and Gabriel to throw his head back and uproarious laughter. Tempest would give neither the satisfaction of reacting herself, but after a moment and when Gabriel had calmed himself enough, he spoke to her. Not in a jesting manner, but one of genuine concern and seriousness.

Gabriel: Take her on the cruise, Alleyne. It can be arranged. It just might end up being the best thing for the both of you.

She gave him a quick look from behind her own sunglasses, before turning back to her stepdaughter and the other two children.

---

Anela: Mom! Mom! Can we go swimming!? Please!

The 9-year-old stepdaughter to the reigning Bombshell Internet Champion Tempest, hold on her mother's wrist and pointed from the deck, directing the adult woman's attention toward the huge pool that was surprisingly not as full as would be expected.

It was an unfortunate thing that Anela had become attracted to the swimming pool because anyone who knew Tempest, knew she was anything but a fan of the idea of swimming in a public pool. In her own words, “I might as well have somebody just pee directly on me!”

This Outlook was a source of amusement from one of her few friends in the sport, her closest friend in life as a matter of fact - Austin James Mercer. He was successful once or twice in getting her into this very pool in previous years, but she made no bones about how much she disliked it. It had sparked at one point in time, a most amusing debate in which Austin rallied for the win.

***

Austin: Let me get this straight! You're willing to swim in the ocean but you hate the idea of a swimming pool?

Tempest: Give me one good reason why swimming in the ocean is worse than swimming in a pool!

Austin: Easy! Fish fuck in the ocean!

Tempest just stared at the man who had started off as just a tag team partner but had quickly evolved to being the closest friend she had ever had in life. The first man or person entirely whom she had divulged her past with. The smile on Austin's face spoke volumes at just how pleased he was to have rendered this volatile woman speechless.

***

Tempest cringed at the thought of jumping into that water but her stepdaughter's enthusiasm was unmistakable. Still, there was a proverbial light at the end of The tunnel, shining brighter than the sun off the water surface. Synn, a mainstay of the GO Gym and father to Despayre, was standing less than 15 ft away, leaning against the rails with his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark, wine colored shades.

A quick glance in the direction he was staring and she could see what had captured his interest. Despayre had taken the plunge in the swimming pool already and was splashing about, laughing in a childlike glee and just generally having the best time. A time that her own step daughter wanted to indulge in.

Tempest placed her hand on the Small of Anela's back and gently ushered her in the direction of the swimming pool.

Tempest: You go get started without me. I'll be right over here talking to that man.

Tempest could not have seen the flash of disappointed hurt that crossed Anela's face but the little girl did as she was told and made a beeline for the water, gently jumping off of the side of the pool and into the water with a loud splash. Keeping a close eye on her, and watching as Despayre swam over and her direction, only then did Tempest turn and approach Synn.

Tempest: I really appreciate you managing to pull these strings for me so I could bring Anela on the cruise with me.

Synn cast a sidelong glance toward the woman who only stood six inches shorter than his own impressive stature of 6’8” before he resumed watching his son. It was never a good idea to take his eyes off of Despayre for any length of time because history has indicated that anything can happen where that one was concerned. Hell! There was the time during a tour of Buckingham Palace when the Seven Deadly Sins went one way, and Despayre got lost and went another.

And he and Angel ended up having tea with the Queen of England. Seriously!

Synn: You’re giving me too much credit for that, Alleyne. Everyone on the roster was always welcome to bring guests along so long as the cabins were reserved. Up until now, you just never happened to bring anyone with you.

Tempest stood at the man’s side and mimicked him, resting her forearms on the rail and tried to watch Anela as inconspicuous as Synn did his own child.

Tempest: I never had a reason to. Hell … I never had anyone that I even wanted to bring on this godforsaken cruise.

Synn acknowledged her words with a slight nod. You never would have even noticed he did so unless you had been paying close enough attention.

Synn: I understand more than you realize.

Tempest: Yeah?

Synn: Mm. At least you knew your daughter from her earliest childhood. I  didn’t even know Joshua existed until the lad was just over fifteen.

Synn felt Tempest staring at him, her hard gaze not one of ill feelings but an intense interest behind what he was revealing to her.

Synn: By that point in time, he was a patient in a hospital for his mental issues. He had been trapped in those walls for years until I had managed to get him out and get protective custody.

Tempest turned her head just enough to lay eyes on the young man that she had met time and again inside of the GO Gym, mainly in the lobby as he spent hours playing on the computer – oh, excuse me. I mean, working as Gabriel and Odette’s administrative assistant. Or Angel did. Truth be told, there were times when Tempest couldn’t tell where Despayre began and the teddy bear ended. Or vice versa.

I said it was confusing!

Tempest: … Him? In a psychiatric hospital?

Synn sighed and stood upright from the rails that overlooked the Pacific Ocean churning in waves deep beneath them.

Synn: I don’t know if I would ever go so far as to classify Broodmoore as such. It was more like a Canadian torture chamber under the guise of a hospital but … yes. Believe me when I say that Joshua was not always as you see him now. He was worse.

Synn turned and looked straight into her eyes and as hardcore as she believed herself to be, she could understand why many within the Gym and the sport found it difficult to hold this man’s gaze for long.

Synn: Much worse. But a lot of time has passed, and a lot of work. It took so much work from so many people to help create an environment to allow Joshua to heal. And I am grateful for everyone.

Tempest could not help but joke - badly.

Tempest: Even Angel?

Synn: Especially Angel. Joke if you will but I dare say that my son would never have gotten as far as he has if it hadn’t been for that little friend of his. My point is … make the most of the time you have with your daughter. My son is thirty, and I still feel as if I’m catching up.

Tempest spent the next several moments taking in everything the man beside her had spoken. She herself had spent so many years, bitter and alone from the loss of her husband and - until recently - the loss of her stepdaughter. And while she found it quite difficult at times to be anything else other than Tempest, she was slowly coming to the realization that she was now something more.

She was a mom. She watched as Synn casually walked over to the pool side and effortlessly dropped into the water, his height allowing the deep water to come up only just above his waistline. His father joining him was reason enough for Despayre to whoop get up in the light, and that was the only catalyst Tempest needed. 9 years old or 30 years old, she could easily see the love of a child for their parent.

Tempest: … Oh what the hell…

And she too walked over to the pool, near her stepdaughter, Synn and Despy. Then, without warning, she jumped into the pool with a perfect cannonball splash! Water went everywhere, fans watching were amazed at seeing this ordinarily stoic and reserved Amazon figure just cut loose in such a simple way.

Tempest burst up from the water, and the sight of Anela cackling with childlike laughter so freely and openly at her mom's actions, it spoke volumes. Tempest then turned briefly to Synn whom Despayre had jumped onto his wide back, and he winked at her.

A mutual understanding.

---

It was well past when the sun had descended into the ocean waters, the bright, sunny sky replaced by the moon and countless stars overhead. And while there was still much partying to be done amongst many passengers and SCW stars alike, much of the fanfare had slowly dwindled down for the day, only set to resume when the next day would arise.

For the time being, Tempest stood at the patio door of the suite she had been lucky enough to be assigned, one of the many perks of being a champion for Sin City Wrestling. She turned her head and watched briefly the small form of her stepdaughter Anela sleeping beneath the comforter, her plush Stitch doll curled up against her for comfort and security. A gift from Build-A-Bear, courtesy of Despayre when she had first arrived in Las Vegas to live with her mom.

Tempest then slowly and as quietly as possible, slid the patio door open and set foot outside. It was amazing just how cool the night air was as it drifted across the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It often reminded her of the weather of her own native Hawaii.

She stood up against the rail, her hands wrapped tightly around the top rail, and her eyes looking out into the vastness of the star-filled night sky.

“Okay, Julianna. I get it. I think I understand where you’re coming from. You are openly frustrated because the women that you’ve been inside of the ring with don’t understand you - or they just don’t even try to. And this isn’t even necessarily about the women that you’ve already faced and in the vast majority of cases - defeated. Some of the women that have been standing on the sidelines watching you have been saying some pretty gnarly shit about you, about the things that you’ve accomplished. Really to the point that you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in high school or in the cast of Mean Girls as opposed to the locker room of professional wrestlers. Adult - professional wrestlers. So I can understand why at times Mark Ward or Christian Underwood might say that at times they feel like they’re running a daycare center as opposed to Sin City Wrestling. Because too damn many of us are acting like grade school children who are crying because the kid next to us took our favorite crayon!”

“And Julia… you and I? We ourselves are supposed to play the role of two adult women but there are two common misconceptions where not just us but all women are concerned. Number one? That women mature faster than men. Granted, I’ve seen my share of men around these parts acting like spoiled little brats - especially when there’s a woman involved, but women are really no different and sure as hell no better! We just manage to hide it a little better than the guys do. But everything we do and say indicates otherwise - especially when some chick is walking around with something that we want to have for ourselves. I don’t give a damn if it’s a man or a championship or just a higher spot on the show. If some bitch has it and we don’t, we let the world know just how unhappy we are. Even to the point of making up lies and talking trash just to justify our actions.”

“Which really, brings me to misconception number two. And that's how all women are expected to bring each other up rather than drag one another down along with us, straight into our own misery. I mean, why should anyone else have the right to be happy or successful if we think that we’re missing out? In the Bombshell division, there are plenty of championships to go around for everyone to have an equal chance at the spotlight, but that’s not nearly enough for us. Is it? That’s probably where men get the idea that women are never satisfied because we could be handed the most attractive and sweetest of all men on the face of the planet, win the Lottery and still we would find a reason why we deserve to have more.”
 
“Now Julianna, you said that you had people calling you into question, saying that you didn’t deserve to get the title shot that crowned you a champion. You even had people talk down about your reign itself, right up until the point you dropped it to Kayla. Well, sweetheart - welcome to the club!”

“Since I first showed up, I had people accusing me of being a one hit wonder. I was told by more than one opponent that the Mixed Tag Team titles would be the most that I could ever achieve and that was only because of Mercer! They said I used him, that I was riding Austin’s coattails and feeding off of his success and his reputation.”

Tempest turned at the waist and pointed a finger back inside of the suite, the nightlight reflecting off of the gold plate of the Internet Championship belt that rested up on her nightstand.

“Well…! Just look at me now.”

“But see, that is where you stepped in it, Julianna. Everything you said to me about everything I accomplished … you played your hand just a little too soon. You should have waited until Sunday before we are supposed to lock it up for the gold. When it would be too late to back out or look for that crack in your strategy that could be exploited until the proverbial walls might come crumbling down. This entire time, I was watching – waiting. I was left wondering whether or not you were the exception to the rules above being so flagrantly violated, or if you were being genuinely sincere in some of the things you’ve said both to me and about me. I man, up until now you seemed proud to be facing me as both a champion as well as a challenge to overcome. You were telling the world you didn't want me to lose to anyone lesser because you wanted to face me at my best. You wanted me to have no other blemishes on my record until I faced you because if I had lost to someone like - say, Eiley? That would have been as much a blemish against you as it would have been against me.”

Tempest smirked and shook her head.

“And I am ashamed to admit that I fell for it. Not just those things, but every line of crap that you’ve been feeding me and everyone else since our match was first announced and made official. Because since that point in time - and in your last chat up to the world especially - you’ve unraveled all of those pretty little words and showed me just what you really seem to think of me as both a competitor and as a champion. You … showed that you were really no different than those same women you were bitching about before. You went on and on about how the other women in the locker room call you names and disrespect you… But what the hell do you call what you were doing to me just this past week? I’ve had legit enemies inside of this ring who had better things to say to me than what you just did!”

“You want to talk shit to me because of the women that I’ve been up against until this point? Buttercup, talk to the people in charge of booking! Before I was a champion, after I was a champion, I didn’t give a DAMN about who they put me against just so long as they booked me! I was happy to fight anyone and everyone, and twice I even left it up to social media to decide who would get a shot at this championship, and both times I was given credible challengers and I won. Both times! If you think a defense against Crystal Zdunich is something easy to accomplish, well then let’s talk about your own debut inside of the ring against Dawn Warren! I mean, seriously!? Bea Barnhart? Who the hell HASN’T beaten the Bulldog’s better half!? So don’t come bitching to me about the level of competition that I’ve been matched up against because I’ve faced just as many top level women as you have, and I’ve scraped as low to the bottom of the barrel as you have. So… stones and glass houses, Julianna. Do you want to be the pot or the kettle?”

“Women like Mercedes Vargas you seem to enjoy taking a shot at my overcoming but let’s be honest between ourselves here, Julianna. Mercedes has accomplished more on her own than the both of us have put together.

“And yes, you’ve been to the very top of the mountain. You’ve been the World Champion and you held that gold for a respectable length of time – right up until you met Kayla Richards and lost back to back Supercard opportunities. Then you were like a lost little lamb, wandering the open field and wondering what would come next? Where would you go? The answer is right in front of you - literally! But the funny fact about your title reign is the fact that the woman you beat for the title, is the exact same woman I beat for mine. You know – the same woman that you implied was no big deal to beat inside of the ring. Funny how that works out, isn’t it? Funny how you beating Courtney Pierce is an accomplishment that is something to be heralded and proud of! But my beating the exact same woman…?”

Tempest shrugged her wide shoulders and scrunched up her face in as close to a comical way as she could manage.

“Meh. No big deal really. Quite the opposite, according to you. You beat the Courtney Pierce who up until that moment was a dominant Worlds Champion, whereas I was only able to defeat a woman who was tired and lost all interest in remaining the champion. Well…! Why don’t you just come out and say it, Julianna? Why don’t you just say she may as well have just laid down and taken a dive against me because that sure as hell seems to be what you’re implying! That my reign as Internet Champion has been worthless, and just because I hold some regard for women that you deem to be less than worthless!”

“Well, let me make one thing crystal clear to you! I know that my own career has had its ups and downs due to inactivity and injury! Hell, I’ve openly admitted to that very fact myself! Trust me when I tell you that you are not the first person to say those things to me! I beat Zoey Lukas in one of the best matches of my career and after that…? Nothing. I was given nothing. No title shots. No pushes against higher caliber opponents. I was just shuffled off to the sidelines to recover from one thing or another and Zoey herself asked what the fuck I was on about, beating her in a match like we had and just not riding out that momentum to a championship. But to flat out insult me to the point that you actually called me soft…”

She scoffed, shaking her head and the agitation was evident on her face, even beneath the starlight.

“That was the point where you crossed a line with me. Your last taste of championship gold was October of last year. And now you think that you’re just going to use me as a stepping stone to wash away that dry spell you’ve been experiencing?”

She scoffed, shaking her head in the negative.

“I am a lot of things, Julianna. I am a raging bitch! I am a loving mother! I am a best friend to those that have earned that right! I am loyal until you give me any reason not to be. I am a loving mother. But I am not a stepping stone for any woman inside of that ring! I am not someone that will be used as an example to anyone else! I am the Internet Champion! I am Tempest!”

Tempest stood straight up, knocking the chair over and sending it scattering over the waxed hardwood floor. She held up the Internet title belt and leaned over at the waist so she could gaze hard into the camera with one brow raised.

“And this, Julianna – is the calm before the freaking storm!”

Boarding the Ship
Midday
Princess Cruise

Once Alexandra had boarded the ship, he headed directly for her room. She had lost focus her past few matches, rather than going all out, she had been holding back and it cost her, dearly. She lost her Bombshell Roulette Title to Victoria. Someone who at first had played friend to her face, talking about how she supported Alexandra and wanted to prove it, to a low down two faced piece of shit. Alexandra had never been one to take losses so badly. This was less about the loss and more about the betrayal of trust. But right now, Alexandra was going to take the rest of the afternoon to relax and take in the festivities onboard the Princess Cruise line. Upon arriving at her Vista Suite, she unpacked her suitcase and smiled at herself in the mirror. She knew that her real friends, LJ, Miles, Carter and Bella were on board and she could take the time to really relax. She and Bella would be facing each other soon enough in the Ultimate X match.

“This is beautiful. My goodness management really stepped their game up. I don’t even care that I’m not in one of the fancy suites. This one is nice, perfect for a small working vacation.”

So many thoughts were running through her head, but she knew that if she just sat down and took a breath, she could focus. She needed to focus. This was about more than just a pay-per-view win, this was about revenge. Not only did she still want to get revenge for what had been done to Carter and Miles just mere weeks before their wedding, she wanted revenge for herself. No, she needed it. There was still time. More than enough time. Physically she was ready to take on what was ahead of her. She looked forward to at least eliminating Victoria, if she could do that, she could take the lead and show everyone that Victoria was a fluke. Victoria’s time would come, she would see that she couldn’t be a Queen anymore. Just like Alexandra had. So what if Victoria wanted her to face the darkness inside of her. Alexandra had done that multiple times over. Now, this was time for Victoria to see who she was.

“It’s time to focus on what needs to be done. I have a match to win and sitting around pouting about losses isn’t what’s going to make it happen again. They want a show, they’ll have it. My focus is on winning back my title.”

Alexandra was in a cheerful mood, for once in a long while. Her phone rang and she noticed it was a call from her daughter. Ashlynn always knew exactly when her mother needed her the most. She answered the phone with a smile crossing her face.

“Hey Ash.” she held the phone to her ear.

“Hey mom.. Did you make the boat?” She heard Ashlynn’s voice and smiled brighter than before.

“I sure did.”  The two carried on a conversation about Camp and the Cruise for a few hours.

---

Getting down to Brass Tacks
Later that night
Princess Cruise

Alexandra took time to pause, walking the deck of the ship. The air was cool, but not chilly. With Alexandra being from Texas, she was no stranger to heat, but the eighty degree weather was a perfect fit for this cruise. She smiled as she passed a few people, nodding her head before she smirked at the person standing behind the one holding the camera for her.

“You know I told myself I was going to take tonight to relax. To chill and hang out with my friends. People who have enriched my life in ways that no one else has. Instead I found myself feeling out of sorts and unable to actually enjoy my tiny little vacation, thanks to Sin City Wrestling. I should be hanging out with LJ, Miles and Carter, or hitting up the spa with Bella.  Instead I’m out here, walking the deck and taking a moment to really focus everything on this match. You see, there are people in this industry who have busted their ass, paid their dues and earned their place in the spotlight. Then there are people like one of my opponents, who never really paid her dues and got in on the fact that she trains with a prestigious wrestling academy.  The Lyons Den. You see, people like Cleo and Alexander, people who Victoria also thinks she rules over, trained there as well and you don’t see them out here parading around calling themselves a title they haven’t earned. But I’ll get to that later, right now, this is my time.”

She takes a few moments to pause, leaning against the railing and looking up at the stars. She turns back to the camera and nods.

“I fully intend on walking out the winner. I don’t care what it takes. You see last Summer Xxxtreme also saw me walking out the winner. And in the words of a great opponent, this is my show. I won last year against Bobbie Dahl and this year I’ll do the very same, only this time, sadly, Bobbie isn’t here to compete and I actually wish she was, cause I’d love to see her tear into Victoria. She and I pushed each other to be better and now, I’m going to do what she isn’t here to do and that’s rip my Bombshell Roulette Championship back from Victoria’s grip. The title wasn’t in the balance for me last year, but I still took the win. This year, there’s more riding on this win. We have the broken former champion, The Hardcore Pixie, The Hall Of Famer, and the Twisted Queen. Hanging above the ring, we have the Bombshell Roulette Championship. A Title I have bled for many times and will gladly do so again.”

She ran her fingers through her long hair, taking a deep breath. Keeping her anger in check, building it up to use in the ring. It was what she needed to do. The salty air off the water caused her to close her eyes for a moment, bringing herself back down to where she could speak without clenching her teeth.

“I made a promise to my daughter that I would bring that title home. I won’t fail her again. Run your mouth about me all you want. Say things about my friends, about the people I care about and you will find out something about me that you don’t want to know. I will use every drop of my blood, every bit of sweat and all the air in my lungs to make sure that I walk out the champion. I pose this question to both Mercedes and Bella, do either of you think she is worthy of the Bombshell Roulette Championship? To stand before you demanding your fealty on a false pretender? Do you feel right with yourself to bow before her? To bend your knee to a woman whose mind is so twisted, that she pitted a happy couple against each other? A woman who uses her own family as pawns in a sick game of chess. You see I won’t stand here and say that I will beat either of you. I’ve been in the ring with both of you and I know what you can do. If it’s not me, I want to see one of you two with it.  Moreso, I want to see Bella with it more than you Mercedes.. sorry..”

She started to walk, her hand sliding along the metal railing as she spoke, the camera following her. She stopped after a few moments and turned back to the camera. There was so much to say, so many things she needed to get off her chest.

“Oh dear sweet Mercedes, I know what you think of me. I’ve heard everything you’ve said. But you also seem to forget the grueling matches I’ve been in, while I was the Bombshell Roulette Champion. I didn’t get to sit around having a match here and there, whenever I wanted it. No,I defended it every time I was booked. Those matches weren’t anything new to me. Here I am, sitting here well after defending that championship and holding it for a record number of days and you still see me as scum on the bottom of your shoe. You still see me as a nobody and that’s fine.”

Alexandra gives a soft little laugh, knowing that Mercedes underestimated what she could do, what she had done to keep the Bombshell Roulette Championship in her hands.

“I was the Bombshell Roulette Champion for one hundred and twelve days during my first run with it, defending it against a great number of competitors. Never once did I falter, until Bobbie Dahl got her chance and I was glad to lose it to her. Honored even. She had proven she was worthy. Then I took it back only a short time later. And in my second run, I held the title for sixty-three days, all while competing in the Blast from the Past Tournament. So I would say, I did damn good for myself. Meanwhile, if I remember correctly I took you out of the running in one of those attempts to grab the title for yourself. But you seem to forget that. It’s alright though, I don’t mind giving you a refresher course on just who the hell I am.”

She steps closer to the camera as she speaks that last sentence. She licks her lips and steps back, holding her hands up.

“But I can’t blame you for seeing me as a threat. Come on, we both know that’s what you really meant to say. I’m not going to stand around and say you don’t have what it takes to end my shot this time. But we both know the outcome of our last match, you couldn’t get the job done. You won’t do it this time either. You can only hope to get taken out of this match early on, so that you don’t risk any future chances you might have had at glory. Because I can promise you, if Victoria goes out before you, or hell even me, I don’t see you having much of a fighting chance either darlin. Bella’s on fire. I know, I just faced her not too long ago. Bella could take this whole thing home with her, and you know what, I’d be damn proud of her.”

Alexandra nods her head, looking out over the water again, collecting her thoughts. Bella was an easy one to talk to, they had a mutual respect for each other.

“Which brings me to you Bella. You speak truth my dear, a truth that many people seem to forget. Sometimes there are ups and downs in this business, life comes at you fast and sometimes you either have to face it, take the losses and victories in stride, or step aside and let it fly by you. I know that neither of us will just step aside. We lay it on the line every single time. I saw that spark in you, you just needed to see it for yourself. You say you look up to me and I’m honored. Just as much as you learned from me, I learned from you. I learned to never take for granted who and what really matters in life.”

She gave the camera a warm smile, one that was reserved for her friends and family. To her, Bella had been someone that she grew to trust and respect without ever having to really try. They had earned in the way all great warriors did, through battle.

“I’ve learned that sometimes, even the best laid plans and promises unravel no matter how much you fight to protect them. I vowed to get back at her for what she did to Miles and Carter and it cost me the title, but that doesn’t change anything. I’m still going to fight with everything I have in me. And it’s because I know people like you are watching and hell, now fighting against me to win our beloved Bombshell Roulette Championship.  While some people look at that title and see it as nothing other than a consolation prize. We see it for what it’s truly worth.”

She took a deep breath. Bella had shown her a kindness that very few other’s ever had. She never belittled her in the hopes of getting Alexandra to follow her lead. She watched as Alexandra grew and changed as we all do, all through life.

“Bella, you and I both know that at the end of Ultimate X, it should be one of us. Let’s take out the competition and then show the fans what they really came to see, two women who know just what it takes to truly hold that championship. People who won’t use it as a crutch or something they see as the one ring.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s give that title the champion it deserves and no matter who comes out on top, we shake hands and prove that true competition isn't dead, despite a Queen’s desire to end everything we stand for.”

She froze in her spot, turning away from the camera for a moment, her hands now tightening their grip on the railing.  She closes her eyes for a moment again, opening them she turns to look in the camera, as if she was staring into Victoria’s soul.

“Dear Sweet Icarus, you should learn to listen to those who tell you fables, for fables have meaning my dear. He tried to warn you and yet you refuse to listen to him. He speaks of what he knows, for he once stood across from me. But unlike you, he didn’t see fit to attack those I held dear. He came straight at me and flew FAR too close to the sun. However, unlike him, I will not be so kind to you. I will not accept you into my fold, nor will you ever have my trust and friendship. You can continue to try your attempts at turning him against me. You can continue your attempts to turn me against Miles, the truth is, you are bitter and alone. You attack those who have the happiness you, yourself cannot achieve. I have friends and the respect of my peers, Miles and Carter have love, and you long for those things and cannot find someone to give them to you, because of your bitterness.”

Alexandra sits down on one of the chairs on the deck, smiling up at the camera. She continued on, knowing that time was growing short.

“You think you are so high above me, above any of us. You see, I’ve danced in the ring with Queens and I can tell you that you my dear are no Queen. You sit on a throne of lies. You see yourself as someone above us, when I can tell you all it takes is one wrong move, one bad night for that crown to slip from your brow. Whatever will your kingdom think then? I can tell you this, your kingdom will fall, be it by my hand or anothers. You see, you say that I failed. You act as if Miles and I getting a title shot was a gift from you. No. It wasn’t. We were amusement in your sick little game. In your twisted fable, you see yourself as a Queen, My Roulette Championship as your crown, and all of us as your noble subjects. Wake up from your fairytale kiddo and realize that this is the real world. Or if you insist on carrying on this charade, be prepared for the uprising and your beheading. For what does one do with treacherous ne'er-do-wells, who claim a throne and fail to lead. Why don’t we ask the French?”

She rose, looking into the camera. She licked her lips again, before she clicked her tongue. With a dark smirk on her face that she had not used in a very long time, she focused all of her energy into her.

“Victoria, I’m not going to sit around and play the what if’s game with you. I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m scared of you. You can talk every bit about how you think I’ve gone soft. Believe whatever you would like to believe, think very hard about everything you’ve seen me do in this company, now make a call and ask Alexander, ask Cleo, oh wait, you can’t, your kingdom is falling and in ruins around you. All that needs to happen now is for me to take your crown. I plan on doing whatever it takes. So carry on, hob nob with the other champions, that way you at least have the memory of how great it feels to be on top. After the dust settles on Ultimate X, a new champion will stand in your place and when you look up, you’ll see ME standing over you with my arm held high in victory. You want to play in the shadows, in the darkness, then let’s play your highness.”

She gave a quick bow and then stood up straight, her eyes focused on the camera again. This time the look in her eyes was cold.

“The time is drawing near, we are staring down the barrel of the gun. The only thing left to do is decide whether you are willing to take the risk for glory, or step aside and let the rest of us finish the ride. My focus is on this match, despite people’s thoughts otherwise. I’m not focused on the losses of the past few weeks. I’m driven, I’m on fire and I WILL take back my Bombshell Roulette Championship, ending the reign of the tyrant Queen, Victoria Lyons.”

She paused looking into the camera.

“No matter what it takes.”

She blows a kiss at the camera and walks towards LJ who has walked into frame. He offers her his arm and the two walk off. On the back of her jacket in blood red letters is the word….



And the camera fades to black.