Post by Team NATEingale on Feb 12, 2021 12:18:40 GMT -5
Inside The Lost Breed locker room following Team NATEingale’s victory over both FPV and Jayson Price, a small celebration is underway, with The Lost Breed being successful in two-out-of-three Battlebowl matches tonight.
James Nightingale, Downfall and Matthias Mintzel share a beer together, whilst Alice looks on in horror at NATE, who is happy enough to demolish the spread of food laid on to the group. She shakes her head as he chomps away without closing his mouth. She turns to Mintzel, raising her eyebrows at him, alerting the German that Nightingale’s Queen does not approve of the simpleton’s behaviour. Whilst he shrugs at her, albeit nervously, Alice joins her husband at his side whilst he makes a toast.
Nightingale raises a beer in the air.
“Despite Sanchez remaining incarcerated, and Keeton getting himself fired, The Lost Breed showed tonight why we remain the dominant faction here in Action Wrestling”.
He takes a swig of his beer then turns his focus towards Downfall, “Despite being unable to drag Dionysus to victory, you continue to show the world why you’re quickly becoming the greatest TV Champion this promotion has ever seen”.
Downfall nods at Nightingale in approval, he raises his beer. Nightingale then turns to Mintzel.
“And you, Mintzel. Despite losing the Hardcore Title, you picked yourself up and won your own Battlebowl match. But your biggest victory of all?”
Nightingale finally turns to NATE, who continues to eat as much food as he can.
“You turned NATE from a loveable retard to a main event winner”.
Mintzel nods in approval. Alice speaks up.
“Let’s not get carried away here gentleman, we know James did all the heavy lifting tonight”.
She turns to Nightingale and kisses him on the lips, Downfall and Mintzel look on awkwardly. They finally finish and Nightingale refocuses on his stablemates.
“We’re only halfway there, Frank and Price, they were just the warm-up, next week NATE and myself have The Following’s Dandy DiVito and CJ Phoenix. The bookies will have them as favourites, as a faction, they are running hot. But their ‘star’, Wesley, was put on the shelf by The HR Department”.
“I have fought Dandy DiVito before, and like many others, he fell victim to a Mercy Killing so devastating it morphed him from one of Action Wrestling's most vilified stars… to now being nothing more than Kyle Kemp’s lapdog!”
Downfall and Mintzel chuckle.
“... and CJ Phoenix? Who is he? He certainly isn’t a credible star like Wesley, and it appears that his hot streak on CruiserClash has finally cooled down”.
“No gentlemen, this will not be a repeat of Trio’s, I’ve been waiting many months to gain my revenge for that painful defeat. The stakes are higher this time, Trio’s is a credible achievement, yet it does not come with the same rewards as winning this tournament does”.
"We are down members, yes. Sanchez and Keeton may never return, but The Following go into this matchup without their ace, Wesley. Yet the ace of The Lost Breed, yours truly, remains the one constant here in Action Wrestling. Competitors like Dandy, Sam Kidsgrove, FPV, Lissie Hope and Adelaide Ainsworth, they always talk a big game, they think they can clip ‘The Angel of Death’s’ wings”.
He smiles at Alice sadistically, who returns the gesture.
“But they all shared the same fate, they all underestimated me and I stood over all their fallen bodies with glee”.
He raises his beer again, “So I implore you, Mintzel, Downfall... and NATE. Unite behind me as we gain our revenge against The Following on the way to an outstanding victory at Battlebowl. And when I finally walk away from Evolution as the Action Wrestling World Champion, the critics will finally be silenced, The Lost Breed will finally be recognised as the true power here in this promotion”.
NATE is oblivious to Nightingale’s rally cry, he continues to eat the food, whilst Alice continues to stare daggers through Mintzel.
“NATE… NATE…” Mintzel tries to get his attention.
The room goes quiet as they all turn and stare at NATE.
“...NATE GODDAMN IT!!” Mintzel finally loses his cool.
NATE finally turns to the rest of the room. His face covered in cake, some drops out of his mouth as he smiles.
Mintzel sighs in frustration as The Nightingale’s both turn back towards him.
“Get him back in the gym, Matthias. And clean up his diet. We don’t need him vomiting in the damn ring”.
Traw Ma opens the front door to a house. Unlike the usually beautifully presented and flawless woman we normally see, NATE’s adopted Mother looks dishevelled and exhausted, possibly even ill.
“Please help me, Matti, he hasn’t stopped since Monday night”.
“I’ll try, where is he?”
Traw Ma reaches out a hand and grabs Matthias’, she leads the big German through the house into the main lounge area where NATE is standing in the middle of the room with his hands in the air, singing to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
“Evry 1 Arownd Luvs Mi
B Coz Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
“Wiv Mi Gud Frend Niytingayl
Eye Nyoo Dat Wi Cudnt Fale”.
“Evry 1 Arownd Luvs Mi
B Coz Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
“That’s not too bad”.
“There’s about twenty verses”.
“Wi Olsow Beet Jayson Prise
Eye Didd Nott Fink Hi Woz Nise”.
“Evry 1 Arownd Luvs Mi
B Coz Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
“OK NATE we get the message”.
“Eye Wil Wyn Da Battl Bowel
Naw Dat Eye Amm On A Rowel”.
“Evry 1 Arownd Luvs Mi
B Coz Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
“I’ve tried to stop him so many times and he just keeps going”.
“Eye Am Da Neskt Champeeun
NATE Iz Resslins Numba Wun”.
“Evry 1 Arownd Luvs Mi
B Coz Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
Matthias slaps NATE in the face. Pretty hard. He seems to snap out of it.
“Stop. Now”.
“Da Nekst Vers Iz Abawt Haw Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee”.
“I don’t want to hear it, not even a little bit. Your Mom hasn’t slept for days because you haven’t stopped singing and she can’t slap as hard as I can”.
“Noe Itz Choozday Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee Yes Ta Dae”.
“NATE it’s Thursday, it’s been 3 days”.
“Wot?”
“You haven’t eaten, or gone to the toilet in that whole time. How are you still standing?”
“Eyem Hungree”.
“Yeah, I fucking bet”.
NATE tries to comprehend the fact he’s been standing there for three days singing a song over and over again. Traw Ma announces she’s going to bed and leaves the room leaving Matthias and now a very hungry NATE in the room.
“You didn’t show for our gym session this morning…”
“Sori Eye Woz Selabratin”.
“I’m going down there now, you’ve got two hours to eat, take a shit and get your ass down there. I don’t quite know how it’s happened but you’ve got a second-round match now. Be there, and be fucking quiet, your Mom needs her sleep”.
“Y Duz Shi Nead 2 Sleyp”.
“Because you’ve just been standing there singing that stupid fucking song for three days!”
“Wot Sonng?”
Matthias shakes his head in disbelief, he had no doubt NATE had forgotten the song completely.
“Two hours, be there or you’re getting nothing from me this week”.
“O Kay”.
CJ Phoenix, I have stood side-by-side by individuals considered to be “monsters”…
...I have faced individuals such as Walter, who many would be considered to be a “monster”…
...and I have looked into the mirror upon my reflection, a true “monster”...
...therefore I can confidently conclude, you are no “monster”.
What I see in front of me is a fraud, an imposter, someone who believes they are a teacher, a leader of men…
...yet he is just another follower of Kyle Kemp.
Do you know why they call me a “monster”? Because people fear me, they’ve seen the actions I take to succeed here in Action Wrestling, they’ve heard the horror stories spoken about “The Angel of Death”.
These stories are the result of fact, not fiction. There’s a whole trail of bodies which can account as evidence to why I’m a “monster”, and you’re a fraud.
They’ve seen the footage of myself curb-stomping Ben Affleck face into glass, whilst his best friend, Matt Damon cries in horror. They then saw me gouge out poor Matt’s eye with a shard of glass.
The world watched on in horror as I caved in the skull of Vic Venable, whilst his fiance begged for his life, and I had a smile spread across my face.
That there is evidence to prove that I AM A “MONSTER”.
YOU HAVE NOTHING…
...NO EVIDENCE…
...AND NO HOPE OF MAKING IT TO BATTLEBOWL!
I feel sorry for you. Your career has been floundering for years, it starts to pick up momentum, and then quickly that momentum comes to a grinding halt.
You had a nice little win streak going there on CruiserClash, you managed to earn yourself a shot at becoming number one contender for the Cruiserweight Title, even picking up a win versus my Queen on the road to Revolution…
...but that streak died when you stood and watched as Sara Pettis earned that right.
I thought you were teaching the CruiserClash roster how to succeed, you were pulling them up the mountain with yourself, inch-by-inch…
...but you’ve run out of rope. You're not quite tall enough to climb this mountain. This Mountain is filled with the biggest “monsters” you can imagine. You’ve seen the evidence, when I say I’m going to lay someone to rest...
...I almost always come through with my promise.
And I have NATE, he may be “unique”, but he helped yours truly defeat a three-time former World Champion and a WCF Hall of Famer last week, that’s something not many have achieved here, including yourself.
My leadership qualities will be highlighted when Team NATEingale scores another victory. Only I could lead NATE to back-to-back victories over former World Champions, in consecutive weeks. As for you, you’re merely a follower, and your own leader, Kemp, is a poor excuse for a role model. If you’re hoping his teachings will help you guide others, they’ll all be as disappointed as your wife is every time she turns on CruiserClash to watch her pathetic husband.
After eradicating Jayson Price last week, it appears another WCF retread has washed up at my feet, it's about time I place my foot on your throat and eradicate the cancer that is CJ Phoenix…
...it’s already spread through CruiserClash via your “teachings”...
...it’s metastasized through The Following due to your failures…
...this true “monster” is now imploring you…
...take that rope which you used to climb this mountain…
...tie it into a noose...
...AND HANG YOURSELF!
It’ll be less painful than facing this true “monster” in the ring on Monday Night Clash.
NATE bursts through the door of the gym where he and Mintzel train. Mintzel is sweating from a session on a treadmill and is surprised NATE is actually an hour earlier than he’d asked. NATE runs to the bathroom immediately and disappears there for five minutes, he eventually comes out looking groggy.
“Eye Woz Sik”.
“Did you run here?”
“Yess”.
“Er… Why?”
“Eye Diddent Wont 2 B Layt”.
“You’re already hours late because you were standing there singing, but also early compared to when I told you to get here. What did you eat?!”
“Siks Peetsers An Fore Hottdogz”.
“Breakfast of champions… No fucking wonder you were sick. If James or, heaven forbid, Alice, ask then you’re on like a high fibre Vegan diet or something? You’re supposed to be a professional athlete”.
“Eye Beet Eff Pee Vee Hey Day Mayks Mi Fink Ov A Choon”.
“Don’t you fucking dare”.
NATE has “twinkle twinkle little star” going round in his head but isn’t sure why.
“You dodged a big bullet on Monday night NATE, I think James and Alice would’ve castrated you if you’d lost… to be fair I’d have joined in to save myself from that fucking psycho bitch. If you can manage that one more time you’re in the clear. No one’s gonna give a shit what you do in the actual Battlebowl match, you’ve just got to get James there. Can you do that? Just one more acceptable performance?”
“Yepp”.
“Do you even know who you’re against?”
“Yepp”.
“Who…?”
“Yepp”.
“For fucks sake”.
At that exact moment, Alice walks in. James Nightingale’s wife rolls her eyes and looks at the two of them.
“I came earlier, I was worried you weren’t taking your training regime seriously enough… either of you”.
“Eye Amm Ver E Seerius”.
“NATE just got a bit over-excited with his celebrations”.
“Still? It’s been days”.
“That’s what I said”.
Alice turns to NATE.
“I hope you are taking this seriously. James and I were pleasantly surprised by what we saw on Monday night, but one surprise performance isn’t enough, we expect better this week still”.
“Yess Wi Wer Jus Tolkin Abawt Mi Mach Agenst”.
NATE pauses, panicked, he clearly has no idea who they’re against.
“Yeah, your match with Dandy DiVito and CJ Phoenix, you were just saying how prepared you are for them”.
“Good…”
NATE and Matthias hold their breath…
“Well, I won’t keep you from your training any longer, I’ll let James know how you’re getting on”.
NATE and Matthias exhale…
“But don’t forget what I said. If NATE is not on form on Monday night, there will be consequences”.
Matthias nods and Alice leaves.
“Wot a Luv Lee Lay Dee”.
“Fucking hell, I’m not scared of James, but I’m scared of her. I’ve got my own Battlebowl match to worry about and I’m supposed to be responsible for you?! Can’t I get some credit for already performing a miracle and making you vaguely competent at least?”
“Wel Dun”.
“That means absolutely nothing coming from you”.
Mintzel puts his head in his hands briefly and then released them.
“Fine! We’ll just go again, same tactics as last time. Let James do all the work and just hit Dandy and CJ if they come anywhere near you, understood?”
“Yepp”.
“Do you know anything about Dandy or CJ? Two guys who are in The Following at the same time. Anything at all?”
NATE looks blank.
“Dandy is a little angry guy, at least he seems little to me… says “fuckin’” a lot, you must’ve seen him around?”
“O Yess Wel Dan Dee Da Badd Nyooz Iz Dat Eye Been Eff Pee Vee Sow U Wil B Sayin Fukin A Lott Wen Eye Beet U Lyk O Mi Godd Fukin NATE Jus Fukin Beet Mi Upp An Naw Mi Brayn Hurtz Be Coz Fukin NATE Fukin Jumpd On Itt An Every 1 Will Fink U R A Looser Cos U R”.
“And CJ Phoenix you probably won’t know to be fair. He’s normally on CruiserClash losing to like Sara Pettis and people. I think you weigh about three times as much as him, I’m not sure that’s a good thing though”.
“See Jay Fee Nicks Yoo R 2 Smol 2 Ressle Mi Eye Am Massiv Sow I Kan Jus Frow U Arawnd Da Areena An Den Eye Wil B Jumpin On Ur Brayn Dis Munday Nite”.
“What’s it with jumping on people’s brains today?!”
“Jus A Nyoo Moov Eye Fort Ov”.
Mintzel shakes his head with some confusion. What more could he do? Impossible though it may sound, NATE had technically won on Monday night against FPV, and if that could happen then literally anything was possible. Why couldn’t he go on to beat Dandy and CJ…? Lots of good reasons popped into Mintzels’ head as soon as he had that thought, but he also knew there was nothing he could do about it at this point. The match was happening and all he could do was give NATE, and by extension himself, the best chance possible to avoid The Nightingale’s wrath…
“Come on then, let’s get started, we’re gonna have to burn off those pizzas and hot dogs, if you’re going to be sick, try not to do it in the middle of the right, OK?”
“O Kay”.
Dandy DiVito, what happened to you?
You were once hated just as much as I am now, and we’ve shared so many similarities over the years…
...we both took great joy in ruining the lives of Sam Kidsgrove and Zooey Deschanel…
...and Lissie Hope.
But where I continued to remain true to myself…
...YOU SOLD OUT!
When I pinned you the Clash following Evolution III, a chain of events was created.
I rose up as the next number one contender for the World Championship…
...I raged a three-month war against Walter…
...which in turn led to the creation of The Lost Breed.
Yet the defeat at my hand, Dandy, it led you down a spiralling path of mediocrity. The breakout star of 2020 quickly vanquished the breakout star of 2019…
...sending him to mere irrelevancy.
You even fell from challenging regularly for the World Title…
...to failing to capture the TV Title.
And when you hit rock bottom, you faced an important decision…
...disappear into obscurity…
...or sell out?
I’ll give you some credit, you’re a survivor, you’ll do whatever it takes to hang around…
...pity you had to give up what made you unique in the process.
Wesley scraped you off the floor and delivered the remains of what was once a great superstar to Kyle Kemp, he quickly moulded you into his puppet.
You were once an alpha, you had the likes of Alex Richards following you around willing to fall on their own sword for you…
...now you follow Kyle Kemp around, muzzled, docile, picking up his shit in a bag.
The record books don’t lie, Dandy. The second time we met in the ring at Trios, The Following bested The Lost Breed.
But times have changed, I have grown stronger since that defeat…
...I’ve eradicated my weaknesses…
...this time, you don’t have Wesley to save you. He won’t be your knight in shining armour to come to your rescue when you’re dropped on your head by The Angel of Death once again.
Instead, you’ll turn your head to the side, and find CJ Phoenix trying to climb another mountain…
...and Kyle Kemp will not be there because your result holds no bearing on his own gains.
You’ll just close your eyes and accept that I’m better than you once again.
If you think you couldn’t fall much lower than you did the last time I beat you, perhaps I could inflict the indignity of NATE pinning you…
...the only way to get over that…
...OVERDOSE!
I hope for your father’s sake, you don’t choose that path. He must be so proud that his son has finally conformed…
...finally becoming a stand-up citizen.
You’ve moved away from being the spoiled rich kid, instead, you fight the good cause, you fight alongside your Following brothers as you battle Philidor, to the cheers of the crowd.
Those cheers can be addictive…
...as addictive as the shit you used to push into your arm.
Your weak-minded, susceptible to addiction...
..don’t get too addicted to the crowd's cheers…
...because it will change what made you special…
...what made you unique.
Those cheers will make you weak, then when you're not suspecting it, I’ll come and eradicate you once and for all…
...I’ll eradicate your remaining Following brothers…
...and I’ll promise you I will hand-deliver your ashes to your father...
...and cave his skull in with the urn.
(And that CJ is a promise from a true “Monster”.)
Alice is resting within the private quarters of AOD, Inc., the new residence she shares with Nightingale. She sits comfortably in his armchair in front of a log fire, curled up with her own knees pushed into her chest.
In her hand, she holds an open locket. She stares at the photo inside, a picture of her son and daughter. She wipes away a single tear that runs down her cheek. Unbeknownst to her, Nightingale watches on from the corner of the room. He finally moves towards Alice in an attempt to comfort her.
“It gets easier with time,” says Nightingale, softly.
She closes the locket at the sound of his voice, her face drops to the floor as she wipes another tear.
“Being separated from the children,” he puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“The world perceives me as being a monster, and for the most part, they’re right,” claims Nightingale.
Alice looks up at her husband.
“James Harrison, for all intents and purposes, died in that open grave back home in 2015. James Nightingale was born in that fiery pit, this body was merely a vessel for The Matriarch to carry out her evil plan. But she didn’t succeed in killing off James Harrison, at least not completely. There’s some of him left within me, albeit he’s been twisted with darkness, buried under hundreds of years of The Matriarch’s hatred, but he’s still there. He must’ve been in there to reunite us”.
Alice gets out of the chair and stands face-to-face with her husband, comforting him.
“For our campaign succeed, I must fight without a conscience, without remorse and weakness. There is already so much blood on my hands that I’m past the point of redemption. James Harrison, despite being buried deep inside me, will never be allowed to return,” his head drops.
“If The Matriarch had her way, I would’ve returned home the night I accepted her hand, and would’ve killed the three of you. That would have truly ensured I had no weaknesses, but I refused. I’ve chosen my path, but I wouldn’t choose the path of the children, nor your own. They’re innocent, and they don’t deserve to be punished for the sins of their parents. They’ll live out the rest of their childhood with your parents, and all being well, their identities will remain hidden”.
Nightingale recomposes himself following his rare showing of humanity.
“My cut-throat approach has taken me so far, but you Alice, you were the missing piece of the puzzle. It was The Matriarch’s influence which made you follow me to these shores, it was her influence which brought you back to my side, and together we’ll conquer Action Wrestling. There will be much more bloodshed on our path to the top, a path which is not conducive for raising children, so it’s imperative that they stay...”
Alice cuts him off, through teary eyes, “I know James, you don’t have to say it again. I get it, it’s the correct decision. I just miss them, but I also missed you, and couldn’t go on without you. I know we’ll be reunited with them, but for now, we must continue our campaign, together”.
She runs her hand through his hair, then pulls him in for a kiss.
She pulls back, and rests her forehead on his chest, “Now make sure you go and earn your place in Battlebowl. We’ve both sacrificed so much to be here, you must ensure the sacrifice was worth it, James”.
She looks up at Nightingale once more, “I went to the gym earlier, Mintzell is working NATE hard. But despite this, you know you’ll still have to do this on your own. Mintzel and I will be ringside, but it’s down to you in the ring. You’ve beaten Dandy before, he was stronger than, now he’s weak and panders to the crowd, if you fight like you always do, then he’ll stand no chance against you. And as for CJ, you’ve watched the tape of his match against me. Learn from my mistakes, ground him, cut him off from Dandy, make him beg for mercy before you drop him on his head”.
Alice hugs Nightingale once more, “Do it for me, James, do it all for me”.