AS69: Stone vs. Tastic vs. Cooper vs. Stevens - Elite X #1 Cont.

[Kermit]

On Aftershock, Chuck Myles announced that the new challenger for S.H.I.T. at Redemption would be decided via a Fatal 4-Way. But perhaps the most interesting thing he said was the tease that promised a significant change to the Elite X Title that would shape how it is viewed forever.

Deadline is Wednesday (September 18th, 2013) at 11:59 P.M. (Central Time). Extensions available upon request.​

 

[Jessie Lynn DivaGirl]

Chapter 13: Luck's Number​

I sit backstage after losing to Blade, alone, my head pounding from the shots it took. I'm done. Out of the Tournament.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I am an amazing wrestler, and I lost to the likes of Blade?? Blade! The washed up sociopathic idiot? That just doesn't happen!

I sit there and let my anger boil out for a while. Sometimes, you just need to be alone. Now that big question pops into my head.

What now?

Seriously, consider this:

You're climbing the ladder to success. Everyone knows it, and nearly everyone is expecting you to make it to the top. To steal the crown. Then out of no where, you're kicked off the ladder, back onto the floor. Everyone else looks down on you. And where are you? You're no where. You're alone in your misery.

Now what do you do?

You have two options:

a.) Quit- otherwise known as the easy way out, this ensures you lose all respect both from yourself and from your peers. Quitting makes sure that you never make it to your goal and that you stay in the same place as long as humanly possible.

Or,

b.) Climb again- to take the "b" course is to put yourself thru figurative hell. The whole time you're corner with option "a" and all others who don't want you back on the ladder. You have to work your way all the way back up to try and reach the goal.

So really, what do I do now?

If I quit, I stay a midcarder the rest of my career and get no where. I'll likely live a semi-normal life with no excitement except for the occasional match against a champ. If I climb again, I risk everything. My job, my love, my title and even my life. I risk throwing it all away for success and going down the dangerous path known as obsession. Every fighter walks hand-in-hand with obsession, and the best have let obsession lead the way at times.

Is that always a bad thing?

If you let yourself ponder over certain things, you stop missing little details that ruin the experience for you. And I have walked with obsession before. It wasn't fun when I took back the lead, but it was one hell of a ride in the long go. And I dominated while it lead me.

But am I willing to take that chance? I could lose Justin and Sam. And I might not come back.

Snapping out of my trance, I shower and then get dressed to go home. I can't choose right now. I don't have anything to fight for yet. Only a headache to sleep on.

~Two Days Later~

Someone is knocking on our door. Probably Jehova's Witnesses again. I've told them once and I'll tell them again: I'M NOT RELIGIOUS.

I get up from my curled up position on Justin's lap and answer the door.

I would take a preacher over this sparkling mess.

Hey Izzy, good to see you again.

What do you want Becky?

I put you in a match.

With who?

Tastic, Cooper and Stevens. It's a Fatal Four-Way to determine who the number one contender for the Elite X Championship. I figured since that embarrassing match with Blade you needed a pick-me-up. Try to win this time?

Before I can slap her or tell her some nasty comment to bring her down, she turns and struts off.

Huh. I taught that girl some sass. Go me!

Fatal Four-Way?

Yep. Should be fun.

I go and curl up with Justin again. S.H.I.T. is the champ right now. If I win, I can unscrew him easily.

But I have three hurdles to get over.

Matt Tastic- The Killjoy. A crude, moronic man-child. But a veteran no less. And not an easy hurdle to jump over. As I recall, he's had some big back problems. That'll be the focus point on him.

Justin Cooper- A very self-absorbed wise-ass who takes the easy ways out. He can't get up high tho, so I'll have a flight advantage over him. Besides, I'm quicker than his bad knee will allow him to be.

Ace Stevens- Isn't this guy a newb who thinks he's a comedic genius? He has a bum knee as well as Cooper. Not to mention he's cockier than me- (shit thoughts, why do you make such awful puns...)

Now once I get over the hurdles, it's onto the robot. But that's later. Because I've made my descion.

Lead the way Obsession. I'm going to take the Highway To Hell, if it means I have to lose it all, to get to the top.

 

[Daniel]

Lewis Middleton, agent to Ace Stevens and all-round good egg, is sitting in his Manhattan office tending to some paperwork. Things are going well for the graduate of Cambridge University. He's on top of the work, the pay is good and he gets to look out over one of the greatest cities on earth every day. Things are, as he would say, splendid. But then Ace Stevens walks in to his office.

“Hey, I wrote a musical.”

“Cool.”

---


Ace Stevens
Ace Stevens & the Path to Eurasia​

A young, unnamed man is walking alone through a dry, desert-like terrain. He's dressed in black boots, black jeans, a white t-shirt and leather jacket – attire completely at odds with his surroundings. The heat and lack of humidity is affecting him slightly, but not so much that it is detrimental to his health. He impulsively kicks a rock far off into the distance in an effort to entertain himself. The young man, who we shall now call Ace-

“Whoa, Ace? Your name? You're using your name?”

“Yes. Yes I am. Now where was I? Oh, yeah...”

The young man, who we shall now call Ace, takes a few paces towards the rock. The rough, sandy terrain crunches under foot. But as he kicks the rock further along the desert plain, he sees something. Something far off in the distance. A figure of some sort. Is it an animal? A human? Or simply a trick of the mind? Being the possessor of a wonderfully curious mind, Ace seeks to explore the anomaly on the horizon, leaving the rock where it is.

Twenty minutes later-

“Wait, what happens in that twenty minutes?”

“He's walking to the figure he saw, dum-dum.”

“Right, so is that what the audience sees? For twenty minutes?”

“No, no, of course not. It'll be like a montage or something.”

“You can't really show montages in the theatre.”

“Fine, it'll be an intermission or whatever. Just listen to me, alright? So twenty minutes later, he walks up to the mystery figure...”

As our protagonist approaches the figure, he sees what it is. He sees that the reason for his curiosity and intrigue is... a snake. Long and thin, it glides along the rocky terrain with ease. As the snake opens it's mouth, Ace can see it's large fangs and forked tongue. It's seemingly smooth red and black skin makes it look all the more dangerous. Our protagonist kneels down to the snake, inspecting it further.

“Stop, human!” hisses the snake.

“Whoa! You can talk?!”

“So can you,” the snake deadpans.

“But how can you talk?” asks Ace, his words dripping with genuine curiosity and interest.

“I'm going to go on record and say the dialogue isn't great, Ace.”

“Go to Hell. It's perfect.”

So Ace says “but how can you talk?”. The snake replies directly and succinctly.

“I can talk because I'm not a snake at all. I'm your subconscious manifestation of Isabel Stone.”

“Okay, this is ridiculous.”

“LET THE SNAKE TALK!”

So the snake says “I'm not a snake, I'm the subconscious manifestation of Isabel Stone, blah, blah, blah” and continues to tell Ace of his purpose.

“I'm here to stop you from fulfilling your dream. I'm here to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. I'm here to stop you from going to Eurasia.”

“So how do I get past you and continue to my Asia?

“I am the first of three obstacles in your way. As you progress towards your goal, you will find that each challenge is more daunting than the last” says the snake in a hauntingly snake-like voice.

“Ha, so you're the least daunting? That's good to know.”

“I... no... erm, I'm the... shut up” the snake hisses back venomously.

“So do I just, like, punch you or something?”

“Oh no, no, no, no. This is not a battle of fists, Ace. This is not even a battle of wits or of minds. This, my friend, this is a battle of song.”

“A what now?”

Music begins to play in the background. It's beat heavy, almost acoustic-sounding music. As it plays, the snake begins their song.

“I am the snake of power
I am a snake alone
I am the snake of strength and slyness
I am the snake of stone

Once you see me
Once you hear me
You know you can't beat me
Hiss!

I can slither
I can sneak
I can stop you gaining
what you seek

Once you see me
Once you hear me
You know you can't beat me
Hiss!

Because I am the snake of darkness
I am the snake of this zone
I am the snake of smartness
I am the snake of Stone”

Ace looks the snake up and down, equally amazed and concerned at what he has just witnessed. Although he's not usually the singing type, Ace prepares to perform his own ditty. Before promptly punching the snake in the face.

“Hold on. You punch a snake in the face?”

“I don't, dude. The character that I've created does. Keep up.”

“That's... weird. And mean. Your'e a mean person.”

“No, I'm not mean. The character's mean. But he isn't. Because the snake deserved it. Annoying little show-off.”

After defeat from the fist of Ace Stevens, the snake magically disappears. And content with his victory, the protagonist marches on.

“That was, um, different. Yeah, different. You'll have to get a theatre company to put tha-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, didn't you hear the snake, bro? We still got two more enemies to go. So the main character is now walking through this jungle...”

The intrepid explorer gazes in awe at the vast ecosystem on display deep in the warm, wet jungle. Exotic flowers, huge plants and colourful insects all add to the rich tapestry of the forest. But as he lingers by a flower, examining it's complex beauty, Ace spots something. Something swinging from tree to tree in a mesmerising display of athletic prowess. As our protagonist steps further to get a glimpse of the unidentified creature, it immediately swings from a near by branch and glides majestically through the air to land at the feet of Ace. What he believed to be the case becomes a reality as the once unknown animal reveals itself as a chimpanzee. Stern and powerful with a dark, luscious coat of fur, this is no ordinary chimp.

“'Sup, homie.”

The relaxed nature of the primate is a direct contrast to his appearance and as such, it catches Ace off-guard.

“Uh... yeah. Hi, I think. Who are you?”

“I'm the monkey that's going to stop you from getting to Eurasia. Yeah, sorry about that. Did you beat the snake? Did the snake not tell you? I'm sorry, dude. Here, have a banana.”

The monkey that stands in the way of Ace Stevens tosses one of his many bananas to him.

“Yeah, I di-”

“Anyway, I'm Matt. You can call me whatever you want though. Matt, Matty, M-Dogg, Big M, M-Tizzle or The Pope. Matt The Monkey is a big one. I'm technically not a monkey, but I let it slide. Just the kind of guy I am.”

“Yea-”

“Hey, wanna see a magic trick?”

“Not re-”

“Okay, so I'm gonna take this banana and make it disappear. I don't normally like to wast food, but it's worth it in the name of entertainment. So I'm gonna take this bana-”

“YO! Can we just do this thing, man? Come on. I got places to go. Places to be. You know why I'm here. I know why I'm here. Let's just have this battle of song.”

“Oh, okay. Yeah, sure. You're right,” says Matt, dejectedly, his demeanour changing from exuberant to sad in a matter of moments.

A slow, strong drum beat starts. It is reminiscent of the sounds of the jungle and the rainforest.

“Ah-ah-ooohhh!
Ah-ah-ooohhh!

I'm the king of this jungle
I'm the king for this day
I can beat any tiger
That stands in my way

If it comes to singing
If it comes to claws
I can take any creature
I can even take Jaws

I'm a happy-go-lucky kind of guy
I swing from the trees, born to glide
So every girl knows I'm kinda fly
Swing from a vine and take a ride, oh

This jungle is my everything
It's the thing that I flow through
So don't try and take it from me
'Cause I'll beat your ass like Goku”

Big M has finished his song. It was powerful, and appeared to take a lot of energy out of the man/chimp. Ace Stevens looks at his right hand. He knows what he should do. But more worryingly, he knows what he can do. So much like he did with the talking snake, Ace balls up his fist and strikes quickly. Matt, the happy-go-lucky chimpanzee, falls to the ground and evaporates into nothing within seconds. The scene is not pleasant, but for Ace Stevens, that's number two.

“You cannot go around punching animals in a musical!”

“I think we should let the courts decide on that one. Anyway, shut up. We're nearly done.”

It's been hours, days, or even weeks since Ace's victory over Matt, the chimpanzee. His hair has grown, his beard has grown and his clothes have accumulated a lot of dirt. This time, however, he finds himself in a very different setting to dry, hot deserts or warm, humid jungles. He finds himself in arctic conditions. Snow isn't just falling, it's pounding the ground. There is no wildlife, no civilisation, no nothing. Just Ace and the vast, white plains that lie ahead of him. In attempt to amuse himself, he kicks a snowball sitting in front of him. Rather than glide elegantly into the distance, the snowball shatters instantly, spraying snow loosely in front of him. As the debris scatters, Ace once again spots something, much like he did in the desert previously – a figure. This time, however, it is much closer. As the animal runs towards the main character of this story, he sees that it is in fact a polar bear – one of the more fierce arctic creatures. As the bear comes within talking distance of Ace, it stands on it's back legs and begins to talk.

“Stevens. I'm glad you're not late.”

Ace Stevens takes one look at the bear, and hits it square on the nose. The bear falls down and, much like the previous two opponents, disappears into nothing. Leaving Ace, once again, completely alone. Albeit, victorious.

“Well that last character didn't get a lot of stage time.”

“Eh, it was a very simple character. The bear is Justin Cooper, or Mr. Cooper if you want. The arctic atmosphere represented his cold demeanour, while the the bear represented his anger. Textbook stuff, really.”

“But wasn't the bear supposed to be the most difficult opponent? I mean, the main character just took him out with one punch.”

“I guess I'm just too- I mean I guess the character is just too good.”

“So what happens now? Does Ace finally get to Eurasia?”

“Ah, I'm saving that for a sequel. It's called 'Ace Stevens Finally Gets to Eurasia'. Keep a look out for it.”

 

[ABMorales787]

“When you're young, they tell you to never give up on your dreams. No matter what, never give up on them. What happens when that determination you were told to have, to never give up, is seen the wrong way? Double standards. Hahahahaha.......”

-Me
​

=========================================================
​

It hasn't been long since Aftershock. Over 3 days Matt world turned completely upside down. Everything right became wrong. Everything positive became negative. His closest confidants became his biggest detractors. Why the drastic change? Because it's apparently wrong to get a little angry. As of right now, security has him held up after re-entering the building without permission.

= = = = = = = = = = =Backstage at Aftershock= = = = = = = = = = = =
​

Destiny: I hope you realize what you've done.


Dave: What I've done? How is it all my fault? I'm not the only general manager around here. Bloody hell, this isn't even my show?


Destiny: Mr. Dave, an employee who was at the time working under you had a complaint. A legitimate complaint. And rather than addressing it, rather than trying to solve the problem and defuse the situation, you send security and escalate the affair.


Dave: I have a show to worry about!


Destiny: And it finished 48 hours ago! Have you talked to the man? NO!! You instead have him kicked out again without doing anything about it!


Dave: Listen here young lady, I will not sit here and let you tell me what I do wrong with my work. Especially when I don't know you. Who are you and why are you back herwe?


Destiny: My name is Destiny. Destiny St. Germain. I'm the daughter of late wrestler and promoter Ripper St. Germain.


Dave: ….........Wait. The man who ran companies in Japan, Mexico and the UK at once is your father?


Destiny: Yes. He was.


Dave: I'm sorry for your loss.


Destiny: I'm not. He lived his life to the fullest and died with no regret. Why should I feel sorry for that?


Dave:I..... I'm sorry.......? Wait, why am I apologizing? You still have no right to tell me how to run my show or address my talent's wrongdoings.


Destiny: Well unlike you Mr. Dave, I have formal training in the management of companies, wrestling or not. I hope you realize that your negligent behavior can result in a lawsuit.


Dave: What? Why? How? Listen, miss St. Germain. You can make all the claims you want, but Matt Tastic disrupted my program, broke character, wrecked equipment and injured a fellow wrestler.


Destiny: Oh, please. You're that worried about the announce table and a troll with a swollen head? Face facts, Mr. Dave. You are inept. You did not make the right call and I'm almost certain your peers told you not to back away from the bumbling move to save face.


Dave: Ma'am, I am the general manager of the flagship show of WZCW. The biggest wrestling company today. I was not placed here as some publicity stunt. It was because the people that made this company what it is believe I am fit for the job and have yet to tell me otherwise. Meanwhile you are defending a man who presented very poor conduct by wrestling standards, while ignoring the fact that he lost his match fair and square you stand here and tell me that whats happened to him is unfair? I gave him chance and he lost. That's not my fault. And we agreed to give him another one to compete for the Elite X Championship. That's of course if he keeps his head cool until then. You want me to talk to him? That's OK. We'll do that right here and now. But don't you dare question my work ethic again. Especially if you want to walk around backstage. Send him in.


Dave buzzes for Matt to be brought in. He sits on his desk as Destiny has been standing this whole time despite the office having several chairs. She has her arms cross with a very serious look while Big Dave has his fists cocked on the desk. A sign of repressed anger. After a while, loud screaming and struggling is heard coming from outside as both Big Dave and Destiny change their expressions and look on wondering what that is. Eventually, the door opens to reveal the source of the disturbance.


Matt: LET ME GO!! DAMMIT!!


Guard 1: Sir! Please, calm down.


Matt: You're dragging me against my will with my hands cuffed! How the hell do you expect me to calm down?!


Dave gets off his desk shocked by how the once cheerful and ever positive Matt Tastic has, in his eyes, degenerated into a broken down mess. Tastic literally dragged into the office by 3 security guards, handcuffed and looking unkempt as if he hadn't slept since Meltdown two days ago.


Guard 2: He snuck back in and started trashing equipment around. So we had to hold him down. I'm hoping he calms down soon.


Destiny: Unhand him you ruffians. Is this seriously how you deal with complaints? You cuff your men and drag them against their will? Matt, darling. Please sit down.


Matt: I always knew there was something great to you. As for you, Dave. * Spit *


Matt spits at Dave general direction. Pushing and shoving every chance he gets before sitting down.


Dave: Matt, why this outburst. I just don't get it.


Matt: WHY?! WHY?! You don't know what it feels like. To have your dreams taken from you. To have your hard work spit on and defiled. To see what you love degenerate into something you barely recognize. You already won the World Heavyweight Championship. You already had your moment in the limelight. But me? No. I have to sit and wait. I need to take a back seat. Because the alien is getting popular. Oh, the robot is hot right now. Piss on the wrestler, right? He can wait.


Dave: But..... * sigh * You lost your match. Wha--


Matt:THAT WAS A FLUKE! I left that Marvin The Martian wannabe for dead! It should be me moving to the semi-finals. Not him! I'm clearly more qualified than him.


Dave: But I can't change facts. You lost. There is nothing I can do about it. But you can.


Matt: Let me guess. I need to prove myself. Again.


Dave: I put you in a 4 Way match. If you win that, you get a shot at the Elite X title.


Matt: It should be the World Heavyweight title, dammit! My dream!! What I've been robbed of. Again and again. Over and over. Day after day, week after week, round after round, month after month, year after year. Time flies and you do nothing but paint pretty pictures about what I can do. I'm sick of this, Dave. I'm not waiting for a hold out anymore. I'm taking what's mine. And I DON'T CARE if you, or anyone else approves how I do it. IT'S MY DREAM, DAMMIT!!


Dave: Matt. I know it seems unfair. And I'd be kidding myself if I said I'd stay calm. But you're going in a direction I can't allow you to go. I can't let you hurt other wrestlers and disrupt the shows like this. Even if you do have a point, this isn't the way to go about it.


Matt: I DO have a point. And you..... You know it and just sit there? You're worthless! And the people. The people. Destiny.......


Destiny: What about the people, deary.


Matt:I always go out for them. Gave them gifts. Shook their hands. I even hugged the fat chicks. * ugh * Krypto never gave them that. Fuck, nobody did. BUT THEY STILL CHEERED HIM ON!! How- How could they? I was never enough for them either was I? Why did you? Why did these people? Why did anyone ask for a hero?


Dave: What? What are you talking about Matt?


Matt: I knock and I knocked at the door. I-I rung the bell. I looked at the backyard. I drove a hammer against the door. Dammit, you wanted a hero but never bothered to answer the door when one came by!! Why?! Just what did I do so wrong?! I didn't do it for the glamor or for the money. I did it out of the goodness of my heart. And they shunned me. And you did too!!


Dave: THAT IS ENOUGH! Matt, I never shunned you. We've always been here for you. And so have been the fans. They've cheered you on for so many years. You lose one match and this is how you react? Like you're entitled to everything? I believed in you. That you could indeed someday win the big one. That you could indeed break out and be the top guy. That's why I put you in this tournament to begin with.


Matt: Sometimes I sit and wonder Dave. How can you have the gall to stand there and watch me get robbed and do nothing about it? How can you live with such a dirty conscience? How can you look at anyone straight?


Dave: Nobody's robbed you, Matt. You lost the match to Krypto and-


Matt:IT WAS A FLUKE, DAMMIT!! Now stop mentioning it! I demand you simply give me the shot at the Elite X title!! I deserve it!


Dave: I can't just do that. And how exactly do you deserve it? You just think you're better than the competition?


Matt: Isabel Stone and Justin Cooper are lucky to even still be employed around here. Justin is a dick. A small one. Ace is a jackass. And Izzy seems to have never ending PMS. Cutesy little Izzy better keep in mind, that I'm not Blade or Kurtesy. Hell, I'm not even the Matt Tastic you all knew last week. Just like her, I will do anything. ABSOLUTELY anything to get that title shot. She broke Kutesy's neck? Well I will break her. Rob her of whatever dream she has. And let her feel the very anger and frustration I feel.Did I mention you've fired two of these on various occasions? And that the other hasn't won a match in months?


Dave: That's my, and the other GM's, problems to manage. Not yours. Focus on your match. Maybe this time you won't lose.


Matt: I told you to shut up about that! Yet me, your once loyal servant for 4 years, needs to beat them to get a shot at, just picture it for a moment, a cardboard robot who's acronym is shit. It's not that the name sucks. It just literally spells out shit. Sorry for the language, Destiny. I can't help it if this idiot hires a person and then approves the use of such a name for national television broadcast. You do know this is a family show, right?


Dave: Stop fixating your attention on problems you have nothing to do with. I gave you a chance and I suggest you take it before I have you fired.


Matt: Justin Cooper. Another twerp that's caused trouble but is somehow again employed. See that kind of nonsense wouldn't happen under me. He'd be fired and never be allowed back. There's no money in keeping a troublemaking shrew who's only good with his mouth. Ah, who am I kidding. He's not even good at that. Bark bark bark. Yelp yelp yelp. That's all that stupid twerp does. Whine about the shit he doesn't get. And when he does get it, he drops the ball. He says he's no hero. I say I don't give a shit. What do you say?


Dave: Glad you're not in charge. Are you taking the match? Or should I just give you more nights off to cool your head?


Matt: I'll beat them. But only because I want to. I want crush that jackass Ace Stevens' throat that way I don't have to hear his unbelievably generic New York accent. American Hero my ass. I wouldn't glorify a country that sticks it's nose into others business trying to poke another war. But I can't expect any less from some idiot greaser.


Dave: You've gotten really petty. Insulting your own country? You've really got it bad from losing to Krypto.


Matt's eye open wide as a massive burst of rage breaks out of him. He gets into a fight with the guards who try desperately to hold him down.


Matt: I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE HELL UP! THAT WAS A FLUKE, DAMMIT!! A FLUKE!!


Dave: I know it was, but I cannot change the record books. You're clearly desperate and I'm willing to once again give you a shot. But I cannot and will not allow you to disrupt the shows or have you injure wrestlers after matches. Understand that?


Matt: I understand. But you won't get a solid promise from me. Look into my eyes, Dave. I'm desperate. DESPERATE!! And I will do anything. ANYTHING!! To make my dream a reality. I'm sick and tired you of your little Halloween clowns getting all the benefits and the fame while I keep toiling away. They either stand aside or I will rip them apart. One by one. Day after day. The year won't end until I have gold around my waist Dave. I deserve it.


Dave: That's up to you to prove if you do indeed deserve it. Just remember what I told you.


Destiny: I'll hold him to it. I'll keep him busy over the week but I won't make any promises for the shows themselves. Now lets get going. I have a training facility I wish for you to visit in the meantime to have you in tip top shape. Mr. Dave, if you will.


Dave: * sigh * Open the door and let him go, boys. We're done here.


Matt gets up slowly and checks his wrists as Destiny heads for the door. Matt glares at the guards, each briefly, before shooting the same deathly glare at Big Dave. Who looks on dejected after seeing the former role model's decay due to frustrations. Matt gives off a creepy smile. Reaching from ear to ear before he turns and once again spits. This time hitting one of the security guards in the face. The guard, enraged grabs Matt by the collar of his shirt but the other two hold him back. His disturbing smile returns as he leaves. But just as he turns to leave, he stumbles onto Becky Serra who was eavesdropping on the heated conversation. The deathly grin returns. Leaving Becky lowering her head in fear.


Matt:I wonder what would you do if your dreams were constantly swept away from under you.


Destiny: Matt! Enough. Lets go.


Matt: Hahahahaha....... heheheheheh..... You'd probably just sit and whimper like you are right now. You wouldn't have the guts to reach out and do whatever is needed to make your dreams a reality. You would just let the world step over you.


Matt walks off after Destiny as the two march off as Becky looks on disappointed before she walks into the office. Big Dave also looks on in disappointment.


Becky: I used to look up to him. No matter what, he always got up and smiled. Ready to keep fighting for what he believed in.


Dave: Sadly life isn't always fair and it's dealt him a bad hand. I can only hope that he calms down the day he wins.


Becky: You really believe he'll win a championship?


Dave: Like he says, it's not a matter of “if”. But “when”. I just hope things don't get worse from here until then.


Matt has changed drastically. There is no telling just how far he'll go now to reach his dream. It's become a dark dream. It's consumed his mind and it may just get worse and worse the longer it's prolonged. But only time will tell.

 

[Da Prophet]

The scene opens with the camera following two men, both wearing suits, as they walk down a long school hallway. The man on the left holds a black briefcase in his hand and can be seen limping. The other man walks with a cane, the top of which has a silver lion and the name ‘Iris’ engraved into the side. The angle then changes and Justin Cooper and Iris make their way down a set of stairs. They approach a large wooden door and Justin pushes it open to reveal an empty classroom.

Cooper: What do you think?

Iris: Simple but effective I believe.

Cooper: I think this will work very nicely for our service.

Iris: How often do you plan on working here?

Cooper: Six to twelve months at the moment. Of course that could change over the next couple of months but it sounds perfect right now.

Ever so slowly Cooper paces up and down the classroom. He carefully examines the contents of the room and gently glides his hand over the top of the desks as he walks past them. Cooper rubs two fingers together before looking up at Iris.

Cooper: You see this?

Iris: I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be looking at.

Cooper: Then you’re looking at it already. Look around this room and tell me what you can see.

Iris: Um… I see desks, chairs, a whiteboard, some maps and a computer. It’s just like every other classroom we’ve visited over the past couple of days.

Cooper: No, this one is different. This one is new and is without that mark of childhood infection. Look at the desks perfectly aligned and how everything is neatly in its place. It’s beautiful, if I do say so myself.

Iris: I’m sure you’ll be very happy working here.

Cooper: Discipline is key to working in a place like this. Those kids have to be reminded who is running the show. I like to believe that I’m helping them understand how the real world works. You don’t get to decide what you do; someone more powerful always decides it for you.

Iris leans back against the largest desk at the front of the room. His head is lowered and his hand is placed on the top of the briefcase that Justin was carrying.

Iris: You’ve just to be as close as you can be to those people making the decisions.

Cooper smirks.

Cooper: Come on, we can go have a drink before my class tomorrow.

Iris: Sounds good.

Together Iris and Cooper grab their things and exit the classroom. The camera follows them from behind until the two wooden doors are slammed shut. The scene slowly fades to black and the sound of a school bell rings out.
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Cooper: Did you see that fool Tastic have a mental breakdown on the shows last week? Twas’ excellent to see someone like him just snap for no reason other than losing.

The scene opens up inside a small restaurant where Iris and Cooper are just finishing up their main meal for the night. Each man has a small glass in front of them and Cooper holds a cigarette, unlit of course, in his hand.

Iris: I guess some people aren’t as capable of handling a loss as you are.

Cooper: You’re just hilarious tonight. I swear you’ve got to be funnier than Ace is.

Iris: To be fair that’s not something that requires a lot of skills or effort. I do remember him pinning you for the Mayhem Championship back at Lethal Lottery 2012.

Cooper: That belongs in the past with all the other misfortunes I’ve been given over the years. This time Ace isn’t going to get the better of me and neither will Stone or Tastic. I mean, I’ve beaten Matt one on one before and that was with the big oaf Logan Burnside following me around all day.

A few moments pass as Iris takes a sip of his drink and then begins talking.

Iris: It’s good to see your confidence is still high after what happened with The Beard last week.

Cooper: An isolated incident that I’m sure will fix itself in the long run. In some weird universe being up 2-1 against someone still makes him the winner. It’s the world around us Iris. Power is valuable in this world and when people have it they don’t want to give it up.

Iris: What power do we have?

Cooper: Very little at this moment towards wrestling.

Iris: Winning that Elite X Championship again would go a long way in gaining us some power.

A large puff of smoke flows from Cooper’s lips. He leans back in his chair and smirks at Iris.

Cooper: I know. Getting that title back would cause uproar from certain people. My demands for a match with Chris K.O. would not be ignored if I held a championship. I could refuse to defend the title or even walk out of this company with the title. I could change everything by winning that title.

Iris: It seems that we’re in the perfect position. Win this week and S.H.I.T. will be the only thing stopping us from gaining the power we need.

Cooper: That man is crazy but he’s nothing to ignore. He did beat Constantine to win that title.

Iris: You did that remember?

Cooper: And Chris K.O. on the same night.

The duo can’t help but laugh a little as they each take a sip of their drinks. Iris looks up at the clock and notices that it’s getting late. He stands up and pats Cooper on the shoulder.

Iris: I gotta get out of here. It’s getting late, I suggest you head home soon.

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“How does one determine what power should be used for?

I look at the world right now and I see turmoil between the world’s leaders. They all want more power than the other. Control over the small nations of the world to feed their own selfish greed.”

The scene opens up once again in the classroom and is this time filled with students. They sit bunch up together listening as Cooper stands at the front of the classroom.

Cooper: Not only should we question the people who have the power but we must fight back against them. Following orders of a bunch of powerful people isn’t the right thing. It’s the cowardly thing to do. Take my position as a wrestler for example. I’m expected to follow the orders of a group of men who think they know what’s best. Three guys who run the shows think they know what the people want. They don’t and I try to explain that to them. I don’t know how many of you have been following the wrestling as of late but I’ve been requesting a match with Chris K.O.

He throws his hands up in the air.

Cooper: I’ve been refused each time! Now I find myself in a fatal fourway for a title that I’ve already held. Something that I’ve already stripped the power from. This title has no use for me, I’ve already got one at home.

Small pause from Cooper, he begins to walk between the row of desks down the middle of the classroom.

Cooper: However the power that would be gained from winning this match is just what I need to further my cause. Three people who are greatly more respected than I and who would be pushed in an instant just to slow me down. I know that I’m not the person who is wanted to challenge for the championship. I cause problems and people with power hate anything that brings problems.

Cooper looks around at the classroom and checks his watch.

Cooper: But then again, I’ve always loved causing problems.