The scene opens high over a stormy cityscape, with torrential rain, forks of lightning and deep rumbles of thunder that cast a dark aura as the city drowns in the storm. The panorama swings round to reveal a number of skyscrapers, towering menacingly over the city and piercing the dark horizon.
There is a destiny for us all. It places its hand on each of our shoulders like a caring parent. But it can hold us down, becoming a great forceful weight upon our shoulders.
The rain continues to fall, soaking everything it touches and obscuring any details. Thunder continues to growl ominously and another flash lightning strike to a nearby tower lights up the area, enough to show what the camera may be focussing on and where the voice is coming from.
This force can lead us to the top and take away our feet, placing us at the nether reaches of greatness. Destiny is a power, stronger than any muscle that you possess. It negates the body and controls all with an unseen touch.
We see a gothic style building with roughly sculpted creatures crouching intently, hung off the side of the building. On one of the highest ledges close to the roof, there appears to be two figures unusually close together.
What is your destiny? What would you do to have it in your hands? Would you wield it as a weapon to wreck those in your path? Or you could take care of it and follow it like a good book, the best kind of book, to allow you to change your very future.
As the camera moves in further, it becomes clear that one of them is human. The camera is almost level on the ledge now and moves closer all the time. Despite the terrible visibility, the camera can pick up a small amount of steam appearing from the figure as it exhales. A loud male voice can be heard.
If you allow it, Destiny can drive you to insanity. If you are weak, it will demand too much of you. You have to be strong and take control of the hand that you are given. It is too easy to look back at defeat and say that it was not your time, that success was nice while it lasted, that your time will come once more.
The figure swings inside the nearest window and into a darkened room. Multiple lightning strikes hit once again in rapid sequence and the flashes begin to reveal the briefest outline of the space. Countless items are crammed onto shelves and then an untidy desk is in the corner but in the same instant, all detail is lost to the shadow of the night. The figure lumbers towards the desk and lights a candle. The small waxy beam of light casts a yellow glow around the small space whilst also showing the giant hulk of a man who lives within this space.
Those are the words of a weak soul who is incapable of maintaining control of their own destiny.
The giant pulls out a chair from the desk and sits down. His proximity to the light shows him in real detail for the first time. His face is obscured by a large dark blue mask that has black trim and he wears a large black jacket. He shuffles back to take the sodden jacket off before leaning forward and grasping a crystal ball from the desk. He leans in and covets before continuing his rasping tones.
The Grand Mystique is coming out of the shadows to take hold of WZCWs fate and shape the future of the company. The first name on the list is someone who claimed destiny as an ally en route to his Grand Slam. David Cougar, when you finally achieved the dream that you chased so hard, you let that prize go with no fanfare. How is that fair? How is it right that when you achieve your lifelong dream, that career Grand Slam and the achievement, the blaze of glory that follows you through your career comes to an absolute stop? When you needed fate to guide you to the Promised Land of greatness, it abandoned you. You may not know it but there is one simple reason.
He puts the crystal ball back where he found. He then reaches into a drawer and pulls out a set of cards. When he starts dealing the cards, its clear that they are tarot cards laid out in front of him. On powder blue cards with red borders, we see stark images such as Fortune, Death and Wish.
Its because you are not destined for true greatness. You are going to be remembered as the man who achieved his goal but never lived up to his potential. It is time to reveal the Hand of Prophecy that will drive this home in the ring in a way that you will never forget. The pain that I am destined to inflict on WZCW is going to begin with the man who once stood atop its peak and will be remembered as the nearly man.
He starts to shuffle the cards, moving them with increasing pace. He sneers as he does; his devious intent begins to come clear.
Showtime, soon enough you will have the sympathy of the roster behind you because they will all be grateful that you are the chosen to be the first to lay at the mercy of destiny.
He throws the entire pack of cards at the crystal ball before picking up the polished sphere. He lifts it up to his eye level, tilting his head and swivelling his wrist, moving the ball in the flickering candlelight.
Because you will be left lying when Ascension ends, there is nothing but truth to this. When you look back and your career is described in history, the Grand Mystique will be known as the one who begun your endgame.
His palm flattens and in a smooth but powerful motion, he pulls back and fires the crystal ball against the wall above the naked flame. The shatter sends glass flying across the table. Just above the candle flame that dances as glass flies across it, a special kind of card is stuck to the wall. We see a photo-realistic image of a sweaty David Cougar, left ear planted to the mat with a painful grimace on his face. Over his platinum blond locks and squashing his right ear and cheekbone to the mat is a large black boot.
David Cougar, prepare for the Big Bang that is going to snap your neck and drop your body in acid; your career is about to end.
