Dressed in their best Sunday attire, Amber and her family exit the church service after it has finished. After giving Angel the address for their meeting spot, Amber hurriedly heads to their car. Now in their vehicle, their parents are completely ignoring them, talking about something else. Meanwhile, Amber and Nate have a conversation in the back seat in a rather hushed tone. After the events that transpired in the church between Amber and her tag team partner, Angel, Amber gave Nate a nudge, as if saying he did a good job distracting their parents.
Oww! What was that for?
Oh you know, for what you did back there.
Eh, don’t mention it sis, just doing my part. You gotta bounce back from that lost last week.
Amber frowns and Nate looks apologetic right away.
Oh sorry, didn’t mean to remind you about that sis.
Nah, no worries. I gave Angel the address to our old training grounds and he’s gonna meet me later. You’re coming too aren’t you?
You bet! I won’t leave you alone with someone like Angel.
There you go again Nate.
What?
Oh nothing.
With Amber looking rather annoyed, the two siblings didn’t talk the whole drive home unless their parents asked them something. To which Nate was the first to answer with his one word answers. When they arrive home, Amber quickly exits the car to get into the house and up into her room. Nate follows Amber upstairs as well.
What was that back there?
What was what?
Why you acting all mad all of us sudden?
Amber looks down, with a mad face on but she can’t be mad at her brother for long.
It’s nothing Nate. It’s just that you treat me like I’m a little kid. I know I should probably be happy that I have a brother like you, but sometimes I need to know that I can fend for myself. All those years, especially my teenage years when I was overweight, you were always there. You didn’t leave my side and I thank you for that. But really, I think I can be even just a little independent.
Taken aback from what Amber just said, Nate pulls out the chair in the room, taking a seat.
I guess you’re right. But you gotta understand that I’m your brother. Doesn’t matter if I’m older or younger than you, I’ll always look out for you. But I get it, you’re a grown woman now. Hell, they even let you into WZCW. You kicked ass in your debut even though you lost. You did well sis. So how about we cut the crap and fill ourselves up with food so that we can have energy for our training session with Angel?
Amber just smiles a little and nods her head in approval before Nate exits the room.
---
We now see Amber and Nate waiting at what seems to be an abandoned building with not many people around. All dressed in training clothes, both Warren siblings are looking a little impatient, especially Nate.
Where is this guy sis? You sure you gave him the right address?
I’m pretty sure Nate! He’s just running a little late, cut him some slack.
Cut him some slack, he’s an hour late already! If he’s not here in five seconds, we’re going to train without him.
C’mon Nate, don’t be like that.
5, 4, 3, 2 –
Wait, there he is!
And right on time, a cab appears and inside of it is Angel and some little kid. The cab abruptly stops infront of Amber and Nate who look rather annoyed but understanding.
Sorry I’m late! Had trouble with Ronney over here. He didn’t want to eat, he didn’t want to get dressed, he didn’t want to come with me on this trip. But alas, we are here. Shall we get started then?
Angel grabs his gear and holds Ronney by the shoulder, guiding him into the gym. However, out comes Ronney with Angel chasing after him. This time, Nate steps in and gravs Ronney.
Hey Ronney, remember me? I’m Nate, Amber’s brother, we saw each other at church. We’re going to train now, ok? You wanna watch? If you’re good, we might even let you get in the ring.
Nate invites Ronney over who hesitates a little but does come over and enters the gym. Everyone enters the gym now and we see that’s it’s a raggedy, old looking place but it looks quite competent for a private training session. Angel starts punching on a punching bag, but it quickly falls over.
Uhm, is this safe?
Don’t worry about it Angel. We got plenty more punching bags where that came from.
On cue, Nate turns on all of the lights and we see that the gym is fully equipped. It looks like it can house a whole football team if it wanted to.
You see, this used to be the training grounds when I first started. I’m sure you’ve done some research on me right? I used to be a fat kid until I came here and trained with my coach, Mr. Jenkins. He passed away two years ago but he gave me the keys to the place. Since then, I’ve been training here as much as I can.
Ahh, I see. This looks like a fine establishment, let’s get started then.
Nate stays with Ronney who is checking out some of the equipment. Amber gives Nate that look and Nate already knows what to do, he stays with Ronney for a while as Amber and Angel train in the ring. The cameras then show us glimpses of what each person does. Amber is kicking and punching with the punching bag, working on her manuevers, Angel is hitting the weights, and Nate was doing pull ups. With Ronney looking bored, Nate carries Ronney up into the bar, and what do you know it, Ronney does one pull up! Everyone sees this and applauds him. Ronney is then smiling from ear to ear.
In what seems like hours, Amber and Angel continue to train as best they can to prepare for their match at Aftershock against the up-and-coming team, Carnival of Carnage. They take a break on the ring apron, getting the attention of Nate and Ronney who were jogging around the gym.
Good workout huh?
Yeah, this will definitely help us prepare for what Blaze and Hunter have in store for us. Though they’ve been on a losing streak, they’ve been putting people on notice. You see them take out Hades at Aftershock?
Yeah, they were sending a message weren’t they. But I’m not scared! So what if they’ve been tagging longer than us? We’ll use that against them.
How so?
Well, we’re just a put together team right?
Yeah, then?
They won’t know how well we work together. It gives us that unpredictability factor. They think they have us all scouted, but in reality, they don’t.
You’re right. Their advantage is actually their disadvantage.
Nate and Ronney look at the two, not making sense of what they’re saying but they listen intently.
Blaze and Hunter are on a losing streak for a reason, don’t you think? Yes, they’re a real tag team unlike us. But they aren’t racking up wins in the win column now are they?
No they are not. Also, don’t you think it’s ironic they have the word carnival in their tag team name? I mean, that’s exactly where they belong…in the carnival, not a wrestling ring.
Everyone chuckles except for Angel, seems he doesn’t get that he just cut a joke. After all the chuckling though, Amber approaches Ronney.
Hey Ronney, you have fun today?
Ronney nods his head.
Great! Here, I want you to have this.
Amber takes something out of her gym bag and gives it to Ronney.
Ronney, this is a ticket ok? This is a front row ticket to Aftershock. I want you to be there when we beat the Carnival of Carnage, ofcourse my brother, Nate will be with you too.
Ronney smiles and so does Angel, through his mask…or so we think. Amber then pats Ronney on the head before Nate and Ronney go sit down on the bench placed right infront of the ring.
Well Angel, you ready for this? Time to spar, let’s go!
And so Angel follows suit. But Angel waves on over for Nate and Ronney to follow in the ring. Here, they go in a circle, reluctantly holding hands before Angel leads them in prayer.
Dear Lord, thank you for this time to get us fully equipped and ready for our upcoming bout. I pray that today’s hard work is a testament on how much we want to win and is a result of us becoming closer as friends. We put our faith in your hands Lord. Please keep up safe all throughout, we pray this in your name, amen.
Everyone hi-fives each other after that prayer. Nate and Ronney go back to their seats and await the action in the ring. Amber and Angel have a standard match in the ring with Nate and Ronney watching. You can just see the look on Ronney’s face that he’s really enjoying this. The scene fades away with the last shot of Ronney and Nate watching the in-ring action of Amber and Angel.
