The 2023 Unsolved Mysteries Tour had this far been a rousing success where the SCW Universe was concerned. Fans across the world that celebrated the macabre took a heightened interest in the overall tour itself; The mysterious locations of each stop for an edition of the promotion's signature broadcast of Climax Control, as well as what their favorite Superstars and Bombshells found themselves up to during each and every stop.

And the staff and stars of Sin City Wrestling themselves? Many of them took a heightened delight in this tour, if not for the theme itself, then certainly for the unique locations of each stop along. From picturesque Canada to luxurious Barbados and both stops in Scotland of the United Kingdom, the men and women who put their bodies on the line each and every week inside of the six-sided ring, or afforded what amounted to unique and luxurious working vacations. And while some took advantage of these stops and the theme of the tour itself, openly investigating each of the Unsolved Mysteries presented, not all were fans or into the idea of the mysterious nature of this tour. Not to say that they weren't thrill seekers themselves. If they weren't, chances were that they would not be involved in the sport in the first place. They simply weren't what they referred to as "ghost hunters".

However, the difference between the previous four stops and the current one where it was as different as night and day. Before Romania, everyone was for the most part, given the luxury of deciding for themselves whether or not they wanted to investigate or be a part of the weekly Unsolved Mystery. This week however, thanks largely in part to "Hot Stuff" Mark Ward, the men and women of SCW were given little to no choice. They would not just be ‘visiting’ Hoia Forest - long believed to be the most haunted forest in the entire world, but they would literally be staying within the  729 plus acreage as part of a camping excursion! Imagine it! To be staying in what had become known as ‘the Bermuda Triangle of Forests’! One time it was believed that a shepherd had vanished off the face of the earth, along with two hundred sheep. Never to be seen again. A five year old child had also once vanished from within these trees, only to reappear five years later without having aged a day.

Yes indeed, that was where the SCW hierarchy had deigned to send the men and women of SCW! Some were wary while others were outspoken in just how unhappy they were and the so-called risks the top brass were taking with their lives. Whereas others on the rosters, men and women alike - were openly embracing this mysteriously spooky adventure.

Case in point – Devona. The star of this particular promotional work. Ever since signing up for the 2023 Blast From the Past which coincided with the tour, Devona had not let a single opportunity pass her by to explore the unexplainable. Devona toured the Chase Vaults in Barbados and hiked alongside her tag team partner J2H to the summit of Ben Macdui in Scotland – and now here she was. In Hoia Forest. More so, she had taken it upon herself to ensure her tent was as close to The Clearing as allowed. The Clearing reportedly the most haunted area of the forest's entirety. Of course, she didn’t tell J2H that particular fact when their tents were set next to each other. The famed SCW legend never outright showed her a reason to believe he was fearful of the superstitious, but – better safe than sorry!

Of course, not everyone had found themselves camped out beneath the stars, their tents being pelted lightly by the rain that had permeated the Romanian countryside ever since they had arrived. The sky had been overcast for days, the damp and dreary weather coupled with the cool temperatures resulted in a fog that had rolled in only days prior, blanketing the forest floor. For many this added to the misery of this particular stop in the tour, for others it only added to the mystique. No, it was Kim Pain of the Saviors that had been the only one smart enough to use Google maps to discover a cave large enough to set up a comfortable camp while remaining within the boundaries of the forest. Thus, remaining under the provision of Mark Ward’s ruling. The cave was large enough for Kim to set her camp up with plenty of room to spare, and being inside the rocky confines of a cave, she was perhaps the only one lucky enough to have a fire going. A fire that on this day she was only too happy to share.

With Devona.

As she sat by the small campfire, opposite of Kim, Devona curled her knees up against her breasts, wrapping her arms around her bent legs. The two women had, through mutual exchanges on social media, found themselves with quite a lot in common between themselves in regards to their personalities and likes and dislikes - and the admiration for one Sam Winchester from TV’s Supernatural. Kim had even taken her by surprise when she invited her to go into town with her for supplies and the two women had struck up something of an accord between them. Especially over the subject of S’Mores. I mean, seriously! Who goes camping and doesn’t engage in that chocolaty, gooey campfire treat???

“I admit I never really was the girly type.” Devona mused as her chestnut brown eyes soaked in the dancing flames of the fire that Kim carefully kept in check. Cave or not, a fire – even a small one – was asking for trouble when in the center of a forest. Most had been barred by Romanian authorities from lighting even the smallest of fires. Kim had found for herself a loophole when she had found this cave in which to make her stay. Devona continued, “I don’t know if that disappointed my mom or not, but it certainly didn’t upset my daddy. Or my two brothers.”

“You have brothers?” Kim asked, to which Devona chuckled. “Not by blood, but they’re as good as. You may have seen them the one time they came to the arena with me for company.”

“Hold up…” Kim looked up, instinctively withdrawing the metallic S’Mores maker from the flames so as not to burn them. “That really big guy and the pretty one? Those are your brothers?”

“My adopted brothers, so to speak. Yes.” Devona nodded with a smile of pride, a feeling she reflected whenever the subject of ‘her boys’ just so happened to arise. Her eyes then danced with amusement as she pointed out, “And Beauty would appreciate the fact you called him the ‘pretty one’.” A smile that was met with one to match on Kim’s part.

Devona continued, “But I’ve always been the tomboy sort.” Met with a casual “Same” in response from Kim before she went on, “I don’t hardly ever wear much makeup, if ever and I hate dresses. I think I was one of the first to jump at the chance to go camping here.” She chuckled. “Though I bet if Tempest were here, she’d have been happy in a sleeping bag under a tarp stretched out between the trees.”

Kim smirked, “If it wasn’t for my fiance, I certainly would have.”

Devona went on, sharing a bit of herself, “I never played with dolls. I hate those things!” She shuddered with a slight exaggeration. “Creepy things with their staring eyes! As a little girl I preferred playing with Beauty’s wrestling figures. I preferred sports and video games (still do). I was on the cheerleading squad - briefly - in high school but I have to admit … I hated every second of it. It always felt like the girls were trying to compete with the boys during the football games or take the attention away from them.”

“Pretty stupid thing to try to do.” Kim observed. “People go to those games for the football players, not the sideshow attraction. The cheerleaders are just window dressing for the game.”

“It’d have been nice if more of the girls understood that, or accepted it.” Devona shrugged as Kim passed a hot S’Mores over to her grateful hands. “Half of the girls on the squad had convinced themselves they were the stars of the game and would accept nothing less. Those were the attitudes that made me eventually leave the cheerleading team and a couple girls and I tried out for the football team instead.”

“And…?”

“And the coach rejected us before we ever had the chance to try.” Devona answered, blowing onto her sweet treat before taking a tentative bite. She added, “He tried feeding us the line that it was illegal for girls to be on the football team.”

“Bullshit…” Kim muttered, shaking her head with obvious annoyance. “It’s not illegal. It’s just a bunch of misogynistic ass holes not wanting a girl on the team!”

“Oh I know.” Devona agreed. “They thought a girl on the team would upstage the boys, and they’d have to lose sight of winning in favor of **air quotes** protecting us instead.” She scoffed. “Growing up with Beauty and Beast, I knew how to play football, change the oil in a car, go camping… you name it. I wasn’t worried about getting roughed up on a football field but the boys on the team and the school board were a bunch of candy asses.”

“You could have fought it.” Kim helpfully pointed out, to which Devona nodded in agreement, “I could have, but Beauty was on the team at that point and I was more concerned the other players would cause him grief on my behalf. Plus I had just moved in with my grandparents and I thought the issue would cause them more problems than they were prepared to handle.”

“If you don’t mind my asking…” Kim started to say, leaning back on her camping chair, while indulging in a S'Mores of her own. “And don’t be afraid to tell me to mind my own business, but why did you move in with your grandparents?”

It was a sore subject for obvious reasons, and reasons that remained largely unknown by the majority of her peers in SCW, but Kim was the first to truly reach out to her and she felt little reason not to be honest in her answers, and thus opening up a door she had closed years ago. She said, “They were killed in a car crash when I was about fifteen.”

The fire danced off of Kim’s lightly tanned flesh but Devona could see the woman’s face fall slightly and her skin pale ever-so. Kim at first avoided eye contact at the answer save for saying, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“No, no.” Devona got comfortable on the log she had chosen to sit on rather than the other offered chair. She waved off Kim’s concern or embarrassment and said, “It’s alright, you had no way of knowing. I am the one who brought the topic up, after all. Only stands to reason you might pick up on that and ask.”

Silence then happened to fall between the two women, the crackling of the fire the only sound heard between the pair. It wasn’t a silence of tension or awkwardness, but one in which words simply did not need to be exchanged in order for them to understand one another. Devona then cast a glance back over her shoulder and to the gaping mouth of the cave. The sky had already been overcast but the light gray clouds were slowly beginning to darken and not because of the weather.

Devona turned back to Kim and offered her the best smile she could muster, “I better start heading back. It’s going to be dark soon and I’d just as soon not try climbing down the cliff side in the dark.”

“Smart.” Kim offered as both women stood up from where they had been seated. Devona motioned with a hand toward the pot that had the remnants of their shared dinner in it, a little concoction Devona had informed Kim was called ‘camper’s stew’.

Devona said, “Looks like there’s enough left for one more bowl. Do you mind if I…?”

“You’re still hungry after all that and S’Mores on top of it?” Kim asked with a skeptical brow.

Devona laughed, answering, “God, no! I was going to dish out the last of it and bring it to James. He said something about going to sleep hungry and …?”

“And you expect the man to eat it?” Kim asked, even more skeptical than before. “Granted I don’t know him but he doesn’t seem the ‘stew type’.”

“No,” Devona agreed as she tilted the pot over to spoon the stew mixture of canned beef, veggies and biscuit dough into an empty Tupperware container they had bought in town. “He’s more the Lobster thermidor, Kobe steak, caviar truffle sort.” She snapped the lid on and stood upright, “But… you know…”

Kim just shook her head, offering her opinion. “I think you’re wasting your time.” She said outright. “But I can respect you for not wanting someone to go to sleep hungry.”

Devona then said as she reached for the pot, “I’ll take this to the river in the morning…”

“Leave it.” Kim interrupted. “I’ll take care of it.” When it seemed Devona might object, Kim spoke up, “You bought the stuff and made the dinner. Least I can do is clean the pot.”

Devona smiled at that and nodded, “Thank you Kim, for everything.”

Kim frowned, but with the wisp of a smile on her own face. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You did more than you realize.” Devona corrected her. “It was just nice getting to hang out with someone for change that actually wanted to.” And bidding Kim Pain a good rest of her night, Devona carefully exited the cave, her backpack strapped to her back and the bowl of stew tucked carefully in her hands. Luckily enough there was a slight path that led from the cave to the forest grounds below, otherwise with the rainfall the slightest step down the rocky outcrop would be treacherous at best. Still, Devona was careful and took her time, and could feel the eyes of Kim pain watching her descent, making certain that she made it to the forest floor safely.

And she did, as near thirty minutes later Devona set foot into the Clearing, the epicenter of the Forests’s hauntings – supposedly. There were only a few tents here as opposed to the rest of the forest. Few would want to stay in the area where there were more reported hauntings and disappearances than anywhere else within the trees. Devona just felt life itself was a risk so… why not? But she walked past her simple tent and to the one next to it, a virtual palace by comparison to any other. Her tag team partner, J2H, was perhaps the most vocal and opposed to this entire camping thing and was not about to settle for anything but the best. And even as far as camping was concerned, this was about the best as even he could muster.


It was something straight out of Harry Potter as far as she was concerned. She approached the tent but hesitated. All was quiet inside as far as she could tell. No sound emanated from inside the luxury glamping tent, as the style was known as. She knew he was tired, he looked exhausted when they had parted ways, but that could have just been because of everything he was going through, being out in the wild as opposed to somewhere more suited to the lifestyle he was accustomed to.

She had to admit she felt a touch of guilt for the way she had been teasing him and encouraging him to do things he didn’t want to do, or was uncomfortable in doing. But she wanted something between them as tag team partners if they had any hope of making it to London and the finals. More so, she had a heart as big as the state of Louisiana and hated the idea of him going to bed hungry, if he indeed did so. Kim was right, the chances were a million to one with his palate that he would accept the stew, let alone eat it. But, it never hurt to try and he could sacrifice a little sleep if it meant putting something in his belly.

“James?” Devona said just loud enough that she hoped that she might be heard in the event her tag partner was a light sleeper. She rapped her fingers against the nylon surface. “James?” She then took note the zipper for the tent flaps were not up which was odd, but he might have passed out due to exhaustion without having done so.

She parted the flaps for a peek, but frowned when she saw his bed empty. No lights, it didn’t even look as if the bed had been slept in for very long before he had gotten up. Maybe he went to go get something to eat after all? Still, she hated to waste so she carefully and quickly stepped inside. She didn’t want him returning to find her in his tent, so she moved quickly and set the bowl down on the bedside stand and then turned and hurried back outside. She gave the tent one last look before she headed for her own, ready to call it a night…

---

Now see, this is the part where I tell you things would make a lot more sense had you read the RP from J2H first. Then all would be explained. But just in case you didn't, allow me to rectify that gross error in judgment for you!

---

“I was right.”

The weather had all but cleared up, save for the gloomy skies that could barely be seen from the heart of the Hoia Forest. The trees were just beginning to bud leaves, giving them an air of life as opposed to the death gnarls of the limbs intertwining amongst the neighboring monoliths. Like withered fingers clasped together in an unholy embrace. The rain had stopped, and the damp moisture of the rainwater falling from the limbs and leaves overhead gave off the impression that the weather was still wet. There were no clear, blue skies for now as the gray clouds over the top of the trees had blown together with the winds, covering the sky and preventing the sun from breaking through.

Devona, one-half of the Semi-Finalist team in the 2023 Blast From the Past alongside J2H, stood in the thick of the forest, a purple rain jacket on with the hood drawn up.

“I was right about you Ariana. I told everyone that I knew you’d bring it when we stepped inside of the ring against each other this past week. I told everyone that I had watched you begin your journey from the ground up, and I knew that you were destined to become something  special. I know how bad you feel about not making it to the Semi-Finals of this tournament, but I can’t lie and say that I’m not glad that J2H and I have advanced in your place. I can’t deny the fact that it felt good getting the win in our tournament match, not because I was looking to put you down or shut you up because you never did or said anything that warranted being shut up for. More so, I did it for myself, and for J2H. When he got the win in our opening round match, one would have thought that he did all the work and got us to the Quarter-Finals all on his own merit. Like I contributed nothing between us.He even said as much on twitter and got the bottled blonde bimbo t basically kiss up and agree with everything he said. So I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, when you and I hit that ring, all of that snotty, nose stuck in the air derision that I was subjected to just made me fight all the harder to get the win myself. That way, J2H would have no excuses. He couldn’t say he got us to the Semi-Finals, he couldn’t say that he did all the work.”

She leaned against a tree and tapped a forefinger to the clavicle just above her breastbone.

“This time, it was me. Not all of me, because whether he can admit it or not, I can. I can admit that we’re a team and while he did his part in fending off your partner, I fulfilled my own obligation to secure the win for us, getting us one step closer to London. Getting us one step closer to the Finals at Into the Void XII. No hard feelings, hm? Win or lose, I would have shook your hand either way. But seeing as how we have advanced to the Semis here in Romania, this brings me to the first legit excitement I felt since this tournament started. And not just because of who we’re up against as a team, but more so who J2H is up against on the opposite side.”

“Godly” Ken Davison! Member of the Saviors. Former World Heavyweight Champion. Former Internet Champion. And just a man that I hold so much respect for going into this match! Ken is just one of the best athletes on the roster right now, and to get the chance to see him test his mettle against my partner, who just so happens to be the best of all time? That is just going to be a treat for me and for the entire world to see! I would almost - almost - be happy to stand back and watch those two from the start of the match to the finish, and just be a spectator, a fan. But this is a team event and a team effort, and despite what my partner says, we are a team. So while I am more than confident that J2H can handle the Godly One, that leaves me with facing another champion in her own right.”

Devona pushes herself away from the tree and she begins to take a casual stroll along the trees.

“Courtney Pierce. The 2018 Blast From the Past Champion alongside my Go Gym buddy, Fenris. Back in `18, Courtney and Fenris shocked the entire world because they were two rookies, fresh out of their respective wrestling academies - Fenris the GO Gym and Courtney, Jet City. Two rookies in not only their first time teaming with one another, but their first time wrestling - PERIOD! And what happened?”

Devona paused to share a look with the camera. She nodded.

“That’s right. The rookies won the entire thing. A young man and young woman came from out of nowhere to defeat every single veteran and rookie alike to become the 2018 Champions. And the best part of the entire thing was the respect that you two gave to one another. Neither of you overshadowed the other. Admittedly that happened after the tournament. But during? Courtney did her part to advance her team, as did Fenris. Both of you were responsible in ushering in a new generation of success to SCW, putting all eyes on you both as the future of this business! Fenris did not fail to live up to the hype, as he quickly won the World title in his first opportunity and went unbeaten for over nine months! My question is …”

She frowned, shrugging her shoulders.

“What happened to you,  Courtney? I understand that you got injured right after and were unable to fulfill your obligations or receive your guaranteed World title match, but honey… that was five years ago! I admit I didn’t keep as up to date as maybe I should have, but I was hoping you would have been back within the year or so and you’d take your rightful place at the top of the Bombshell division. Instead you … just disappeared. It was like you vanished from SCW like people had long been rumored vanishing from this very forest that we all find ourselves in. And do you know something? It was disheartening. Because as much as we celebrated when Fenris fulfilled his destiny to win the World title and he put on such airs for all those months afterwards, so many people, myself included, were hoping to see you do the same thing. Because Court, you showed throughout that entire tournament that you could have done just that. You could have upended whoever the champion was at the time, just like your partner did.”

“Unfortunately, injuries are an unfortunate part of this business. And while I’ve been lucky enough to not suffer anything more serious than a bruised rib or a concussion, I sat back and saw my fair share cost someone their career before they were ready to call it quits, or even have a chance for it to begin! Like you, chere. I had such hopes at the time that after a year, maybe a two of you convalescing, that you’d return and take what was rightfully yours because…”

She shrugged.

“Why not? You were a 2018 Champion. Even if you didn’t get your title shot at Summer XXXTreme, you were still contractually promised a title opportunity. But one year turned into two, and two turned into…”

She sighed.

“Well, you get the picture. You pretty much fell off the face of the earth, and after what happened to … after Kris left us, I wasn’t certain we would ever see a member of Jet City in a ring again. But every member of your gym that steps inside of the ring now is doing so in his honor, and I just know that he is watching you with pride. I even watched your first promo back, wondering why you should have to take part in another tournament, and you are right. You shouldn’t have to participate again, only to win again and receive another promised title shot. You won once, but didn’t get your title match. Were it up to me, and it’s not, you’d be able to step back into the ring right here, right now, with whoever the champion is and challenge for that belt! But look at you…”

She smiled, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.

“Rather than do just that, you returned to SCW for this tournament so that you could work your way back from the bottom up. You didn’t want to be handed anything. You wanted to win the entire thing, repeating what only two people have already accomplished in being two-time Blast From the Past Champions. Two names; Mark Cross, and Evie Jordan. In ten years of SCW making history with this event, those are the only two who won the whole thing two times. And now, here you are. Ready to add your name to that tally!”

She then lifted her shoulders, her arms out with her bottom lip jetted out slightly.

“Only problem is, this is where your road to London ends. You want to be a two-time champion, but this will be as far as you get. Because while I made it to the finals the year after your victory with Alex Jones right there beside me, I was never able to go the entire way. This year is going to be my year. This year, I have J2H as my partner, the best of the best. We can’t lose Courtney. We won’t! And while I know you and I are going to give everyone a show once that bell rings, I think that it’s time you put some thought into what I said about petitioning for the title shot that you already won. Because this is the year J2H and I win our first tournament, and who knows? Maybe down the road, you and I will get the chance to meet in the ring again...”

She turned to the camera with a coy wink.

“... With the gold on the line.”

Hands tucked into the pockets of her skinny jeans, Devona then turned her back to the camera and walked off, vanishing into the fog….

I remember in my last training session before my match against Salco for Blaze of Glory XI, Gabriel had taken the time to think and he had said to me; ‘So, you never really did tell me what you were doing back home in New Orleans. I remember you and I having a chat when we first met. Discussing possibilities in case things didn’t pan out the way that you had intended?’

And he was right; we had. I had a job that I adored, working in retail of all things - Petsmart, to be exact. But deep down something Gabriel had stoked in me, a fire if you will, made me consider something a little bit bigger and a great deal more satisfying. And so… I went back to school.

4 Paws Veterinary Clinic -
New Orleans, Louisiana

It was relatively smaller for a veterinarian clinic in a major city like New Orleans, at least compared to some of the larger chain clinics and emergency hospitals that catered to our adored, four-legged fur babies. But to the owner, an older woman known by her employees and patients - well, the “parents” of the patients, as Dr. Mary, that was quite fine by her. It was located in a small plaza, surrounded by restaurants, a store or two and even a Petsmart. Yes, the very same as mentioned above. But the sign was like a beacon, not just because of the name featured above, but the comical notation below that read in big, bold letters;


Dr. Mary did not want her clinic to be one of those cold, drab animal hospices where the vets and techs cared more about charging an extra hundred than by doing right by the animal under their care. She wanted her place to be one where there was faith and caring - and confidence. And recently, Dr. Mary had hired a young woman who had just completed her certificate to become a licensed Veterinary Assistant. A first step to possibly more - namely a future technologist.

The young man, in his mid to late forties, sat patiently albeit a touch stiff on the lone chair in the waiting room, his eyes solely on the medium-sized pet carrier that sat on the table in the middle of the room. He and his “boy” had been coming to 4 Paws for years now, and the wait was never long - and this time was no different than when the door to the back of the facility opened and in walked the smiling form of Fleur Vilatte, known to the SCW Universe as Devona.

File in hand, Devona had eyes solely for the carrier and its occupant as she said, “Well hi there buddy!” And then, in good natured humor, she leaned over just enough to wink at the man seated and she added, “You too!”

The man just smiled as the easy going nature of this place, raising a hand in greeting as Devona leaned down at the waist to peer inside of the carrier where the orange and white tabby growled audibly at her.

“Oh I know.” She said in a soft, soothing voice as she undid the latches on the carrier door to allow it to open freely, but the cat inside didn’t budge. In fact, his ears pinned back and his fur bristled at the intrusion, the growling in the base of his throat intensifying until ultimately he hissed at her. Devona said casually, “Oh it’s going to be like that, huh? Alright. I’ll just have to pull out the big guns.”

She turned to the small, glass jar on the edge of the sink in the room and removed a small scoop of liver and beef flavored kitty treats and with the nod of consent from the feline’s owner pet, she placed them on a small dish kept just for such occasions but placed it just out of reach of the carrier’s opening. Devona then stepped back and waited, as the scent from the wet treats wafted toward the cat’s sensitive nose and it took a heightened interest. He shifted slowly toward the opening and then halfway outside to investigate, until the cat finally stepped up to the dish and indulged.

Devona, hand on her hip, just shook her head, “Typical man.” And she cautiously approached and used her index and middle finger to gently stroke the back of the cat’s neck, the growl ignoring again but only briefly until it slowly succumbed and calm overtook it. Once finished, the cat looked up to her and allowed her to freely stroke him under the chin and Devona finally scooped him up into her arms for a cuddle she was now famous for with the animals that came through here, her eyes going to the other man in the room.

“So how is Sebby?” Devona asked, the coined nickname for the infamous Sebastian. A cat that had drawn quite the reputation for himself as a patient of Dr. Mary’s. Ornery didn’t even begin to describe the nigh 17 year old cat. He was downright mean and antisocial, and Devona was usually the assistant that was tasked for his appointments as she had grown to become the only one who could handle or calm him, as she was doing now. Not that she made it entirely unscathed since their first meeting. The old man had escaped in the backroom once after she had just been hired on and she had made the rookie mistake of cornering him under a table and the back of her hand had paid the price with some nasty claw scratches.

The man answered, “He’s still pretty active for his age. I’ve caught him on top of the bathroom door a time or two…”

“At seventeen?” Devona looked suitably impressed, turning her head toward the cat who had his eyes half closed in contentment while she indulged him with scratches behind the ear and under the chin. “Well aren't you just the old show off? Asking dad here who he's calling old!"

---

It was now just after 6 in the afternoon and the clinic had been closed for the better part of an hour. After staying behind to help lend a hand in the final cleanup, Devona, her co-worker August and Dr. Mary were calling it a day as the clinic would be closed the next day. As Dr. Mary locked up and prepared the alarm, Devona (again) expressed her gratitude for her boss working with her temporary wrestling schedule. She said, “Thank you again for giving me the time off so I could do this.”

“My pleasure.” Dr. Mary kindly responded. “My grandkids watch SCW, so I just tell them you work for me and it makes me Super Grandma.”

"And it won't cause you problems with coverage?" She asked, obviously showing concern.

Dr. Mary answered amicably, "No, I have everything covered between Augie here two interns helping from the local community college."

To this, Devona just smiles as August aka Augie spoke up to ask, “Barbados, huh?” To which she nodded in the affirmative. He then asked, “Where else after that?”

Devona sighed, then answered truthfully, “Well that depends on if we advance in the tournament. Then it would be Scotland, maybe Romania and if we go the entire way - London.”

Dr. Mary finished with the alarm and said, “I obviously got into the wrong profession!” But Devona and Augie laughed along, knowing despite the doctor’s love for travel, she wouldn’t trade careers with her animals for all the exotic locations in the world. They set foot out into the cooling evening air, Dr. Mary asking, “So, any plans for your night off?”

Devona answered, “Dinner with my boys, really. Their momma and my gramma are at their Ladies Auxiliary meeting so we thought we’d just grab a bite together and - oh! Speak of the devils…”

She smiled in the direction of the parking lot, prompting Dr. Mary and August to turn to find the garGANTUAN truck taking up two parking spots, and in front of it waiting were Devona’s “adopted” brothers in Beauty and Beast.

As Devona walked over to greet her fellas, Beast just nudged his head toward his younger brother and sighed with obvious exasperation, “You talk to him!”

“What’s… going on?” Devona looked back and forth between the older and younger sibling, and Beauty just rolled his eyes. He answered, “This big ape told me that you were going to Barbados alone - without us! And I told him that was impossible because we go everywhere together when you tour. There’s no way we wouldn’t be going to that paradise…”

“Honey? Sweety?” Devona smiled, placing a hand on Beauty’s broad shoulder. She asked, “Do you know where Barbados is?”

Beauty looked to the air in contemplation, and then said, “Okay just for fun, let’s pretend that I don’t.”

“It’s in the Caribbean you twit!” Beast barked, and before Beauty could retort in kind as the brothers often did, Devona calmed the storm and reasoned, “That’s over two thousand miles away. Your brother has his job, he can't just take off on a whim, and I need you to watch after your momma and my gramma.”

Oo! Dirty pool! Playing on the protective stance any “big brother” might feel for a “little sister” and their respective extended families. It was a dirty tactic to play, but by far the easiest hand to be dealt and effective too!

Beauty finally grumbled in acceptance, “Fine. But you shouldn’t be going alone.”

Devona smiled as Beauty escorted her around the massive truck to the passenger side where he opened the door for her, giving her a boost up from around the waist. She said, “I’ll be fine! Barbados is very tourist safe!”

As Beauty settled in beside her and they buckled in, Beast started the ignition, casually pointing out, “He meant without him!”

And a gust of smoke exploded from the exhaust as the monster truck pulled out…

---

The Cajun King Buffet - As was the usual reaction, the staff - management included - all looked with wary, wide eyes as the behemoth Beast held the door open for Devona to enter the restaurant first, followed by Beauty. They were regulars here at one of N'Awlins best “all you can eat” establishments and each time Beast alone practically sent the kitchen staff into a frenzy to keep up with his monstrous appetite.

The trio piled their plates high and found a table that would accommodate their size

Beast polished off the last of his sweet tea in a single gulp, the nearby waitress waiting in the wings to hurry and grab his glass for a prompt refill. Beast wiped his mouth and casually observed, “For someone headed to Barbados, you don’t seem very excited.”

Devona, about to take a bite of her seasoned steak and shrimp, sighed as she set her form down on her plate as beauty paused in his own meal to look to see what was troubling their girl. Devona just ran a hand through her long, black hair and sighed, “I’m beginning to regret signing up for this whole event.”

“We didn’t push you too hard, did we?” Beauty asked, knowing when she got the call from Mark Ward about signing up for the 2023 tournament, their Didi was indeed interested as the love of the sport had never left her heart, but she still resisted. It was only the intervention of the boys that finally convinced her to go for it.

“No, you didn’t.” She shook her head. “It’s just … the closer things got, the more I was looking forward to it. The theme of the tour! The wait to see who I might get to team with… Now a part of me wishes I could just turn back time and slap my own hand before I signed the dotted line.”

“Why?” Beauty asked. “Who’s your partner?”

Both Devona and Beast looked at the scatterbrained young man with barely hidden exasperation, knowing full well who her partner was but he just had a REALLY bad memory problem - one of his many arterial flow problems above the neck, as his brother would say.

Devona continued on, “I’ll be honest; I was actually ready to throw a party when I found out J2H was my partner.”

“Can’t blame you there.” Beast pointed out. “You must have the strongest partner in the whole thing.”

“Who also has a Napoleon complex and the emotional maturity level of a toddler.” Devona added on. “When our team was announced, I was hoping to find him and talk to him. Introduce myself but in typical fashion, he acted as if I was just the side attraction compared to him. Like he wanted nothing to do with me. I don’t even get why he would bother to sign up for a tag team event if he didn’t want to be a part of a team.”

“He was probably hoping Mikah would sign up and they’d be paired together.” Beast pointed out, to which Devona yielded with a nod. “They’re made for each other." She stated outright. "That much is for sure. They both act as if the world owes them and they want nothing to do with the world around them when chances are it’s more the other way around. I’m surprised she hasn’t tried moving in on Melody’s territory, it’s not like she hasn’t a rep for that sort of thing anyway.”

"You have to cut him some credit, Didi." Beast pointed out, “He's not that same kid who lost his debut against Angel and was a running joke in the locker room. He was tormented every time he stepped inside of the dressing room, let alone the ring. It's only natural he always has his walls up."

Devona said, "I'm not denying the fact the man busted his booty to turn his life around. Austin turned him from a JTTS…"

Before Beauty could ask, Devona and Beast answered in unison, "Jobber To The Stars."
Beauty nodded and Devona went on with her train of thought, “I will be the first to admit how much he's improved inside of the ring.. but outside of the ring he's still the Brat Prince!"

“He had the longest World title reign.” Even Beauty was able to point out accurately. “It hasn’t come close to being broken.”

"Yeah, seven years ago." She countered. "He's been feeding off the fact even when it could be argued the roster is more challenging now than it was then. Then what happened when he regained the title? Rather than man up and defend the championship he vacated it so he would never be beaten for it. Then he did the same thing with the Internet title when he fell into that title shot, and even hinted he would have done it with the mixed tag titles had he and Crystal won!"

"Didn't he just tweet he was going to do the same thing again if you two go all the way and he wins the title?" Beast questioned to which Devona rolled her eyes.

"Ah grosse surprise!' She stated with sarcasm. "I don't get why Mark and Christian let him get involved in these title scenarios if he's just going to dump on the championships! It's an insult to every man there!"

"C'mon Didi…" Beast prompted. "Let's go get another plate "

"I'm not finished with this one." She said, to which Beast stood up, bringing her along with him. "Then come with me while I get mine!"

The pair slowly walked along the rows of piping hot food, Beast casually loading up another plate while he asked, “What’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?” She asked with a slight frown.

“What I mean is,” He begun. “Is that you never let anyone in the business get to you like this before. Not even Veronica Taylor.”

“Your point?”

Beast said, “My point is why are you letting him get under your skin like this? He’s your partner, not your opponent.”

“I know, I know.” She sighed. “You’d hardly know he was my partner the way things started. Talking down to me, acting as if being my partner is a joke or some big inconvenience… men like J2H wipe their asses with diamonds and expects the world to kiss his feet all because of an accomplishment that took place years ago.  And when he doesn’t get what he wants, he throws a fit that would make any grade school toddler green with envy! Christ, I’m surprised he even bothered to sign up to begin with.”

“Because of his love for the people?” Beast joked.

She shook her head, “Because it means he has to actually work his way back up rather than just have things handed to him on a gold platter.”

“You know Didi…” Beast sighed, turning away from the buffet with an impressive serving on his plate. “If this is bothering you so much, you could just drop out.”

“No,” She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

She smirked, “I won’t give the Real House Husband of Beverly Hills the satisfaction!”

---

The Chase Vault -
Barbados

The Chase Vault - located in the cemetery of the Christ Church Parish - was one of the world's most intriguing unsolved mysteries due to the ‘urban legend’ of moving coffins within its stone walls. Ever since the burial of the Chase family in the early 1800s, experts have been trying to explain how - and why - the final resting places of the dead could have been disturbed so when no lock had been undone nor seal broken. Yet time and again when the doors to the vault were opened to bury another, the caskets of those already inside had been in a state of disarray; being moved clear across the floor and at times, up against the walls within.

Of course this would lead tourists, fans of the macabre, to pay a visit to see this mysterious vault for themselves and perhaps try to come up with their own reasonable explanation for what all others have been unable to do so. It would also serve as the perfect setting for Devona and something she had to say for her upcoming Blast From the Past match. The young Creole walked around the perimeter of the Vault, paying no mind to tour the remainder of the grounds, as this was why she, and SCW as a whole, was here.

“You know when I first decided to accept Mark Ward’s offer to join this year’s Blast From the Past, it wasn’t because of the chance to team with some random man who in some cases, I may It was really because I always had a bit of a fondness for the unknown. Unsolved Mysteries was always one of my favorite shows to stream, and the chance to visit firsthand some of the world’s most intriguing and in some cases - unnerving - mystery locations, I was sold! I mean, I’m a N’Awlins girl, born and bred! N’Awlins is the VooDoo capital of the United States and God knows we have enough mysterious happenings in that city to satiate any appetite for the macabre! But the chance to experience Ogopogo, the Lighthouse of Eilean Moore, and so much more! It was just too good of an opportunity to miss out on!”

“Then, of course, there’s the fact that I get to team with who has to be the youngest Hall of Fame inductee in SCW history - J2H! And if we can cast any ill will or disagreements aside, I’d be lying if I told anyone that I could not have drawn a better partner. Some folks say that everybody loves a winner…”

Devona closed her eyes and shook her head.

“That’s not entirely true, and J2H is the expectation to the rule. From the time he won the World Championship back in 2016 and shut up every one of the armchair experts who called him a walking joke, I can count on one hand the number of times that man has lost a match. Now some might hate him for constantly winning, others might bring up his rotten attitude - or a combination of both. I myself have my own issues to work through with the man, and like it or not, he's going to have to do the same if he has any hope of reaching the finals of this whole event, let alone make it past the opening round. I just hope he’s watching this right now because if he thinks he can go the distance alone, we might as well just concede right now because it just doesn’t work that way! And if he thinks I’m going to just stand there on the apron like a good, little girl and watch as he does all the work for us – well I know how much he hates being wrong about anything but - well, he is very much mistaken.”

“I am not the sort of woman that stands around and allows anyone - man or woman - do my share of the work and if I want to bask in a bit of the spotlight, then damn it! I’m going to get inside of that ring if I have to force the tag and I am going to earn it!”

Devona then begins to walk along the path, leaving the Chase Vault temporarily behind her.

“Another key to this whole event is having confidence in your partner, in knowing that he or she is going to be able to handle whatever is thrown at them. Because if the tournaments in past years are any example, even if you win and advance, there’s no guarantee which team you’ll be facing in the next round as SCW is known for mixing things up between each round to keep everyone on their toes. And where J2H is concerned, like the man or not, he has proven that more often than not, he can handle just about any challenge or threat that steps in front of his path. He’d have to be able to when you take into consideration the man’s lack of size compared to others on the roster then and now, and how he was always able to adapt to those physical disadvantages to maintain such an impressive win-loss record. Men twice his size and far stronger have fallen to him in defeat, and I have no doubts Kain will be no different.”

She held her hands up in a gesture of platitude.

“No disrespect intended, because Kain is another Hall of Fame entry this year, but Kain also has one distinction to his credit that J2H does not; he is a Grand Slam Champion in SCW. J2H came THIS close…!”

She held together a thumb and forefinger.

“... To accomplishing the same. Kain is a fighter, pure and simple. A striker and a submission specialist who has made bigger and badder men tap out, but J2H?”

She closed her eyes with a smile and shook her head.

“I don’t think you’re going to see J2H tap out again anytime soon - if ever. Kain won’t make it easy, but I have the confidence that J2H can and will keep things in check. Kain is bigger and badder - but let’s face facts! J2H is just plain meaner!”

She tucks her hands into the back pockets of her blue jeans, and turns to the camera, stalling.

“Which brings us to the elephant in the room, and yes that is just a figure of speech and not meant as a dig at my opponent in the slightest. J2H has a disadvantage physically against Kain, and me myself? I have one in the fact that nobody really knows anything about the woman named Eiley. So if they don’t, and there is no video footage of the woman I have to hold off in order for us to advance, what then am I supposed to do? My first thought when I realized the pickle I was in was - ‘uh oh’. Then I simply put some serious thought into where I stood and it hit me; the very theme of the tour is about the unknown. Unsolved Mysteries! Then I thought..”

She nodded knowingly.

“I can work with this. What little information I could gather screamed little hints in what to expect. I mean, stand back from the outside and the answers or at least theories would slap you right in the face. How coincidental that this young woman just so happens to be in Hawaii where everyone’s favorite bleached blonde diva calls home? It sort of makes you think, doesn’t it?”

She frowned, tilting her head a touch to the side.

“How many women in SCW really have called Hawaii home, and wouldn’t it be too delicious if Eiley were to call Mikah a mentor of sorts? Trainees usually take on at least some of the characteristics of their trainers, and considering I’ve faced Mikah twice - and beat her once - I dare say if this theory proves to be accurate, I’ll be well able to hold my own against this young woman and then some! And if my theory is wrong…?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“No big loss. The simple fact is that I was still able to beat a woman of Mikah’s caliber - and much as I dislike her, I can’t fault her abilities inside of the ring. So face a rookie, and fight like you were competing against someone much more experienced and by far more talented! As far as any potential strengths and weaknesses Eiley might have against me? Well I wouldn’t be the first wrestler to ever have to diagnose someone in the middle of a match! It’s called trial and error and more often than not, relying on your own instincts. I’m confident enough in saying that while my in-ring schedule has been spotty at best ever since I stepped down, I have still spent more time collectively inside of the ring than Eiley has, and that fact right there gives me my own advantage. It wasn’t more than three weeks ago where I stepped back inside of the ring after almost four years to face Jessie Salco, a woman who has been running non-stop in SCW for over a decade! And sugar? It wasn’t Jessie’s arm that got raised at the end of that match!”

She tapped a violet colored nail against her sternum.

“That honor was mine. It told me that I could still do this. It told me that I still had my place amongst the best of the Bombshells, and that fact alone is going to carry me past Eiley. It is going to carry J2H and myself both past the opening round and straight into the Quarter-Finals somewhere in Scotland and beyond!”

She waved her arm wide for emphasis.

“But please do not mistake my confidence fir overlooking what is, for lack of a better term, an unproven commodity to the Bombshell division. The moment I think Eiley is going to be an easy win is the moment I might as well just kiss this whole tournament goodbye! Given her size, she could easily be a striker or a submission specialist. She could be one of those high flyers that takes awful, death defying risks in the belief of ‘anything for the win’! She may even be the sort willing to sink to any and all depths to pull off a win.”

Lip out, she shrugged.

“Or she could be a combination of any of the above or all four. That is the point! I don’t know. You don’t know. But this unsolved mystery is one that I am willing and able to overcome!”

With a soft smile on her face, Devona turned back to resume her little bit of tourism, where everyone else was basking on the luxury beaches. She started to walk back toward the Chase Vault when something gave her pause. She turned back slightly to address the camera.

“Oh, and J2H? I know that this is the last thing that you wanted. Not just entry into this event, but teaming with anyone else but Mikah. Well, here’s the fact sweet pea; I’m not Mikah. I’m better than. I fought Mikah to a standstill in our first match, and in our rematch, I beat her. Pinned her and walked away with the Internet Championship. And no matter how many times she tries to pull her grade school mind games of telling the world “she wanted to lose ,” to explain her loss it doesn’t erase the facts.”

“She lost to me. No other explanations needed.”

“You wanted Mikah. You hoped for Mikah. But baby … you’re stuck with me. And the sooner you can accept that fact, the better off we’ll all be when we make it to London and walk away the 2023 Blast From the Past Champions!”

With one last wink for the camera, Devona took her leave and walked off, vanishing into the crowd of tourists.