(Miles and Carter were used with their handlers’ permissions, Gabriel was used with Mark’s permission)
Ari would lose a hard-fought match to Keira but things were only going to get worse for the Greek American Bombshell as the following week she and Keira would be attacked by Krystal and Jessica who had laid out the Hero Academy students Fayth Kross, Skylar Parker and Carrie Rivera off camera prompting Keira to not only bring the darkness out but bring in the feared Hell’s Gate trainer Whisper to team with her at Summer XXXTreme against Krystal and a partner of her choice!
But where did that leave Ari? Well, she and Carter were set to compete in the final Mixed Tag Team Qualifying Match at the Go Home Show but their original opponents pulled out for an unspecified reason! Christian wasn’t willing to allow a bye in this mini tournament which meant that Team Go would possibly have to miss out but fortunately for Carter and Ari, one team did step up, namely Kim Pain and the reigning Roulette Champion Peter Vaughn! Kim was coming off an extremely close match against the new World Bombshell Champion Courtney Pierce which could’ve easily ended in a draw whilst Peter’s last match was a defeat at the Internet Champion Jack Washington’s hands, can Team Go win?
Ari’s garage, Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday the 3rd of June 2023, 18:00pm
Well, this is an interesting situation.
We don’t really use it for anything other than storage space but me and Franky’s home has a garage attached to it, apparently the previous owners were a fairly large family with multiple drivers hence the need for a large house with a garage but after we brought the property? Well, me and Franky keep our cars on the driveway so we’ve been using the garage for storage as I said, so why am I bringing this up?
Earlier today I heard a strange noise coming from the garage, both our pets were accounted for (Athena was sitting on my lap purring as I stroked her whilst Zeus was playing with Franky in the back garden) so I went to investigate! And if I were religious I’d be joking about being a modern day, gender flipped version of Noah because I discovered that a feral cat had gotten stuck in the garage and went to alert Franky.
Since then we have christened the cat Peaches because that song from the Super Mario Bros. movie was stuck in my head at the time and I’ve been trying to gain her trust using some spare tuna from the fridge, this was one such attempt.
”Here kitty, kitty, here kitty, kitty.” I called out to the mostly empty garage as I walked into the space, I heard the cat meow and it didn’t take me long to locate Peaches as she was perched atop a box on the far side of the garage. ”Hey, it’s okay, I brought you food.” I said as I carefully approached the feral with the hand carrying the small piece of tuna outstretched, the cat jumped down from her perch and sauntered up to me before happily taking the tuna. ”Wow, you really are a hungry girl aren’t………”
It was at that point that I heard another meow, this one was definitely younger, higher pitched, and it was then that I saw something I wasn’t sure how I had previously missed, namely the tell-tale signs that Peaches had been nursing a litter, before I could say anything else Peaches walked away from me and I carefully followed her, my curiosity piqued and let out a soft, delighted gasp as I saw it.
Peaches had been tending to a small litter of kittens in the garage, the babies couldn’t have been older than a few days old as their eyes were shut and there were four in total. ”Oh my god, you’re a mother?!” I sighed with a small smile on my face as I knelt down next to Peaches, the mother cat paid me no mind as she tended to her litter and I quickly got my phone out to FaceTime Franky. ”Franky, get down to the garage quickly.”
”Why? Is something wrong with Peaches?” Francisco asked with a concerned look on his face and I shook my head before turning my phone around to show Franky the cat and her litter right as Peaches was giving one of her babies a clean, Franky’s reaction was much the same as mine and when I turned the camera back around he was already back in the house. ”I’ll be with you in a minute babe, just gotta feed Zeus first.”
”Take all the time you need Franky because I’ll be right here.” I responded after taking a seat on a nearby box so I could be comfortable whilst watching them. ”Also, the rule about keeping the house pets separate from the feral goes double now that we know that she’s weening, she’ll probably be extremely protective of her litter if she feels threatened by either Athena or Zeus.”
”I was about to say the same thing, they’ll probably be fine but it’s best to air on the side of caution.” Franky nodded in agreement before he ended the call, as I watched the feral tend to her litter, I realized that this presented me and Franky with a problem.
Our original plan was to get the feral in a cat carrier and take her to the vets to get her health checked, but with the litter I wasn’t sure about transporting them, especially when they were so young and with Climax Control tomorrow night.
My neighbours would find a solution whilst we were out of state, namely by having a vet do a house call whilst they pet sat, and we were told to bring them in once the litter was eight weeks old.
That was two weeks ago, litter’s doing well, shame I can’t say the same thing about my SCW career this cycle.
Go Gym, Las Vegas, Nevada
Monday the 12th of June 2023, 14:00pm
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been in a rut since I challenged for the World Bombshell Title.
Generally I’m okay with losing matches if there’s no controversy involved, Aleesha was a new face to the Bombshell division and I had a lot of anger going into that match thanks to Krystal’s attack on me from the week before, Keira was heading into our match with a lot to prove because I was her return match, but away from the ring? It started with the aforementioned attack from Krystal but I spent the rest of the cycle either having my promo time interrupted or being attacked.
But me and Carter’s participation in the Mixed Tag Team Tournament was just the icing on a terrible cake.
We were originally scheduled to compete in the third week of the cycle, but I didn’t know that when I laid out the challenge to Keira and was only told once we got to the back, Christian gave me a choice, either have the match take place this week or put off the match with Keira and me and Carter agreed to put off the match until the week of Carter’s birthday which is tomorrow, and right when I thought things couldn’t get worse? They did.
Our original opponents pulled out for an undisclosed reason, we don’t even know who our original opponents were but Christian didn’t want to have a second tournament in a row that featured a team getting a bye, translation? If Christian couldn’t find replacement opponents, me and Carter were out of the running.
On one hand he found replacement opponents, on the other hand our opponents are two of the toughest wrestlers in our respective divisions in Kim Pain and Peter Vaughn! The fact that we’re facing Krystal’s former Saviours teammates isn’t lost on me either! I don’t know what led to the Saviours kicking out Krystal because neither party have exactly been forthcoming with the story behind it but if anything, that just sent Krystal further off the edge.
All this was why I needed to chat with Gabriel, it had been a rough time, that’s all I’m saying.
”Honestly Gabriel? I’m not even sure where to start.” I admitted after sitting opposite my mentor and making myself comfy. ”But I haven’t been able to gain any serious momentum since we got back from England, everything from Krystal’s attack to my losses to Aleesha, Keira and the situation with Team Go and Mixed Tag Titles haven’t been that great for my confidence.”
”Not every wrestler stays undefeated forever, Krystal is a prime example of that.” Gabriel pointed out and I nodded with a frown on my face. ”But I have noticed one thing since our return from England, it seems that Roxi’s comments, as well intentioned as they were, have affected your self-confidence ! You’ve tried to hide it off course but you’ve never been good at hiding things like that.”
”I’ll admit, if there’s one thing I could point too as the start of where things started to go wrong for me, it’s that.” I sighed as I brushed some of my long black hair over my shoulder. ”I started the year off with some great momentum on my side, I was the Roulette Champion, I was turning away challengers including the current champion, even after I lost the belt in that Open Invitational Match I quickly bounced back with an opportunity to win the Internet Title and whilst that didn’t pan out, I did great in the Blast from the Past Tournament and even after I lost in the Quarter Finals, I still managed to get myself a Main Event Title Match against Roxi! That was a dream come true, I’ve said it several times but it’s still true!”
”And then Roxi’s promo turned that dream into a nightmare, she pointed out something I had suspected myself but didn’t bring up because I didn’t want that though plaguing your mind, you weren’t ready.” Gabriel sighed as he shifted his weight and I nodded with a frown on my face. ”And if anything, you only made it worse for yourself when you put your defences up, you let Roxi’s promo get to you and in the end, you only proved her right.”
”It felt like my idol was taking a sledgehammer to the dream I had built up for myself since I watched her first title defence against Jessie all those years ago, what was I supposed to do?” I asked as I let a frustrated sigh. ”Roxi tracked me down after the show to make amends, she gave me a pep talk but in hindsight I’m not sure if it was as affective as it could’ve been! Could I have conducted myself better in that promo I cut at the Whitechapel Market? Probably, but I only got defensive because I felt I had too.”
”I understand your frustration Ariana, but you need to remember this, you’re not the nineteen-year-old girl I recommended to the SCU Brass two weeks before your birthday, you’re a twenty-two-year-old woman, a former champion in both SCU and SCW, many have you pegged as a future star of the Bombshell Division.” Gabriel responded with a frown and I nodded as I got the idea. ”You need to learn how to control your emotions better when handling criticism, less we have another Krystal……….”
”Whoa, whoa, whoa, are you seriously comparing me to Krystal?!” I interrupted Gabriel and he paused to let me speak. ”The only thing I have in common with Krystal is the fact that we’re both women in our twenties who have held the Roulette Gold and had terrible parents, Krystal’s dad more so but still, but I’ve never offered to interrupt another Go Gym Graduate’s match just to get something I want, I’ve never deliberately injured a rookie, for one thing you would’ve thrown me out on day one if I had left a sparring partner with a broken arm and I’ve definitely never disrespected you or the Go Gym!”
”You are wrong, you have let your frustration and anger cloud your judgement much like Krystal.” Gabriel interrupted me and I paused as I put a hand to my mouth. ”Krystal’s issues are rooted in the fact that no one stopped to ask if she was okay in the twelve-month period following her title loss and she let that anger and frustration boil over until she snapped, I am taking measures to ensure that such an incident never happens again hence why we are having this conversation.” Gabriel added and I had a bit to think about for sure. ”Do you know how Chelsea Skye got involved in this by any chance?”
That question broke me out of my stupor, Chelsea was another Go Gym Graduate but to date she was the only graduate who had never worked for Sin City Wrestling, she was a hell of a wrestler inside the ring but a rather polarizing figure outside because she wrote Death Metal music and starred in porn in her off time! She was a lovely girl, in terms of personality and appearance! Heck, there was a strong case for Chelsea being one of the most gorgeous women in wrestling but had a temper for days.
And had apparently just caught up on Sin City Wrestling. ”I’m not sure, I know her wife Sarah graduated from Hero Academy because her graduation match was during the week where me, Krystal and Jessie were watching over that school for Keira and Roxi and she took exception to Krystal targeting Fayth, Skylar and Carrie last night.” I responded with a shrug and Gabriel nodded. ”All I know is Chelsea and Sarah have gone down to Hell’s Gate so Sarah can prepare to face Krystal in a public workout, and yes, the irony of that isn’t lost on me.”
”The world works in mysterious ways, Chelsea admitted to me that the reason why she opted to work the independents rather than go straight to SCW after graduation was because she was afraid of being lost in the shuffle on the Bombshell Roster, but this may lead to Chelsea having a full-on appearance at the cruise for all we know.” Gabriel added before chuckling. ”And I don’t think the cruise liner SCW uses has a Sun Deck so we won’t have to worry about Chelsea and Sarah having sex out in the open like that.”
”Somehow I doubt that would stop them, anyway I had better get back to training.” I responded as I stood up and Gabriel nodded. ”Especially since me and Carter are heading up to Seattle for his birthday with Miles.”
”Tell him I said happy birthday and good luck with the situation with his dad.” Gabriel nodded before I left his office with a lot on my mind.
Carter’s family home, Seattle, Washington
Tuesday the 13th of June 2023, 11:00am
God, I haven’t been to Seattle since I was the Roulette Champ, back when me and Krystal were still friends.
I know that was six months ago because, well, we travelled up there for the Holidays but it still feels like a lifetime ago, both for my Roulette Title reign and my friendship with Krystal.
I’m not going into everything that’s happened since the reign ended less I sound like a broken record, at the very least I can say that in the year since I made my SCW debut during the Greece Lightning Tour my stock in the Bombshell Division has skyrocketed thanks to my title reign and high-profile matches! Makes me wonder what the year 2024 will bring for me outside of my marriage to Francisco but I’m getting way ahead of myself.
Speaking of my marriage to Francisco, can’t believe I almost forgot that we’re getting married next week1 I had been so focussed on trying to get out of this rut that it had slipped my mind, and just to make one thing clear? We scheduled the date a couple of days after my twenty second birthday back in October, we had no idea that it would coincide with the Summer XXXTreme cruise but I guess we can use that as a honeymoon without having to pay for it!
Speaking of birthdays, the whole reason why we were in Seattle in the first place was for my bestie’s twenty fourth birthday! Carter may have been having issues with his dad as of late but I was still going to be there no matter what happened.
Armed with presents off course.
”Franky, are you sure we brought everything?” I asked Francisco as we walked up the driveway to Carter’s home each carrying a small handful of presents in each hand. ”The pictures of Peaches and her littler are on my phone, we grabbed everything we had brought for Carter before we left for the airport, I think I covered everything but the kitchen sink!”
”You forgot the most important present Ari, we’ve brought ourselves.” Francisco assured me and I grinned before giving him a quick peck on the cheek for the complement, sure I had to stand on my toes to get close enough to his face to begin with but that’s what I get for deciding to date a tall, dark and handsome guy and I wasn’t even that short for a woman at 5ft 6! ”Relax, it’ll be fine.”
”Thanks babe.” I responded with a grin before knocking on the door and we got ready to sing “Happy Birthday”, initially our plans to greet Carter with the song were cut short when grams answered the door but she quickly went to get Carter when she saw us. ”Happy birthday too you! Happy Birthday too you! Happy birthday dear bestie, happy birthday too you!” I greeted Carter when he answered the door and he grinned broadly before taking some of the presents and leading us inside.
”You know you didn’t have to come all this way, right Ari?” Carter asked as he lead us into the house and Francisco closed the door behind us. ”I’m not saying I don’t appreciate it but with your wedding next week I would’ve taken a belated birthday present instead.”
”The money for the wedding was set aside months ago, and the event itself is paid for! Besides, belated birthday wishes are just awkward as all heck!” I responded as I shook my head and Carter found that statement hard to argue with as he lead us into the lounge. ”And I did promise to show you pictures of the feral and her litter didn’t I?”
”You know just what to say to tug at my heart strings!” Carter responded with a laugh before we entered the lounge and sat down before being joined by Miles. ”And no, Miles hasn’t revealed what his surprise birthday girl to me is!”
“Just trying to build suspense and all!” Miles laughed in response before I got my phone out and started looking for the best picture of Peaches and her litter I could. “I’m surprised you haven’t posted pictures of the litter to your Twitter accounts.”
”Peaches is being really protective of her babies, she was willing to let me see them but that’s about it, and I’m worried that if I keep prodding Peaches will move her litter to another section of the garage.” I explained and the two men nodded as they got the idea. ”I haven’t even been able to get a close up of the babies without Peaches hissing at me so sadly, so I had to make do with an aerial view when the babies were feeding, still managed to get them all in there so here they are.”
I handed over my phone with the picture selected and the guys’ hearts melted, made sense really since Carter loved cats and the kittens were adorable. “Oh my god! How precious!” Miles cooed as he looked at the picture and Carter nodded in agreement. “You said they were a few days old right?”
”Right, but that was two weeks ago, they eyes opened for the first-time last night.” I explained after taking back the phone from Miles and they nodded. ”Our neighbours have been helping us get them on a deworming regimen, gonna be a few more weeks before we can get them and their mom to the vet for a once over but they seem healthy enough considering they and their mom are feral, hopefully they’ll be okay by then and Peaches will trust me enough.”
”If you need any help let us know! We can handle a few pussies!” Carter exclaimed right as his mom entered the room and we tried to warn him. ”What?”
“Carter McKinley, I can’t believe you’d say that in front of sweet innocent Ari!” Carter’s mom scolded him and the luck on Carter’s face told the whole story! Luckily for him I didn’t want to see my bestie get scolded on his birthday so I explained the context, even going as far as to show her the same picture I showed Carter and Miles. “Oh my god! That is so cute! Carter mentioned that you had a feral in your garage but nothing about a litter.”
”I was going too but their timely arrival interrupted me.” Carter admitted as he shook his head before his mom brought grams in to look at the picture, spoiler alert? Her reaction was the same as everyone else’s!
It was a great day all and all but we returned to Las Vegas that night to let Carter enjoy his surprise present from Miles with his boyfriend, we at least had time to go over the plans for the Mixed Tag but that just left us with one question.
Could we win?
Ari’s home, Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday the 14th of June 2023, 16:00pm
*promo time*
Can’t wait for this to be over!
”I went from the dizzying highs of challenging my idol for the World Bombshell Title in a PPB Main Event to not even being able to beat a newcomer in an opening contest, how’s your cycle going?” I asked with a frustrated sigh as I pointed to the picture from my match against Aleesha and then the pics of my match with Keira and the mixed tag titles. ”Personally? Not great, I’ve been in a major rut since the match against Roxi and this Mixed Tag Team Qualifier was almost cancelled after our original opponents pulled out, thankfully another team did step up, Kim Pain and Peter Vaughn.”
Just my luck.
”Me and Carter will off course give this our all but we’re still facing a huge task, the current Roulette Champion and a woman who’s only been defeated three since arriving in Sin City Wrestling at the beginning of the year? And her last match was a real nail biter against the current World Bombshell Champion, which she just barely escaped a draw finish I might add!” I let out a deep breath as I pointed to Kim and Peter’s pictures. ”No one said this was gonna be easy, but we may as well be facing Dark Souls bosses!”
Can we do it?
”I have a lot of respect for Kim as a competitor, in a division as competitive as the Bombshell Division remaining undefeated as long as she did is no small feat, and whilst I’m not terribly familiar with Peter’s work outside of SCW, the fact that he won the title so quickly says it all, doesn’t it?” I asked rhetorically as I brushed some hair over my shoulder. ”But I will say this, if we go down, me and Carter will go down swinging, and who knows? Maybe we’ll go be a #1 with a bullet because sugar, we’re going down singing!” I added before grinning sheepishly and pointing to the logo for the band “Fall Out Boy”. ”Err, sorry, I had that song stuck in my head whilst I was putting the board together!”
It's that simple.
”I guess that’s just who I am this week! Anyway, Kim. Peter, no one’s denying that your tough opponents for me and Carter and would definitely be a favourite to win the titles if you get past us!” I added as I pointed to the pictures of me and Carter. ”But Team Go is nothing if not tenacious, when we won the Pride Tag Team Titles in SCU we were still rookies! I was nineteen, Carter was twenty-one, and yet we still managed to win and defend the titles against all comers, what’s stopping history from repeating itself in 2023?”
And with that I decided to wrap things up.
”Kim Pain and Peter Vaughn, and even if we win the match? Austin James Mercer and Tempest, Alexander Raven and Luna Vanity and Eiley and my Blast from the Past Partner Oliver Zahn, still a daunting task for Team Go even IF we win!” I added as I brushed some hair over my shoulder. ”But me and Carter don’t give up that easily, we may be best friends but the reality is that we’re like brother and sister and what better team than that? And once I make Kim and Peter bask in the Greek Angel’s Light, Team Go will Go The Distance!”
I walked off ass the scene fades.
