Battered Not Broken

Shogun Champion Posts : 82 Join date : 2019-09-05

The scene begins in Wrestleworld territory as the camera pans around to reveal Babayka’s carnival looming in the background. The camera slowly approached the site, with the surrounding seemingly eerie because of the uncomfortable silence all around. All the metallic suns showing wear and tear through their rusted discoloration while the poster advertising about the show seems to be decades old with how faded the imagery displayed in it seem. The carnival entrance gets closer with every step as the tension being build could be equated to that of a horror movie where the POV character is seconds away from a jump scare. With nothing left to do but enter the facility, the cameraman makes that leap of faith as he bursts through the curtains to a complete change of atmosphere.

The carnival is crowded with a lot of people seated in the audience as the cameraman traverses his way through the packed crowd and a lot of circus acts that follow. The last time the Carnival was this crowded was during the Kingdom Come weekend where Babayka and Erik Vance hosted a good chunk of the roster for the Carnival Carnage match. But something seems odd about the crowd today. They seem to be normal, talking amongst themselves, as the murmur from the crowd can be heard echoes around the area-- but looking at their eyes, it almost seems like there’s nothing behind that. No soul. Like puppets, being told to act out a scenario against their will. Also, the carnival is deceptively large. It’s almost like it exists in its own dimension for it to have so many things packed into it in what appears to be a regular circus-style tent. The Circus Master, Babayka, or even Dr. Erik Vance. A man, dressed in clown getup that we don’t seem to be familiar with, makes his way to the stage.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for gathering for today’s show! After a strong performance from a group of individuals at the Carnival Carnage, we were able to turn this Carnival into a huge success. From Jaguar to Mac. Drago to Saint. And of course, the man who prevailed in what was a truly grueling contest of grit, strength, and resilience. The great Ozymandias. And guess what? They are all here tonight! They’re all here to celebrate the success of the event. Aren’t you excited?! Isn’t this what you want?! The new faces of the Wrestleworld putting on a show that you’ll never forget!?” The Man exclaimed with no avail. The crowd sat in silence, just blankly staring at the man as he nervously looked around and tried to play it off jokingly.

“Tough crowd! It wouldn’t be the first time, I tell you that! Ahem… But to bring out the best of the situation-- is a man with a very interesting past! The man who triumphed it all at the Carnival! Of course, I am talking about The Butcher of Reine!! OZYMANDIAS! I said, give it up for the one and only, Ozymandias!!!” Exclaimed the mystery man as the crowd fails to budge. To no fanfare, a scrawny man impersonating Ozy, wearing a cheap knockoff of the original mask, enters the center stage with all the spotlights on him.

“Before I begin, I need to set the scene. So, imagine that we’re all on a boat but the boat is not what it appears to be. It is supposed to represent the vessel that holds our souls…..”

“... But that’s not it! The water also represents the sorrows that we carry amongst us. Just a little weight on it and it gets displaced around and splashed onto other things in its way. We project our feelings onto others…..”

“And that’s why everybody will be sacrificed to Cthulhu because he’s hungry for more... Where was I again? I swear, I’ve lost my train of thought-- Or have I? We’re back on the boat--” Said the Ozy pretender as he’s interrupted by the Mystery Man from earlier to sighs of relief from the crowd.

“Listen, mate… Congrats on your victory. But I don’t think this is the right time for all of this talk. I am not sure if there’ll ever be a right time for it. Or a right crowd. Or anything positive coming from it, for that matter. It just seems so extra-- so unnecessary. I do believe that your heart is in the right place. You’re passionate and a family man, at the end of the day. All of this trickles down to that. Maybe, just talk about that? I mean, the murder thing is pretty cool but you lost me at Cthulhu. And the boat. Aaand the metaphors. Hey! Don’t be disheartened! You sure do have a lot of talent and I am sure that there’s potential in here waiting to be tapped. You do have a lot of strengths-- Physical abilities for starters. And your dominance at Carnival Carnage was a sight to behold. Sure, it pales in comparison to what happened a couple of nights later when Tristan Killebrew and the Nightmare King locked horns in the Main Event of Kingdom Come for the most prestigious championship belt in all of Wrestleworld. And I am sure you’d love to get your hands on that very title with the little opportunity that you’ve gotten-- But you’re just focusing too much on yourself and how you are this world-beater that Havoc should be worrying about. A man who has already vowed to kill him before their very first encounter. It’s almost like you’re underestimating what he has to offer? Rather, what he HAS offered to Wrestleworld that you could not replicate in your short time here? Don’t take this negatively--” The mystery man continued, but a dejected ‘Ozy’ made his way through the stage and to the back as the crowd finally applauds at the sight. The Man tries to play it off as intentional as he embraces the positive reaction which quickly turns into silence once again when the crowd realizes that it brought joy to the man. And of course, these people could never see anybody happy.

“Rude. Either way, it’s time to invite a fan-favorite to the stage! She may seem young and innocent-- that’s because she is. She had an incredible showing herself at the Carnival two weeks ago. Please welcome back the ‘Sweet from Sweetwater’!!! Lillie Saint!!!” Exclaimed the mystery man, once again to a silent and unimpressed crowd. And just like with Ozy, it is another cheap attempt at satire by the Carnival. Out came a rather timid and nervous woman, not sure why she was brought here as she stumbles around to get to the stage.

“I-I don’t know what you want from me? I just wanted to enjoy the show--” Before she could finish, the Mystery Man interrupts her.

“Hush, little one. I have been told that your brother is here to look after you. Give it up for Colt Montoya!” He exclaimed forcing enthusiasm out of the crowd, as a large intimidating man who in certainty is NOT the real Colt Montoya, steps up to the stage and stands behind the terrified woman.

“S-So… Lillie Saint-- I mean, ME. I am L-Lillie Saint and I love each and every one of you!... But don’t underestimate me on the basis of how I l-look. I kick ass and take names when it comes to the… ring but outside of it, I am just another girl, looking to make a name for herself. I-I didn’t… I didn’t want to get cast behind my brother’s shadow so I chose to do things differently and so far, it has been w-working great for me. The Carnival… NO PLEASE NO!” She screamed as ‘Colt Montoya’ takes a step closer to her absolute horror.

“I-I meant that I d..don’t want to leave the Carnival. I don’t want to leave this place after all the fun it has brought me. I don’t want to leave. I-It doesn’t matter that it doesn’t suit my style… It doesn’t matter that I have no experience in European wrestling, I w-would love to be locked in a cage with the greats this division has to offer. Havoc, Ozy, Drago-- Line them up! I will take on all of them w-without any hesitation. I will be an act for the world to see here at the carnival. Now and f-forever.” The lady tries to make a run for it, only to be caught by the imposing figure of ‘Colt Montoya’.

“PLEASE. PLEASE. WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?! PLEASE, LET ME GO! PLEASE…” ‘Colt’ carries his sister out of the way of the Mystery Man, who a sadistic smirk on his face.

“Oh, Lillie. I wish you could wait! For I do have a lot to tell you. Lillie Saint! Usually, a happy-go-lucky girl who brings her passion for the business along with the charm of an innocent little angel, who could do no wrong. After all, Lillie Saint has SUCH a bright future behind her. It is really unfortunate that she feels like she is trapped into doing something or competing against people of the caliber and pedigree of Havoc, Ozy, and Drago, just to name a few. It is a very noble thought of not using your brother’s success or in this case, lack thereof, to your advantage to take a couple of shortcuts to the top. I’ve seen PLENTY of people do that and it’s a shame that they are not punished for the nepotism they display. Yet here’s Lillie! Wanting to be something out of her own accord, but gets immediately thrown to the trenches. She now has to scratch and claw her way out of the Carnival and I am not sure if she’s well equipped to do that. Even with a partner like Ozymandias. Let’s not forget who their opponents are! While one man has been a dominant champion everywhere he goes, the other has made a great first impression onto the fickle minds of the Wrestleworld audience. Ain’t that right, people?” Questioned the Mystery Man to not a single response from the crowd. And yet, it doesn’t seem to be bothering the man. Rather, setting him off into a frenzy as he smirks with passion emanating from his face as he’s about to introduce the next couple of acts for the show tonight.

“And up next, we’ve got an interesting act. I for one, do not relate to him on a personal level, but I am not surprised by the fact that he has drawn the attention of a large group of Wrestleworld’s audience. Let’s see if he tickles your fancy or you still continue to be a prude bunch. Give it up for DRAGO SANTIAGO!! That’s a great name, by the way. Slips right off the tongue” The Mystery Man commented before stepping away from the spotlight for a man who appears to be a spitting image of Drago Santiago. It surely isn’t the real one, is it? (No. No, it isn’t) A couple of slow claps from the crowd later (at least it is some reaction), Drago steps up to the spotlight.

“This again? Being put in a carnival with a bunch of freaks, watching my every move, trying to make sense into their heard for why I am going to be a champion very soon in Wrestleworld. Is that what my existence has come down to? An act? Nothing but a part of the puzzle while somebody else reaps the benefits of the seeds I sow. Or is it tantalizing to watch somebody with actual talent tear somebody limb by limb, for the entertainment of a braindead crowd that would be eating their toes if it weren’t for a barbaric sport like this? But then there are some that find the equilibrium and can turn this situation around to their advantage.” Says Drago with a look of content on his face. The Mystery Man lurks behind the shadows and tries to attack Drago, who fights him off. A group of men appear out of nowhere and grab Drago, who is doing his best to fight back.

“There is no need for me to hide my identity anymore.” Said the Mystery Man, chuckling to himself. “Most of y’all know me and at the same time, none of you really do. I decide who makes it here… I decide who runs this business. I decide EVERYBODY’S fate the moment they step through the curtains. While many claim to be the King or the Director or the pioneer of this business-- I am WRESTLING BUSINESS INCARNATE. I am the machine they speak of. I am the engine while these morons are just a spoke of the wheel. And all of you watching? You lap it up! Whether you like it or not. As they are forced to deal with the cards that have been dealt to them, you people revel in their misery. THAT IS BY DESIGN! I CHOOSE THEIR FATE! I MAKE THEM WHO THEY ARE! I--” Before he could finish his sentence, a pike impales him through the back of his head and through his mouth. With panic in his eyes and the blood curdling through his neck, the man collapses onto the floor. Just as he does, the men trying to hold back Drago disappear into thin air. Who was the man to challenge and DESTROY the system? The man that destroyed wrestling as a whole only to be able to rebuild it to his own vision, as it should be. A man that has been bound to the shackles of this very system for the longest of times-- but chose to set himself free along with like-minded individuals around him. The camera zooms in behind the fallen to reveal an iron throne. And sitting on it, with a cigarette in one hand and a red coat of paint (It couldn’t be his blood, could it?) on his face, is Havoc. He drapes the Wrestleworld European Championship over his shoulder as all the spotlights appear over him. The battle scars from the war he had with Tristan Killebrew are still fresh and instilled in his memory. Everything that we see around the Carnival had been orchestrated by the ‘wrestling’ himself. Yes, this business as a whole being represented by a man. Not somebody with a position of power. Literally THE man himself. But with its death imminent, Havoc had a discerning look on his face. He took a sigh for being content with what he has and everything that he still manages to hold after Kingdom Come.

He went through a war, but at the end of the day, despite being worse of than he was before, Havoc reigned supreme. The supposed King of the World could not put him away despite his brave effort, so what threat does the winner of a Carnival match with a bunch of nobodies or rookies hold to him? That we were about to find out.

“Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I promise you that this title will remain on my shoulder till the rest of eternity? And unlike these mortal fools that step up for a challenge, I have already etched my name in the annals of wrestling history. I am immortal! Nobody will ever forget the name of Havoc, whether they like it or not. I kept talking about the One True King, leading up to Kingdom Come. The One True King will rule over Wrestleworld for years to come and it’s clear about who that is. I don’t need a crown on my head to tell me who I am-- My actions speak louder than words ever could and I have BEATEN Tristan time after time after time. He has the legal obligation to call himself King having won that crown, but now even HE knows that it’s all plastic in comparison to the gold I have over my shoulder. From being a ‘forgotten’ belt to the most sought after championship belt in Wrestleworld today. When was the last time 20 people contested in that ring to determine the fate of the title and its holder? I don’t see Jacob Senn doing that-- especially after losing two weeks after his crowning moment. And it’s certainly not the Red Zone District either. Sure, they managed to best Drake and Jones, but in the pool as shallow as the Tag Team Division, it’s not too surprising, to begin with. And Claudia? The supposed Queen of Wrestleworld? She has literally lost every time the odds were not unfairly stacked in her favor. She is certainly no Queen to me. I have always found a way to right the wrongs committed against me and Tristan is now a closed chapter. What he does going forward has nothing to do with me and he has nothing to offer me anymore. The respect he showed me was a sign of weakness. I was vulnerable… I was down on the steel canvas and yet he didn’t try to smash my skull in and turn my brain into mash, despite my continuous attempts to destroy him. He has failed-- simple as that. The Nightmare King sits at the helm of Wrestleworld and everybody else is now FORCED to listen-- FORCED to actually see the wrongdoings of this company and not let frauds like Claudia Michaels slide into a position of royalty. That is for ME to decide now. I hold the fate of everybody in Wrestleworld and I will continue to shape this company into something it DESERVES to be.” Havoc exclaimed with pride, wearing his scars like a medal. Whether that multitude of lacerations on his back or the cut above his forehead. Havoc has no remorse for how things panned out at Kingdom Come.

“So, instead of me getting a PROPER coronation ceremony as I take my rightful place as King, I have to be a part of a tag team matchup that has NOTHING to pertain to my movement or my story. Before you bring up the fact about Ozymandias earning his chance at the European Championship, having won the Carnival Carnage, I should preface it by saying that people like Ozymandias are not meant to be taken seriously. Sure, he has an intimidating aura around him and has the strength to back it up-- But apart from that? What is it to him? What have you people actually learned about Ozymandias over the past couple of weeks? All I hear are meaningless praises from the Wrestleworld enthusiasts. They believe that he could be the one to finally dethrone me. First of all, that thought alone is quite preposterous. It doesn’t matter how technically sound or physically brutal that man is. It doesn’t matter if he can speak in riddles and talk about human sacrifices to a fucking Cthulhu of all things. It doesn’t matter that he has asked my death before EVER getting to meet or know me… Besides all that, Ozymandias is just a man who can’t stop talking. He’s a man with too much time on his hands to pay attention to all the fucking nooks and crannies around the world. The intricacies of his breakdowns of our personalities or the mask that he proudly parades around with-- they have NO MEANING to me or anybody else watching at home. When you’re trying to speak to these people, how could you only be so conceited to make it all about yourself? Sure, I am privy to bravado and confidence-- Trust me, I have every reason to be. But at the end of the day, EVERYTHING I do is not for me or my family… I am not as selfish as that. I CARE about the bigger picture. How can your family be happy in a world like this? It’s clear that Ozymandias only operates for himself-- and somebody with a motive as weak as his could NEVER amount to me. He’s an act! A tough man with some underlying potential-- But it’s just an act. And I cannot wait to break it down into pieces and expose him to the world for the man that he is. He’s a mortal, just like the rest of ‘em. And no matter how he presents his case-- he is just a wordsmith at best with slightly above average skills to back him up. And yet, you are all about the HYPE! Everybody is talking about the great Ozymandias and his great performance at DOMINION! Yes, they did that… For about a minute before everything that you have done in this company was eclipsed by my match in the Main Event of Kingdom Come. That’s the extent of your legacy here and that will unfortunately not be expanded upon coming this title shot, whenever that may be.” He scoffed, talking about his upcoming challenger. Ozymandias has certainly grabbed his attention, but Havoc is not willing to give him credit as of yet. He just believes that Ozy hasn’t done enough, for him to be getting the praises that he has been getting ever since his WW debut.

“And what about Lillie Saint? She finds herself in a matchup with three people that have been labeled insane by the society around them. This poor girl does not have any idea of what’s coming her way. I am not saying that she had a bad showing at the Carnival. Of course not. Most if not all of those people in that match have something going about them. Something that caught my eye. And Lillie sure does have the passion for the sport that most rookies fail to have. Colt Montoya’s sister, and yet she calls herself Lillie Saint. Logic dictates that she would want to use the established brand of her brother to expand upon her legacy, but she chose to be different. What will be the end of her, is how innocent she truly is. Innocence is the death of an individual-- You fail to ever grow beyond a bottleneck and you’re stuck in that position forever. Lillie will struggle to break out of that mold. Talent can only take you half of the way-- The rest is upon you to personally scratch and claw your way up, destroying the industry tropes like politics and nepotism and everything else that will try to stop you from being somebody, in this world. Somebody needs to open her eyes to the reality of the world around her and its cruel nature. Not everything is nice and glittery… Being positive is one thing, being delusional is another. Lillie Saint belongs in the latter group of individuals that fail to see the world for what it truly is. Which is why she will fail. UNLESS she finds somebody to hit her across the head and bring her ditzy self back to reality. And what was that about ‘touching’ individuals?-- You’re not wrong about that. I have touched the heart and mind of plenty of individuals who suffer on a day to day basis. I have touched their soul and I’ve given them an opportunity to join my cause. I’ve given them a voice! I’ve given them a CHANCE that this society never gave them. And with that, they are finally free from the shackles of this society. Free to be the person they are. Free to DESTROY this world and bring some justice to it by building upon the ashes of the world as it is today. Lillie Saint could never do that-- UNTIL I do something about it. But it’s clear that she wants none of this. The European Championship doesn’t fit her style, so to speak. That’s unfortunate… for now.” Havoc said with a dastardly smirk on his face. He takes a puff out of his cigarette, before moving on to the last variable in the equation. His tag team partner.

“And last, but DEFINITELY not the least comes Drago Santiago. There is something about this guy that does interest me. Actually, that’s a lie. I do like Drago Santiago quite a bit. It’s like looking in the mirror. Drago has made pain be the mode of his religion while I operate upon fear. Two languages that have no barriers ANYWHERE in the world. People respond to fear and pain. I consider myself to be a spawn of the pain and suffering of everybody around in the world. And pain is what drives me to be better than I was yesterday. Drago Santiago might be the closest thing to me this company has. I admire everything Drago has to say and his submission-based offense makes him a man to look out for. Despite all these positives-- I can’t give Drago too much credit. Because his actions have not yet matched the things he says. I fully expected Drago to win at the Carnival but I was disappointed to find out that he got eliminated second to last. As impressive as it still might be, Drago Santiago has everything needed to be that number one guy. And yet he finds himself not making that move-- failing to beat somebody like Ozymandias. Heck, I was more confident in the ability of Teddy Mac than that of Ozy and yet here I am, waiting to face this man, who happens to have ‘earned’ a title shot by beating somebody with a much better view about this world and a lot better skills to take advantage of this division. Drago, you should have no excuses for your failure. There is still a lot to be learned and I feel that you’re the closet thing to the spark I saw in Tristan Killebrew. There is something about you that draws me closer at every step of the way-- but your failures act out as a warning. Maybe I am wrong about you. Maybe you just appear to be good on the surface, but deep down, you don’t really believe in the things that you say. Cause if you did, there SHOULD NOT be anybody in this company stopping you from achieving what you want. Drago Santiago, I do respect you. That’s not something I say about a lot of people. And I do believe that you are the future of this division. But you need a visionary, a man who has backed up all of his words to the utmost degree. A man with a similar view about this world… A man that would take you to newer heights if you were to join him. I can be that man for you. Drago, we do team with each other coming Sunday. But my hand extends to you for a period beyond that. I offer you the platform you need to make your voice heard. I offer you the keys to success that will get you right where you deserve to be. I offer you my hand… And I hope that you’d make the right decision. Cause if you don’t…. That would be the last mistake that you ever make.” Havoc said, with his blood lust showing with every word. His eyes are almost shining bright red, from the fire that burns inside of him. Havoc has finally found somebody worthy to challenge him or even join him in his cause, and he has to take care of Ozymandias before he does that. With a look of confidence on his face, Havoc stubs the cigarette on the arm of his throne before flicking it away. He slowly gets up to his feet, almost limping as he does. Not bothered about his condition, he slowly moves towards the camera with the spotlight following him.

“So, the people of Wrestleworld. I reach out to you-- Would you help me get my message across to the rest of the world? Would you help me bring justice upon this world and change it for the better? All you have to do is stand up and reach out for my hand… And I promise you!!! YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!” Havoc said wholeheartedly as he stands in a T pose with his eyes closed. The camera slowly pans around to show that crowd sitting in the carnival, all missing pupils in their eye sockets, while donning Havoc’s face paint. Demonic laughter can be heard in the background as the scene slowly comes to an end.

Fin