Last Words

Stephanie couldn’t sleep. She promised herself an early rise for the Queeniversary tapings, but something was bothering her. She couldn’t explain it, but she had a feeling she should check the Wrestleworld website. Cloud made her way across her bedroom, yawning to herself. Monica was still asleep, as well as Violet who was sleeping on a futon in the living room. Stephanie sat in the kitchen as she opened her laptop, and there she saw it. Claudia fucking Michaels had more to say. This woman just couldn’t let anyone have the last word. She needed to be the star of the show no matter what. Fine, if she wanted the spotlight, then so be it. Besides, that would make her an easier target to take out. Stephanie grabbed her hoodie, laptop, and slipped on her sneakers before making her way to the rooftop. The War Queen had her own words to share.

It was chilly, but that didn’t bother someone whose blood was boiling. Claudia Michaels thinks she’s holding all the cards. This wasn’t going to go the way the Architect thinks it will. She needed to be reminded of the severity of the situation. She needed to remind Claudia that she entered Cloud Country and the hunt was on. The War Queen will have her prize.

One way or another.




No…


No…


NO!

The camera opens to Cloud, who was once again standing on the rooftop of her building. She had her hood over her head, but the bags under her eyes could clearly be seen, despite the lack of lighting around the area.


“No. You don’t get the last word, sweets. You don’t get to decide how this story ends. I am the nightmare that never ends, the nagging sense of doubt that exists in the back of your mind. I am the shadows that linger in the corner of your room, eager to reach out and claim what’s rightfully mine. I may have fired the first shot in this war, but you’re the one that beckoned the War Queen to the battlefield. When you sit there in the middle of the ring title-less just know and understand that you did this to yourself. This tragic story of a queen without her crown was brought upon by Her Majesty, Claudia Michaels herself. Bring as many soldiers as you want, I’ll destroy them all. I’ll eat those motherfuckers alive and spit them out. There’s nothing - AND I MEAN NOTHING CLAUDIA! Nothing on this goddamn virus-filled earth that can stop me from yanking the American Dream from your very hands. There’s no more warnings, no more jokes, sweets. Because when that bell rings you’ll be in a world of pain. It’s Outlaw rules, where anything can happen. I’ll have the pleasure of doing whatever I fucking want to you and man...oh boy am I going to enjoy the hell I’m going to put you through. And sweets? I fucking hope your Underworld simps try to save their queen...I hope they step to me because I have a few surprises of my own. This...there’s no escaping. It’s too late for either of us to back out now. I’m going to do more than make you m victim, sweets. I’m gonna make you into my fucking bitch. I’m going to beat you senseless until you’re crying out to the crowd in a bloody mess. I want you to cry on the inside with silent prayers to whatever god you pray to. And when you look me in the eyes...when we make eye contact you will know and understand that I and I alone hold your life hostage. I will be the judge of whether or not you live or fucking die. In other words, when that bell rings…I’m your fucking god.”

Matsuda’s eyes lingered on the camera for a moment, her eyes cold and lacking any sort of emotional empathy.

“Know it, understand it, and please...believe in me. Believe that I will cause you pain beyond belief. Believe in the reality that I will be the toughest opponent you’ve ever faced in your entire life. I am the immovable wall, the impossible opposition. I am the one who will define your career from here on out. You have no say, nor any consent. You’re long overdue for an ass-whooping. When I kick you, it’ll be for Aria via PFP IX. When I punch you in the face, it’ll be for Haruna via HOG ‘16. Every time I throw you onto the mat, it’ll be for every young life you destroyed. For every drop of blood you shed, it’ll represent the thousands of tears you forced from the eyes of so many. I am the Tigress King, the future sole survivor of our match. Your authority means dog shit to me, and quite frankly when I’m done with you, being an architect will be the least of your worries. In fact, I’m taking that job from you too. I’m taking the castle, the jewels, everything. I’m taking your servants, your fancy clothes, the cars, and fuck it. I’ll take Robbie too. And since you won’t be around, I’ll be Roxy’s new mommy.”

Stephanie chuckled to herself as she placed her hands in her pockets.

“The Vendettas? No longer exist. Clan Matsuda will absorb them and wipe them from fucking existence. Your whole family is a fucking plague upon this world. I don’t give a shit if people think I’ve taken this too far. I have no regrets about what I did and what I’m about to do. This is war, sweets. As its Queen, it’s my duty to deliver the full crushing weight of my power upon thee. You have it all wrong Claudia. I never wanted to be you. And besides, what’s the point of being someone who’s not long for this world?”

A wicked grin crept across Stephanie’s face as she paced back and forth.

"Are these threats? Nah, they’re promises. If you underestimate my words, you will fall. Because eventually, everyone who crosses my path drops to my feet. This year I made a promise to myself: no more fucking games. You’re on a long list of people I wish to butt heads with, sweets. The difference is you’re the only one I want to terminate. Keep thinking I’m spouting bullshit keep telling yourself that this is a bad nightmare that’s going to go away. Keep telling yourself that I’m just a minor threat...I want you to think nothing of me. I want you to be fearless...because when I punch you in the fucking face all of that goes out of the window, as does your plan. Because everyone has a plan until they get a stiff right across the jaw. You question my vision, calling it narrow. You think I don’t have resources!? I own a whole fucking promotion - two in fact. The tag championship your daughter held? That came from me, sweets. Heh, when I think about it I did more for Roxy than you ever had. Your power is only limited to a single island - that YOU don’t even own! My presence is international sweets. My accolades are laid across a multitude of promotions, just not one. In fact, most of the women from our part of the world has only achieved success in one or two places. I’ve been a world champion in three different promotions. Out of the so-called Land of Elite, I’m the one who had the balls to walk into the oldest promotion in this industry and try my hand at the hardest competition you’ve ever seen. Has anyone ever done that? Nah. The women’s championship that currently graces my waist is more prestigious than any you held so I suggest you take a second look at this so-called tryhard who currently opposes you. The difference between you and I is that I’m a one-woman army. You can’t get shit done by yourself. You never had the cojones to stand on your own, sweets. I have no fear of what might happen to me in that ring. As far as I’m concerned, you have more to lose than me, sweets. Like for instance, a title you never had to earn. I’m two days from being the first TRUE American Dream Champion. You’re just a placeholder and I think you’ve already realized that. Maybe that’s why you’re so desperate to let go of that belt because you know and understand that’s the only way you will ever have that belt. A dream deferred by my wrath.”

The War Queen stared at the ground for a moment as she continued to contemplate her words.


“Jaywalker’s biggest fault was giving you any kind of power. Then again this is the man who thought his protege was ready to be a women’s world champion. Just like I proved him wrong at WWH’s War of Attrition, I will prove him wrong again at King of the World. He should’ve never made you an Architect. He should’ve left you in whatever ditch he found you in after the Exodus from our old place of employment. In all honesty, the world was a much better place before you made your presence known. Well, I guess I have to do his dirty work and send your evil ass back to Mordor. Somebody has to tame the so-called lethal beast and I’ll be more than happy to make you submit. Many women thought they could rid me of this world, some you once called your colleagues. They thought once I walked away in disgrace that I was gone for good. Nah, bitch. I came back stronger than ever, more battle-tested then anybody in this godforsaken industry! Heh, Not even April Song could beat me without your help. That’s how pathetic the two of you are. Not even my best friend can pin me anymore, sweets. It took Tarah Nova everything to beat me and now she’s in no condition to get back into the ring. That’s the price people pay when they face the War Queen at the height of her power. You must sacrifice a piece of yourself, something you may never get back. From the moment we locked horns I’ve been ahead of you by every step. I sent your husband to the hospital, my relationship with Violet turned your plans to dust, and now whatever else you have planned will blow up in your face. I’ve spent the second half of my career in your presence. I know how you think, sweets. I’ve seen how you and your ilk operate. I hate to break to news to your sweets, but all I see is the same bullshit you’ve done back in your Hexa days. To see someone is to know them and at this point, you’re like the back of my hand, sweets. This twisted fairytale is as Grimm as they come. You’re the witch that gets shoved in the oven, the queen that gets defeated by the knight in shining armor. You’re the sea monster impaled by a golden trident. I foresee every result and it ends with your defeat. Because there’s justice in my heart, sweets. There’s experience, there’s pain, sacrifice, and everything I had to do to get this far in my career. U like you I didn’t need to hide behind anyone. I got this far on my own accord. At King of the World, Wrestleworld turns into Cloud Country.”

Stephanie nodded her head a few times as she paced around the rooftop.

“A selfish queen doesn’t deserve to have the American Dream. In reality, this country was built on the backs of those who earn their keep. The dream is about equality ...it’s about setting an example for those to follow. If I have to get my hands dirty so that one day the likes of Hana Nakajima and Alyssa Grace can hold this title with pride, then so be it. This isn’t just my story, but one shared by any woman who dared to dream beyond what society expected of her. You used to be that girl, Claudia. But somewhere you lost your way. It’s too late to look for a guide, sweets. Now comes to execution. So before you make it to that ring I suggest you make peace with your god. I suggest that you give Roxy one last call, that you kiss Robert Vendetta and Ares one more time before Sunday. Because that might be the last time you see them. Whatever you say to your family may very well be your last words, sweets. One of us...is not making it.”

Stephanie’s gaze lingers for a bit before she starts walking towards the laptop and turns off its camera. She felt a chilly breeze go through her, almost like some kind of omen. Matsuda would have to be careful. Almost anything was possible at this point. Monica and Violet needed her to come home in one piece. Stephanie looked up and took one last look at the sky before heading back inside.

I have to win...