Post by DRAUGR on Jun 29, 2024 21:24:49 GMT -5
Unstoppable. That's how the mighty DRAUGR was viewed for the first few months in Action Wrestling. Week after week, he dismantled his opponents and made them prey for mercy. There were none who could match his power, his speed, his resilience, his stamina, his heart. He was well on his way to becoming the greatest and most dominant Action Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion of all time. Then came Sara Pettis. She used the mighty DRAUGR's granddaughter to completely derail his career. Sure, he went on to win the United States and Tag Team Championships, but that is a consolation prize compared to the incredible heights Devil's Gate was taking him. His career trajectory was simply… unstoppable. The humanity within the mighty DRAUGR was something we had not planned for. Our bad. We have since regained control of the mighty DRAUGR, and he is mere days away from his first appearance at Evolution. This is an event where the mighty DRAUGR should be headlining as the current, reigning, defending Action Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion… but instead is entering as current, reigning, defending Action Wrestling Tag Team Champion. To say this is a step down for the mighty DRAUGR is a false statement. This is several steps down. Several. Because of Sara Pettis’ interference in the momentum of the mighty DRAUGR, he is forced into the muck with the likes of Karlie Nash, Vespertine, Jonny Cedrone, and Doc Holiday. Not one of them is worthy of standing in the glow of the mighty DRAUGR and yet he must share the grandest stage of them all with these small mortals. Even the mighty DRAUGR's granddaughter is a small mortal. It's a damn shame that this towering beast is forced to compete at this level, despite the stipulation being… What… exactly… --- Our adventure begins at Cold Bruise, as usual. Lexi Sparkles is seated at a table with her Tag Team Championship on the table in front of her. As she sips stoically on a cappuccino, she sees Jade Riley walk through the door. Jade takes a moment to soak in the atmosphere of the establishment before approaching the table. Lexi stands up to greet her, and the two hug. They sit down at the table and Jade continues to marvel at her surroundings. Jade Riley: I've seen footage shot here but… wow! This is beautiful! Lexi Sparkles: Sara has put her heart and soul into it for sure. I probably spend more time here than at home these days. Jade Riley: And the upstairs apartment is still-- She hesitates. Lexi Sparkles: Still empty. My grandpa is still with Harper and Konnors… wherever they're hiding out. Jade Riley: I'm sorry this all turned out so bad for you. I'm sure it was a dream come true to come work for Action Wrestling, meet your grandfather, work so closely with Sara. And then… Devil's Gate ruins it all. Lexi Sparkles: Technically not Devil's Gate… because Sara owns that… but yeah. Harper and Konnors worked their magic and stole my grandpa from me. It's weird because we're still… like a… tag team. We've got the big match at Evolution, and this should be the most exciting time of my career… but it's just… not. I'm more worried about my grandpa's mental health, and all I want is for him to be okay. What they're doing to him is not okay, and I just wish there was a way to get through to him. Jade Riley: Do you feel you'll be able to work together as a team? Lexi Sparkles: I don't think so. I think he's in a bad place, and he'll be out there for himself. I'll do my best to retain the titles, but most importantly… to avoid injury. Jade Riley: Oh, yeah. That's got to be a priority out there. I'm glad you're okay after that… attack… by Karlie Nash and Vespertine. Lexi Sparkles: It feels like a dream, Jade. It doesn't feel real at all to me. I guess that's a good thing because I don't carry any lingering trauma from the situation. Jade Riley: Do you have any hard feelings toward them? Lexi Sparkles: Oh. For. Sure. But also… like… what else should I have expected? Ves is only good for one thing: chaos. Whether it's burning down a trailer or blowing up a car… she's just… chaos. Chaos doesn't win titles though. Hard work does. That's how we took down the New Brotherhood and now they're not here anymore. The same will happen at Evolution, Jade. Chaos won't win this Thunderdome Match. Hard… work… will. Jade Riley: That stipulation is such a Mandela Effect. I swear Brady Bolt said on Clash that it was a TLC Match… but the replay is clear that it's called Thunderdome. A TLC Match inside of Hell in a Cell. That's crazy! Lexi Sparkles: Yeeeeeah. I'm not thrilled about Doc Holiday's choice, but it is what it is. I'll go out there and do my best to entertain the fans… but also not die. Those take priority over trying to retain the titles at this point. Had my grandpa not been dragged back into the darkness… I would feel differently about Evolution. Four years ago, my dad beat Frank Lowe in a Lion's Den Match. Two years later… Sara beat him in an Unsanctioned Match. Last year… Sara hosted the event. Now… I continue the family legacy at Evolution. I just wish that I could enjoy the ride. Jade Riley: You've had some dark days behind you, but hopefully there's a light at the end of the tunnel. What goals do you have for your future here in Action Wrestling? Lexi Sparkles: I think there are endless possibilities once this tag team stuff is over. The Television Title is so interesting, and it's one my dad fought hard for against Carter Shaw. Oh, obviously the Cruiserweight Title looks great… but I don't think I'm ready to fight Addy or Sara for it. Hopefully one day I can look at them as peers. For now, I'm just going to roll with the punches. And there will be a lot of punches at Evolution. There will be six people locked inside a Hell in a Cell… with tables, ladders, and chairs as weapons. Yyyyyyikes! Jade Riley: Have you heard if the belts will be hanging from the cage or if this is a pinfall kind of match? Lexi Sparkles: I honestly have no idea, Jade. I don't think anyone does. This whole thing is confusing. I didn't even realize it was a triple threat until it was announced. I somehow missed a segment somewhere. Jade Riley: Your grandpa made mortal enemies out of eNVy when he cost them the Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship… and then Doc Holiday and Jonny Cedrone put their personal animosity aside to form a team. Lexi Sparkles: Oh, yeah. It totally makes sense now. And maybe if not for the stipulation… I'd be more excited for this match. I'm a big fan of Cedrone and Holiday. Of course I've watched their matches with my grandpa closely, but I'm a big fan of their matches against each other. It'll be interesting to see how they work together. Karlie and Ves started out rocky, and now they're favored to win this match. Jade Riley: When I read that on Vegas Insider, I was admittedly surprised… but the article explained it very well. With the past issues between Cedrone and Holiday… and the current issues between you and your grandpa… I don't doubt at all that eNVy will leave Evolution as Tag Team Champions. Maybe chaos will win this Thunderdome after all. Lexi Sparkles: Maybe. --- This match is a joke. It's laughable to think Action Wrestling could stack the deck this aggressively and think for a second that the mighty DRAUGR won't vanquish the lot of them. He will sacrifice his own granddaughter to secure victory at Evolution, and not regret it whatsoever. Not one human inside of this match is safe from the wrath of the mighty DRAUGR. He will single handedly conquer Thunderdome and reign supreme over the non-existent tag team division. Look at the past to look at the future. The New Brotherhood were defeated and never seen again. That's the unfortunate fate of eNVy and Bad Company. Once the mighty DRAUGR reduces them to ash, they will blow away in the wind, never to be seen again. That's what the future holds for the foes-turned-friends pairings that have been tasked with being publicly executed by the mighty DRAUGR. They all knew what they signed up for when they targeted the strongest of the strong. Idiots. Of all the dragons to chase to get that buzz, you all have chosen the biggest, baddest, strongest, hardest, strangest, most dominant being to grace Action Wrestling… and his granddaughter. You signed up for a group funeral that will unfortunately be closed casket because of the rearranged facial features the mighty DRAUGR is instructed to craft at Evolution. Your mangled corpses will be served up as evidence of his unlimited power here in Action Wrestling. Half of you can claim all you want that you hold victories over the mighty DRAUGR, but your feeble attempts to convince the masses that you are stronger than the strongest of the strong will be for naught. Nobody believes in you. Not even each other. Let that sink in. You're not together by choice. You're together by necessity. you're together by circumstance. Together you stand. Together you fall. What's next for you both once Bad Company is an immediate failure? There is a ban on singles matches between you two. That rules out most options in the immediate future. This roster is not as deep as it was this time last year, so the possibilities are limited. Once the mighty DRAUGR derails the aspirations of your tag team endeavor, it might be time to hide in the corner and stay there until. The mighty DRAUGR doesn't care that you both think so highly of yourselves. If he understood humor, he would laugh in your faces at the very idea that you could be World Champions. Let alone Tag Team Champions. It's game over, boys. --- An unknown amount of time has passed, and Lexi Sparkles arrives home to find a note stuck to the door with a dagger. She pulls it down and reads it out loud. Lexi Sparkles: “To whom it may concern… You are cordially invited to attend a dinner in preparation for your defense of the Action Wrestling Tag Team Championship at Evolution. Attending the dinner will be the strongest of the strong, the once and future king, the man who defeated life and death, the mighty DRAUGR. Attendance is mandatory or consequences will be severe. Come alone.” She sees the address at the bottom of the sheet, and she sighs. Lexi Sparkles: Great. --- ⏩⏩⏩ FAST FORWARD ⏩⏩⏩ Lexi Sparkles arrives at ███████ to find Pete Harper waiting out front with a look of disgust on his face. She parks her car and lets out a lengthy sigh before stepping out onto the street. Pete Harper: You're late. Lexi Sparkles: Technically I'm not because there was no time on the letter. Thanks for the knife, by the way. Pete Harper: That's not a knife. That's a dagger. Idiot. Lexi approaches with vim and vigor. Lexi Sparkles: What the fuck is your problem, Pete?! All of the shit you've done to my grandpa aside… does it not even matter to you that my dad was your cousin?! Can you just not be a total fucking shithead to me for just a goddamn minute?! He waits for her to finish. Pete Harper: Do you feel better now? He turns and walks inside the building, not waiting for her to answer. Lexi Sparkles: A little better… She follows him into the building, which is guarded by his masked goons, Dwade and Kuraim. On the way in, she scoffs at them. Upon entering this undisclosed location, she realizes this is where this dark clan has been hiding out since they were ousted from Devil's Gate. She follows Pete down a long, dingy corridor until they enter a great hall. There is a long table with with dozens of chairs, but only one of them is filled. Seated at the end of the long table is the strongest of the strong, the mighty DRAUGR. Lexi follows Pete to the end of the table, where they sit on opposite does, next to the mighty DRAUGR. She looks over the magnificent display of meal courses on the table, but her appetite just isn’t what it used to be. The mighty DRAUGR turns and looks at Lexi, as she fights her instincts to look him in the eyes. Pete Harper: Dr. Konnors and I want to make sure your intentions for Evolution align with our own. Lexi Sparkles: I don't think anything aligns between us… but sure, Pete. I'm on board to do whatever it takes to get my grandpa back. The mighty DRAUGR grumbles quietly. Pete Harper: That pipe dream is off the table, Lexi. Your grandfather… the strongest of the strong… the mighty DRAUGR… does not belong to you. He belongs to me… and to Dr. Konnors… and to The Denizens of the Grave. That's how it will be until the end of days and there's nothing you can do to free him from our clutches. She leans foward, continuing to avoid eye contact with her grandfather. Lexi Sparkles: I am going to make myself perfectly clear, Pete. I will not… ever... stop trying to save my grandpa from your insane… manipulative… corrupt… evil… bullshit! She senses something… different… and turns to see half of a smile on her grandfather's face. Lexi Sparkles: I will never… ever… ever ... stop fighting for you, grandpa. Please… don't stop fighting for me. She grabs ahold of his hand and holds it tight. His half smile quickly fades, and he pulls away from her. He abruptly pushes back from the table and leaves. Pete slams his fists on the table and startles her. Pete Harper: Listen to me, you little shit! You're NOT going to ruin this for me! For him! For us! It is imperative that the mighty DRAUGR obliterates the field of fake challengers at Evolution! His legacy depends on ultimate success from here on out! I swear, Lexi… if you fuck this up… you'll be reunited with your father real fuckin’ quick! She understandably snaps and picks up a glass plate, quickly smashing it on the table and holding onto a shard. She lunges over the table and stabs the side of Pete’s neck. He falls to the floor, clutching his neck as blood pours out onto the floor. Dwade and Kuraim rush into the room to aid their master, as the mighty DRAUGR looks on from the doorway with concern in his eyes. Lexi stands next to Pete, in total shock from what has occurred. She looks over to her grandpa with tears in her eyes and-- --- I’m so scared right now. He said what he said and I… saw red. And then I saw… ... … red. For a moment, I lost myself and felt the welcoming glow of evil that Sara warned me about. It’s the same feeling described to me by her step-dad… and my dad… and I imagine it’s the same feeling my grandpa feels when he… … I didn’t know what to do… so I just… left. I made it home and got into bed, and pretended like it never happened. They must not have called the police on me because… it’s been fourteen hours and I’m… still in bed. Nobody seems to care that I… did what I did. As much as I despite Pete for what he’s done to my grandpa… I hope he’s okay. I truly hope they got him medical attention. I’d hate to add ‘murderer’ to my resume. I’m no Frank Lowe after all. I need to most past all of this. I need to stay focused on Evolution. eNVy and Bad Company are after my Tag Team Championship, and I have to fight the good fight until the very end. With how awkward things are between me and my grandpa, I don’t like our chances of leaving Los Angeles victorious… but that’s not going to stop me from trying. We do the best we can when we can… and that certainly applies to my efforts at Evolution. Karlie, Ves, Doc, and Jonny are all more experienced than me in this business… and I respect their individual contributions to this craft. But right now… to save my place in this company… I need to show up and show out. I need to go out there and perform like my life depends on it. Maybe it does. I know my job for sure depends on me working as hard as humanly possible, against all odds. I don’t have a standard, lengthy contract like everyone else. I’m on a month-by-month deal, and that’s better than I could have hoped for. This time last year, I had no intention of ever returning to the squared circle. Since my dad died, I haven’t felt like this was my place in the world. When Sara brought me to Action Wrestling to team with my grandpa… I finally felt like I belonged. At Evolution… I will fight with everything I’ve got to prove I belong here. And when there’s nothing left to give, I will give more. That’s what my dad did while he was here… until he drew his final breath. My fate will not be the same as his. I have learned from his mistakes, and also... Frank Lowe hasn't been seen in two years. So, I guess I'm okay there. Sure, this Thunderdome Match at Evolution is going to be dangerous... but I'm going to be okay. A positive attitude goes a long--- |