The last time Eve Taylor made this long trek, she didn't take the time to truly appreciate the wondrous view. Atop this tall mountain, you could see the surface of the Earth in all directions. Her eyes traversed the path she took to climb up here, tracing the journey like a slithering snake. Everything she passed invoked memories of her getting to the end clutching her tight chest, and wiping away the sweat dripping off her body; invoking memories of how difficult it was for her, on both a physical and emotional level. She remembered being so focused on getting to the top, she was blind to anything else, and she pushed herself to get here. When she made this climb before, she was the newly-crowned Elite X championship, fresh off her victory and had yet to even score one single title defense. Eve had sacrificed so much to get here, and she wasn't willing to let this feeling go so quickly.
Over a year later, Eve found herself standing in the exact same spot on the mountain, staring off into the distance. This time, she didn't not find it hard to breathe, nor had her body begin to sweat. It was rather easy to get here, and it felt like she had a place here at the top of the mountain. Whilst she did not have her Elite Openweight championship any more, and she had failed to deliver on the biggest promise she made, she found no difficulty finding her way here. In fact, she had the time to take a moment to turn around, and reflect, enjoying everything about the sight the mountain gave her. Eve wasn't afforded many moments in her life when she could take a step back from the world, and take a look at it, and the life she had lived; everything she had accomplished... but Eve couldn't shake this feeling as to why it was so easy to climb to the top.
How did she get here so easily? Why did Eve have little difficulty climbing to the top, despite losing the title that put her on the map, and gave her the only chance of being taken as a serious competitor? Why did she struggle then, and not now? Maybe that's why Eve was taking her time looking out into the distance, searching for an answer. Maybe that's why Eve looked at every step she took the last time, and looking for a memory or a moment that could clear it all up. She needed to find out, because it was a dawning of a new year, and Eve had put herself in a position that would either make or break her entire career. She issued an invitation to the best female competitor WZCW had seen, Celeste Crimson, to face her at Kingdom Come. It was less of a challenge to Celeste Crimson, but rather a challenge to herself to prove to everyone she still deserves to be in the conversation as one of the best in WZCW. If she couldn't get past Celeste Crimson, her dream opponent, and the person who inspired her to be the best, she had no business being a professional wrestler. Sure, her accomplishments in WZCW were not anything to be denied, but if she didn't have the ability to become the World champion, what's the point of being a wrestler? Why be in a profession when you can't be the best?
It was fitting that the first match of 2017 was against two of the best, both of whom had undergone their own personal transformation in recent months. Eve Taylor had to prepare for Tyrone Blades, arguably the greatest wrestler of all time... no, scratch that, the greatest wrestler of all time. Eve Taylor may have set the record for the longest Elite Openweight championship reign, and she had a very impressive 2016 with few losses, but nothing compared to the year long title reign Tyrone had achieved many years ago. The titles and accomplishments Eve accrued may give her the title as the best female competitor, but it paled in comparison against Tyrone. She had no competition against him, and even after Eve's career had finished, the best she could hope for is to be in the same conversation, or the same breath, as him. Despite all his major accomplishments occurring in another life for Tyrone, he was still a dangerous competitor, and Eve truly doubted herself against such a wrestler; however, he would prove to be an amazing opponent to test her abilities. If Eve could manage to survive the pain and suffering Tyrone was able to inflict, she had a chance at the onslaught a tough woman such as Celeste. Tyrone's new attitude had a sense of unpredictability about him, and at any point, any move or any strategy from any of his former lives could rear its head, and throw Eve into a tailspin... but, so too did her other opponent, Noah Ryder.
The man who always forgets threw a spanner in the brains of his opponents, as you never truly knew if he knew what he was doing, and what he was going to do next. How can you plan for an opponent who can't even remember his own, and goes on the fly? How Noah came in the position of her most prized possession - the Elite Openweight championship - still confused Eve. She guessed it was similar to how she became the longest reigning champion of that title. Nobody expected it, yet Eve made it happen. By divine intervention, or personal skill, she did it. Now, the title she once called a name was on his shoulder, signifying his importance and his skill as a wrestler. She couldn't take him lightly now, despite Eve tussling with Noah in the past, and coming up as the better on those nights. It could be different for this triple threat, especially with Tyrone in the mix. Going up against a man like Noah would give her great experience against Celeste, since she had been removed from the ring for so long, and the form Eve had studied of Celeste could change at any second. Eve worried that Celeste could have forgotten how to square off in the squared circle, and go on the fly; yet, if Eve could get through Noah Ryder's condition, she'd be ready to tackle Celeste adjusting her movements in the ring.
In saying all this, everything hinges on the response of Celeste Crimson to actually show up, and accept her challenge. There was a very real possibility that Celeste would deny the match, seeing as how she was retired from the ring. An even bigger possibility was for Celeste to not hear about this challenge, and to not show up, simply because she does not watch WZCW any more. She could've moved on, and she could be a dedicated house wife to Steven Holmes, and their family. Whilst Eve wouldn't blame for Celeste to not take, or to even know about, this challenge, where would that Eve for Kingdom Come? She had already declined a championship opportunity, involving herself in a match against Tyrone Blades and Garth Black, blasting Banks for even offering her that match as a reward for her skills. She took it as an insult, and she doubted Banks would re-open that opportunity. If Celeste did not accept, she would be on the sidelines. If Eve was on the sidelines, she would not be able to prove her worth as a competitor, and her contract would run out. If she wanted to prove her worth, she'd have to sign a new contract, and become a hypocrite in the process. If she kept her word on not signing, she would walk away as a big failure and the woman who tucker her tail between her legs. Eve could leave the civilised world forever, and forget everything it has, but she still couldn't let her reputation diminish like that. She had to at least try.
Should the worst case scenario happen, Eve Taylor looked at this upcoming Triple Threat match, the first match of 2017, of a new year, with a great 2016 behind her, as the most important match of her career. If she couldn't have the opportunity to face Celeste, she needed someway to prove herself. Taking down the man who is considered one of the best, and defeating the man who holds the title that made Eve Taylor great, would be an amazing way to remind everyone of just how dangerous she could be herself in the ring. She wasn't a pretty face anymore, and she certainly wasn't the arm candy of Mikey Stormrage, using him to get to the top. She was a wrestler, and she needed something to show the world she wasn't dead just yet, despite her promise to not re-sign with WZCW. She was still at the top of the mountain, hanging out with the Elite names of the industry. She wasn't ready to be knocked off, and she was going to stand firm. By herself. She needed to step into the face of Noah Ryder, and show him that he'll never be as great a champion as Eve Taylor, and that should Eve turn herself back towards the Elite Openweight division, she would be his biggest threat. She had no other choice than to look at Tyrone Blades dead in the face, looking at the menacing eyes that got him the long list of accomplishments to put him in the Hall of Fame, and slap him so hard, he'll rethink everything he's done in WZCW.
Eve Taylor needed to walk into this Triple Threat match, and make a major statement. Standing up to these two individuals, and showing she could wrestle with the best of them, is all she needed to do be put back into the conversation. A win would be a bonus, but if she managed to fight hard, and leave a few scars, that's all she wanted. Eve had to show the world she was still here. Eve had to show the best she was still here. Eve had to show Celeste and herself she was still here. She had one chance left to do it, and this was her only opportunity...
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... but unlike the Lethal Lottery, Eve Taylor had a plan B.
Eve Taylor turned away from the view, and looked behind her at the monastery hall where she had just walked out. Eve turned around. She was struck, like she had seen a ghost. Eve smiled.
"Hey Aubrey."
