Post by dsb on Oct 19, 2018 22:11:03 GMT
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for our MAIN EVENT!” the Announcer exclaimed to the redlining crowd. “The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a one hour time limit and it is for the FAWN World Championship! Introducing first, she is the challenger, hailing from Bridgeport California she stands at five feet eight inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and thirty-four pounds, she is the Magnificent Moll, the Pinstripe Powerhouse, a most Dangerous Dame indeed… VERONICA TREYMANE!”
Color fled from the ‘Mania broadcast in the blink of an eye, but the sound was still decidedly modern, as evidenced by the deafening roar from the FAWNatics. Accompanied by Social Distortion’s ‘Machine Gun Blues’ the Pinstripe Powerhouse stormed through the curtain, paused atop the stage and flicked her trenchcoat aside to reveal the replica Thompson braced against one thigh. “You’ve fed on FAWN for the last time, Daisy.” Veronica told the lurking menace. “Tonight I’m putting your fangs in my collection plate… and the World Title will make for a lovely tithe.” With that she raised the Thompson and now ‘Ronnie grinned from ear to ear as she pointed her barking iron down the aisle and let loose with a blistering line of pyro. Releasing the trigger only when the drum clicked empty, Veronica dropped the barking iron to her side and made quick time toward the squared circle.
VERONICA TREYMANE:
A return to golden form tonight as the Destroyer-class blonde sported the dark blue ’championship’ version of her boy-cut pinstripe trunks and bustier. The accompanying suspenders and belt gleamed bright white, while her pads and boots matched the white of her stripes. Her boots remained matte black, as per usual. Making her way up the steps with her Thompson angled over one shoulder, ‘Ronnie doffed her Fedora and set it on the ring-post before handing her barking iron over to senior official Nick Castle.
“Good call,” the ref smiled after accepting Treymane’s coat as well, “I’m not sure bullets are of much use against vampires.”
“Thomson’s just for show, Shamus.” Veronica answered with a smile of her own. “These though,” she swatted at her elbows and knees, “these’ll do things a stake never could.”
Castle just nodded and went to deposit her accoutrements, allowing the blonde to enter the ring and salute the Treymane gang from all four corners. Hopping down from the far corner just as her music started to fade, Veronica trained her eyes on the stage and murmured, “Time you paid for your sins, Brewster.”
Not about to be played a fool on FAWN’s biggest stage, the Announcer raised his mic and said, “Ladies and gentlemen… Miranda Wainright.”
MIRANDA WAINRIGHT:
The jeers were as loud as they were prompt and only grew more deafening once the Messiah of Misery stepped from behind the curtain to take her place at the pulpit of center stage, round topped black hat on her head and a microphone in one hand.
“You have been lied to, my poor heathen friends.” This did nothing for the crowd’s mood, not that their disdain slowed Wainright in the slightest. “Jeer to the fullest extent of your little black hearts, but it is true. For you have been told time and time again that THIS night, more than any other before or after comes rife with the hope of a fresh start. Of a different path. Of respite from the soul crushing monotony that makes up the bulk of your waking life. But this is a lie. Nothing more than a fever dream that some faceless marketing team has designed to bilk you out of your hard earned money on this night and all others like it. Oh, the names attached to some of the other tawdry trophies in this disgusting sideshow may change from time to time, but as long as my Weeping Angel possesses the FAWN World Championship, nothing will change. The clock won’t rise. The dawn won’t break. The dark will not recede. MIDNIGHT IS ETERNAL.”
A veritable wall of sound rose to drown her out and Miranda didn’t waste her breath shouting them down, rather she waited until they’d exhausted themselves. Only then did she turn her attention to Veronica Treymane. “And yet even in these dark days you can find a bright, shining fraud offering empty, pretty promises. One stands before me now, eager to reclaim a prize that was once hers.”
Veronica strode from her corner to the middle of the ring. “It’ll be mine before you know it, Daisy.” she promised.
Miranda regarded her with a smile simultaneous sad and wicked. “Your will is admirable, but the way is still blocked to you, sister. But just because you are not strong enough to venture into the Heart of Darkness does not mean that it will not send an emmisary forth to meet your blasphemous challenge. Now I beg you Veronica Treymane, steady the frantic pounding of your cowardly heart and hear my words even as your doom approaches. Hailing from Oxrun Station, Connecticut, she stands at five feet six inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and twenty-five pounds. She is the Daughter of Darkness, the Queen of Nightmares and last but certainly not least, YOUR FAWN World Champion! Now drop to your knees and denigrate yourselves before the might of ADELAIDE BREWSTER!”
GLORY & GORE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVBkD4IRhg
The lights died as her name reached the rafters and the speakers answered the call with the soft, eerie opening of Lorde’s ‘Glory and Gore’. For a moment there was nothing but darkness and pinpricks of cell phone light, then a few lights on either side of the stage ‘whoomped’ on to reveal Miranda waiting in a carpet of ankle deep fog. Still no sign of the toothy Churchgoer and that was the way it stayed until a cold blue light illuminated the gloomy recession leading to the curtain. A figure swung down from the ceiling of that narrow throat, a figure hanging by her knees from a bar suspended just out of camera view. Arms crossed over her chest, Adelaide Brewster opened her eyes, then twisted loose and landed on her feet just as her anthem warned ‘Now we’re in the ring and we’re coming for blood.’
ADELAIDE BREWSTER:
Flanked by the Prophet of Pain, Adelaide reached to the small of her back and undid the clasp that held the World Title in place. Raising it to shoulder level, she extended her tongue and sloooooooooowly licked the glimmering faceplate, much to the disgust of those in attendance. Brewster paid them absolutely no mind, focusing instead on a bit of murmured conversation. When it was over Adelaide started down the ramp with Miranda following perhaps half a dozen steps behind. For her first ‘Mania Main Event the Daughter of Darkness wore a gleaming black two-piece done in crushed velvet that showed off the power in her hips and shoulders in almost agonizing detail. The look was accented with a clunky black belt complete with a buckle done up as a snarling wolf’s head and matching black boots and pads.
Reaching the ring quickly without once taking her eyes off the former World Champion, Adelaide slunk under the bottom ropes, pushed to her feet and took possession of the center. Practically daring the blonde to come get her, she hoisted the belt high and threw her head back to ‘FWOOOOOOOOSH’ a cloud of Crimson Mist into the air. Serene in the center of this pocket storm, she handed the strap to Nick Castle and backed into her corner to await the opening bell.
Almost preternaturally silent throughout the course of Castle’s instructions, the FAWNatics turned it up to eleven as soon as the official called for the opening bell. Veronica circled to her right at once on the not-so-off chance that the champion might try to introduce her to the Red Mist at the outset. But Adelaide merely smiled and licked her teeth, the Queen of Nightmares making a point to let her tongue play over the points of her canines. “Only brought the Madre with you tonight, Daisy?” Treymane said in reference to the looming specter of Miranda Wainright. “You must be feeling exceptionally confident. Or maybe the others are waiting in the wings in case of a heathen uprising.”
Brewster batted her lashes in a way the blonde found far more annoying than a mere roll of the eyes. “Are you implying that I might need outside assistance to defeat you, sister?” she cooed. “Lest you forget, I’ve already fed upon your tawdry partner, as well as that mouthy redhead. And just last month I destroyed the woman that once sent you to a hospital in some godforsaken Mexican vill-”
The Pinstripe Powerhouse flicked out both hands, caught hold of Adelaide’s hair and reeled her into a high, high Kneelift that THWHONKED between the champ’s eyes!
STANDING HIGH KNEE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WEa1B1GXn8
“I was an angry, stupid kid when I took that match.” ‘Ronnie barked at Brewster as the champ stumbled away from the impact. “And if you think that’s who you’re in the ring with tonight, well Daisy, this’ll turn into your worst nightNNNNGGGGHHH!”
The Weeping Angel came out of her wobble in a silky smooth rotation that meant a whole lotta extra force behind the Forearm Smash she THWHAPPED off Treymane’s jaw! Veronica went back on her heels, then down to one knee when Adelaide drove a quick Back Kick into the pit of her stomach.
ROLLING ELBOW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDAOADBr8c
Just like that the brunette snatched hold of her prey’s left wrist and folded that arm back up behind her head, these sinister preparations earning a roar of concern from the crowd. Right hand already balled into a fist, Brewster drew it all the way back and-- grunted in surprise and pain when Veronica beat her to the literal punch with a straight right hand to the brunette’s midsection! This reversal of fortune allowed the Pinstripe Powerhouse to take control over Adelaide’s Wristlock and she celebrated by yanking the off-balance battler into a short Shoulderblock that might’ve become a full-blown Spear if ‘Ronnie hadn’t surged to boot leather and charged the corner with Brewster folded over one shoulder!
“UUUUUUNNNNNGGGGHHH!” Adelaide hit the roughly-padded steel at top speed and proceeded to hit it half a dozen more times because Treymane grabbed the middle rope in both hands and thum-thum-thum-THUMPED half a dozen more Shoulderblocks into the brunette’s midsection.
She was well on her way to a baker’s dozen when Castle came over and said, “Ease off, ‘Ronnie. She’s in the ropes.”
The challenger ceased her assault, however the break wasn’t exactly ‘clean’ because Treymane helped herself to Adelaide’s hair and hauled her up to growl, “You can’t bully me, Daisy. You can’t wrestle me and you sure as HELL can’t intimidate MEEEERRRRAAAAARRRRHH!”
The salacious cheers from some sections of the audience transformed into horrified groans that echoed from all sides of the arena once the FAWNatics realized that what looked like a kiss from Brewster to Treymane was in truth the World Champion gnawing on her opponent’s bottom lip! Seizing control of the clinch two full seconds before the ref thought to start a count, Adelaide clamped down on the blonde’s shoulders and spun around to BWUUUNG her against the buckles she’d so recently occupied. “Who said anything about intimidation, Daisy?” Brewster tittered in her prey’s ear. “I’m here to eat you alive!” She grabbed a fistful of hair, bared Treymane’s throat with a sharp yank and lowered her head to get another mouthful of the Gorgeous Gangster.
With one arm pinned between her torso and Brewster’s encroaching frame, Veronica was reduced to a retaliatory hair pull, one that, while stern enough to make the zealot growl, did nothing to alleviate the jugular munching. Her own teeth bared in a furious grimace, Treymane slipped a foot over the bottom rope and shouted, “ROPES, NICK! GET HER OFFA ME!”
She needn’t have wasted her breath, Castle was already on the scene and swatting at Brewster’s shoulder. “She’s in the ropes, Adelaide! Back off already!” Nick had a count at the ready but the Daughter of Darkness surprised him and everyone else in the arena by stepping back with both hands raised overhead.
“Is this what you had in mind, arbiter?”
“Ummmh, yes, actually. Thank you very much.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
Brewster’s hands came forward and down, the vindictive World Champion raaaaaaaking ’Ronnie from forehead to chin! Treymane turned away from the savage scoring even though she had no place to go with the buckles already at her back. What little protection this afforded her face was recouped by her neck as Adelaide smeared herself across the challenger’s back to once again worry and chew on the base of her neck!
No warning from Castle this time, he stepped up beside his charges and counted off, “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOURWHOAH!”
Blonde and brunette whipped away from the buckles in a tottering half circle, the latter still attached to the former via her dentistry while ‘Ronnie had actually strengthened their bond thanks to a massive double fistful of Adelaide’s dark hair. Castle (and the rest of the crowd) was still getting a bead on this new arrangement when Veronica ended her foe’s callous snacking with a follicle-augmented Snapmare that THUMPED Brewster down flat on her butt. Quick to halve her hair hold once Adelaide was seated (the other hand continued to twist and yank on those dark locks, much to Nick’s consternation) Veronica stepped back as far as she could and THWHACKED a spiteful Soccer Kick between the other wrestler’s shoulders!
PINSTRIPE PUNT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQic5fslxo
Adelaide hissed, made to get to one knee, but Treymane doubled down on the hair hold and stretched her out flat on the thinly-sheathed plywood. “You wanna bite me? You wanna bite me, Daisy?” The Gorgeous Gangster spun and dropped into a full mount atop the champ’s chest, a perch that let her rain several heavy Forearm Smashes directly across Brewster’s décolletage. The Weeping Angel covered up quickly enough, unfortunately the punishment doled out on her girls was only to ensure Adelaide’s hands were thusly occupied when Treymane hooked her own mitts into the brunette’s mouth, (one over each set of teeth) and pulled like she meant to dislocate her rival’s jaw!
The ‘OOOOOHHH!’ from the crowd was followed by a gurgled shriek from Brewster and a horrified grimace from Nick. “Jesus ‘Ronnie, get your fingers outta her mouth! ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!”
Treymane broke the hold, SMACKED her foe across the cheek and jammed a finger under her nose. “I’m taking your fangs tonight, bytch.”
It was with that goal in mind that she ran the ropes, raced back and took to the skies in a gorgeous vertical leap that ended with the point of her left knee coming down between Brewster’s eyeNO! Adelaide rolled clear, leaving the challenger’s knee to THUNK the empty mat! Tumbling to her back following the errant strike, Veronica drew the aching limb tight to her chest only to have Adelaide yank it away immediately thereafter. Dark eyes alight with righteous anger, the Queen of Nightmares used Treymane’s ankle to roll her onto her stomach. From there she dropped to one knee and pressed forward on the captured limb so it was forced flat against the canvas in an awkward looking ‘V’.
“I agree, Daisy. You are taking my fangs tonight.” Brewster cooed as she enforced unnatural angles on her foe’s long leg. “You’re taking them in the neck. The forehead and anywhere else I f*cking see fit!”
Already fighting for purchase so she could haul herself to the ropes, Veronica grunted, “I’ll take them home in my hands when all is said and done you vicious little AAARRRGGGGGHHHH!” Brewster lifted the blonde’s leg off the mat, reached under her thigh with her right hand so she could add a touch of Single Leg Crab to the already agonizing trap of the Heel Hook.
LEG-WRENCH HEEL HOOK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV8BTQ3k9o8
“Don’t bother tapping out yet.” Adelaide purred. “I’m not letting go until you’ve carved bloody furrows in the canvas!”
Veronica wasn’t in any position to argue, her leg folded at a worrying, agonizing angle. As told, she dug her nails into the canvas, any piece of the champion out of reach.
Castle got in front of the blonde. “Just tell me,” Nick informed. Treymane shook her head firmly but with no panic, teeth clenching.
She pulled her way toward the ropes, slowly, surely and painfully, reaching within an arm’s length after a half-dozen seconds. Before she could clench the cables, Brewster released only to drag Veronica back to the middle by her lower limb.
But before she could reapply dead center and possibly put the defense on ice, Ronnie twisted to her back and kicked the Daughter of Darkness away.
Adelaide rolled a tongue over her bared choppers as she moved to a butt-scooting Ronnie, the blonde making space but the champion eating it just as quickly. Veronica shot out her ‘good’ leg to keep the Churchgoer at bay. On the third piston-like pump of the limb, Adelaide’s able to snatch the limb at the ankle with both hands.
Skillfully, the brunette flipped the Pinstripe Powerhouse to her back while mounting the leg in a reverse straddle, lightly Scissoring the limb at the knee while wrapping her arms tight around Treymane’s ankle. Viciously, she twisted the joint outward then inward, stretching ligaments in equal measure in each direction before deciding to amp the pressure outward with her precise Ankle Lock.
Miranda cheered politely from the sidelines, no sign of doubt Eternal Midnight would indeed fall over the mock moll.
Wainright’s confidence seemed well-placed as Brewster delighted in ravaging another leg of the blonde’s, screwing Ronnie literally and figuratively with her lock. Veronica bit her lower lip but couldn’t help but mewl in pain from the abuse. Again, she’s forced to bury nails into canvas to save herself, this time reaching her destination, wrapping a palm around the bottom rope.
“GET HER OFF!” Veronica demanded instantly. When Nick was a bit slow to count, she added a more plaintive “OFF!” At the count of FOUR, Brewster released and backed no more than a step away. Veronica curled an arm around the lowermost cable, giving Castle a ‘Really?’ look.
With both wheels bothering her, the Destroyer-class beauty employed the ropes to rise and hobbled away from the strands in an arc avoiding the predatory nibbler. Her locomotion limited, Ronnie readied for an immediate attack and the Churchgoer didn’t disappoint, sweeping a leg at Treymane’s. Brewster failed to connect, but the skip to avoid the tactic left Veronica off-balance on her balky stems and she couldn’t avoid the next parry when Adelaide brought the same leg higher, gutting her foe with a back kick that left the blonde doubled and groaning.
Brewster tugged Veronica into a Front Facelock and seemed ready to DDT the blonde, but the Pinstripe Powerhouse showed a hint of her strength when she broke the hold and pushed the Daughter of Darkness away several steps. Looking a bit drained by Adelaide’s recent dominion, Treymane nevertheless surged forward with a Clothesline, but swung over the top when the champion dipped.
Adelaide grabbed the challenger’s scythe-like arm while slipping underneath and used it to swing around the sturdy frame of the Dangerous Dame. Brewster’s legs ascended and clamped shut around the opposite arm. Miranda dragged a thumb across her throat as the leader of the Church knew what’s coming, Adelaide using her momentum to RIP Veronica off her feet, planting the blonde’s skull and shoulders to the deck with a Crucifix Driver.
CRUCIFIX DRIVER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ory2gJqyuak
The matchbooked Treymane was stacked on those shoulders, ass pointed to the rafters, head bracketed by her legs, for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOO!
A stunned Wainright looked on in disbelief as Veronica pushed a shoulder up, surely Castle having played guardian angel to the champion to slow the count and save her. Miranda warned Nick about any further chicanery in defense of the challenger, Nick looking unnerved by the not so subtle threat.
For her part, Adelaide sank a set of nails into the flaxen locks of her challenger and tugged Treymane up to a seated position, Ronnie droopy, arms leaded at her sides, chin to chest. Sensing an opportunity to snack, Adelaide brought teeth to flesh, sinking the pearlies softly into an open nape.
The mastication brought Treymane out of her stupor and she flailed as Brewster indulged. The wild throes from the Dangerous Dame threw the champion away and she rose with a guilty grin, Veronica left with a love bite mark to remember the champ by.
Still in no condition to take advantage of repulsing the champion, Veronica managed to roll to hands and knees but seemed stuck there. Adelaide was ready to take things out of her comfort zone to end Ronnie’s night, climbing the buckles and turning to face the rising blonde. As Veronica ascended slowly and gingerly and turned to find her foe, the bat took wing, vaulting off the top buckle and soaring toward Treymane.
At the last moment, Veronica caught sight of the approaching Churchgoer and stepped to the side, snagging the champ’s left arm on her descent. As momentum sent Adelaide into a tumble to the canvas, Veronica following her there, instantly the challenger and ex-World Champ worked the captured limb into a Fujiwara Armbar.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR @ 1:03
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8YyAccU4k
Veronica leaned her perpendicular frame into that of the titleholder, drawing back the pilfered arm with her, threatening to wreck Brewster’s shoulder. Treymane felt the satisfaction of a cry of pain from the Daughter of Darkness, but soon after felt her shoulders against the canvas when Adelaide cleverly rolled to her right and stacked Ronnie on her shoulders for the…
ONE…
TWO…
The Destroyer-class blonde was forced to give up her submission and scrambled to her feet to avoid the loss. Adelaide was slower to vertical, the cradling of her injured wing keeping her from rising as quickly. And Veronica made her pay, stepping to the brunette and NAILING her with a straight right hand to the chin that ROCKED Adelaide to her dark core.
Treymane follows with a wicked chopping left-handed slap that elicited the requisite ‘WOOO’ from the audience. Grabbing Brewster’s dark locks with both hands, she forced the champion to bend at the waist and lifted a head-snapping knee to Adelaide’s flawless features. The cherry on top of her Drive by Night Flurry was completed with a discus clothesline that nearly decapitates the Daughter of Darkness, Adelaide’s boot soles leaving earth with the fierce force of the blow, the back of her skull and shoulders SLAMMING against the canvas.
DRIVE BY NIGHT FLURRY:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0c8wv7uHDY
Veronica dropped to her knees next to the splayed Adelaide, spent from minutes of abuse and the energy poured into the Flurry, but after a moment, she flopped across the body of her foe, ready to begin her second reign as World Champion.
ONE
TWO…
Brewster powered out simultaneous with ‘TWO!’ dashing any hopes the FAWNatics might’ve harbored about ‘Ronnie’s Lariat acting as a suitable stake substitute.
Teeth bared in a furious hiss as she scrambled to verticality, the champ bade Treymane forward and the Pinstripe Powerhouse obliged, or rather. feinted well enough to sucker her rival into a quick Toe Kick to the belly! Adelaide doubled over so the blonde clubbed her across the shoulders, then stepped in close and reached ‘round behind to snag Brewster’s left wrist when the brunette straightened up. Hammerlock secured with one hand, Veronica cinched the other across Adelaide’s noggin to keep her bogged down in a Front Facelock. Just like that she popped her hips to take the Weeping Angel up, over and down, the full weight of her sturdy frame THWHUMPING atop that folded arm!
HAMMERLOCK SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_qv4eAWB4
Adelaide groaned on impact but didn’t sit up, rather she rolled to her stomach while carefully folding the damaged limb against her chest. This proved a sound defense until a vengeful ‘Ronnie Treymane planted a stomp between her shoulders and followed up with a quick Leg Drop across the back of the churchgoer’s neck. Adelaide instinctively brought both arms up to protect her head only to spout something extremely heathenish when the Gorgeous Gangster grabbed hold of her left wrist!
“I’m so glad you decided you wanted to mat wrestle, Daisy.” Treymane huffed after she’d yanked the champion to her knees. “I’ve been wanting to stretch your ass all over this canvas for more than a year now.”
“Such a shame that you’re doomed to failUUURRRGGGHHH!” Brewster’s taunt ended in a mouthful of canvas because Veronica spun under the vulnerable limb and laid out on her belly to drive the brunette into the thinly-sheathed plywood. Anger growing in direct proportion to her pain, the Daughter of Darkness clambered back to all fours threes and might’ve turned it into an Arm Wringer of her own if Treymane hadn’t repeated her previous tactic, the high-speed twist just DRIVING Brewster into the mat shoulder-first. Still tethered to the World Champ via her tenacious Wristlock, Veronica gave it a few hard yanks en route to drawing Adelaide to boot-leather. One last tug reeled Brewster into a quick Short-Arm Clothesline across the clavicle that put her on the deck for the third time in less than twenty seconds.
TWO GROUNDED ARMBREAKERS & SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqeyPbrthSk
Finally pausing to flip some hair out of her eyes when Brewster didn’t immediately sit up or roll over, ‘Ronnie ‘flicked’ her trunks back into place, then strode a circle around the brunette to plot her next angle of attack. No surprise in her choice of target as she honed in on the left arm once again, her technique however proved a bit startling because instead of anything even remotely technical she simply grabbed hold of the zealot’s left wrist, braced her right foot against that shoulder and puuuuuulllllled like she meant to take it as a souvenir.
“AAAAAAHHHHH F*CK!” Adelaide wailed in anguish, both heels beating against the mat while her free hand scrabbled and clawed at Treymane’s encroaching boot.
It wasn’t elegant and it damned sure wasn’t pretty, but that wail told Nick Castle it was plenty effective so he hurried over to the action and-- “Don’t bother wasting your breath on her, Shamus.” Veronica told the official. “Daisy here is just a puppet. That one over there… she’s the one pulling all the strings.”
Castle didn’t have to follow the challenger’s gaze to know she was staring daggers at Miranda, who was undoubtedly returning them with interest. In no particular mood to draw Wainright’s ire, he dropped to one knee beside the grunting brunette and asked, “What do you say, Adelaide? Need me to call for the bell?”
“I’d sooner chew my way out than give this filthy heathen the satisfaction of EEEERRRRGGGHHH!”
Veronica pulled her foot from Brewster’s shoulder only to come down with all of her weight in a Knee Drop delivered to that same suffering joint. “Don’t worry about chewing anything off, Daisy.” ‘Ronnie smirked in the midst of grrrrrrrriiinding her knee into her foe’s shoulder. “You’ll pass out from the pain long before it comes to that. And when you do that ten pounds of leather and gold is going home with me.”
“An unlikely outcome of this confrontation, sister.” Miranda chimed in from her pulpit outside the ring. “You’ll need far more than a trenchcoat and a toy Thompson to withstand the onslaught of Eternal Mid--”
Treymane pounded her knee into Adelaide’s shoulder yet again, drawing a loud yowl from the suffering champion. “Looks like I’m doing pretty good, sister Daisy.” Veronica countered. “Adelaide thinks so.”
Adelaide most certainly did not, alas she was in no position to contradict the Gorgeous Gangster when Treymane got to her feet and forced the champion to do the same. Careful to keep a firm grip on Brewster’s left wrist, the big blonde poured on the hurt with a slow motion Arm Wringer that she segued into a Hammerlock before dipping beneath Adelaide’s right arm with the tenderized left arm still glued to the zealot’s back. With Brewster’s right arm draped over her shoulders, Treymane crooked her free arm into a ‘V’ and gouged a trio of Elbow Drops into the base of Adelaide’s skull before she cupped the nape of the champ’s neck before she muscled her up n’ over with a creative fusion of Belly to Belly Suplex and Russian Leg Sweep. Whatever it was, it THWHUMPED Brewster down on her increasingly gimpy left arm. Curious as to the fruits of her labors, Treymane sidled into a Lateral Press and made sure to plant a hand on the brunette’s left shoulder while Castle counted…
HAMMERLOCK RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl6rcxw5kmI
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Adelaide twisted her hips to one side to break the cover rather than wrest her shoulder loose, a detail that did not go unnoticed by the Pinstripe Powerhouse. “Aches are starting to accumulate, huh Daisy?” ‘Ronnie asked after she’d pulled the Daughter of Darkness to a seat. “Too bad all that ‘feeding’ didn’t actually do a goddamned thing.”
“Did more than you know, little girl.” Adelaide growled as she tried to twist away from the blonde. “As you’ll discover the next time I NNGHH!”
Treymane cuffed her across the shoulders, then palmed the back of her head with her right hand while she stretched / trapped the brunette’s left wing beneath her left armpit. In the next instant she pushed Brewster’s head down and stepped over with her left leg to keep the zealot’s chin pressed into her breastbone while ‘Ronnie hooked that ankle against Adelaide’s left bicep. From there Treymane dropped to her back, brought her right leg up and crossed her ankles to put a hellacious squeeze on Brewster’s bad shoulder, not to mention a nasty kink in her neck.
NOIREVOIR PART 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCGK_hBm28Y
Mightily displeased by the pain etched on her sister’s face, Miranda slapped the apron with both hands and called, “Be strong, Adelaide! This heathen’s machinations are no match for you, let alone your faith. Come to my voice and all will be well!”
“The hell it will.” Veronica muttered. “I’ll tear your shoulder out of socket long before you reach the aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh shyt! That’s how it’s going to be, DaisyEEEEERRRRRRHHHHHH!”
Adelaide RAKED the back of Treymane’s left thigh a second time, making sure to really dig in deep before scoring the exposed skin. This didn’t cause any noticeable relaxation in the hold, it did however disrupt the Gorgeous Gangster’s concentration long enough for Brewster to shuffle a few inches closer to the strands. Of course Veronica answered with her strongest / longest constriction yet, which meant Adelaide was forced to claw even harder than prior. And so it went, an ever escalating game of ‘You hurt me, I hurt you back’ that drew both ladies ever closer to the supposed sanctuary of the rubber-coated steel.
Miranda silently slid around the corner, staying on the apron’s edge, now in front of the champ’s efforts to save herself. Veronica, acutely aware of Wainright’s altered positioning, demanded Castle keep an eye on Brewster’s guru, and he did his best. But when it seemed Adelaide was growing ever closer to surrender from Treymane’s vigilant effort to remove her arm, he had to get in place to offer the Churchgoer a way out.
With Nick’s attention diverted, Miranda wrapped her palms around the bottom rope and pushed it as best she could the extra inch necessary for Adelaide to curl a lonely finger around the cable. As the brunette squealed in anguish she’s got possession of the rope, Wainright removed her effort and Castle was left none the wiser, demanding the Gorgeous Gangster give up her submission.
Veronica, having missed Miranda’s shenanigans as well, dismounted and stepped back no more than two strides, waiting impatiently as the Daughter of Darkness cradled her injured wing close while using her right hand to pull slowly to her feet.
Trying to catch Veronica off her guard, the Weeping Angel charged, one working upper limb or no, throwing her right arm in a Clothesline toward the blonde’s clavicle. But Ronnie intercepted the limb, snatching it as she ducked under. The Pinstripe Powerhouse drew side by side in opposite directions with the World Champion and threw her body back, laying out and DRIVING the brunette’s head and chest into the deck with a brutal arm-trap STO that left Adelaide facedown and splayed.
ARM TRAP STO:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwPVhUyvuM
Miranda showed her first hint of concern, idly sweeping a set of digits through her blonde locks, offering nothing more spiritual than an emphatic “Let’s go!”
But Treymane’s already genuflecting atop the downed Churchgoer, grinding her right knee into the increasingly balky left shoulder of Brewster, grabbing the wrist of the very same arm and bending it in a Hammerlock around the planted knee. Treymane rose only after stomping a boot sole down on Adelaide’s upturned left hand to pin it with left foot then STOMPED again in a much more tender area, the left shoulder, with her right.
The crowd couldn’t help but groan reflexively in something akin to sympathy for the champion as she writhed on the mat like she’s received 10,000 volts. Things looking dark for its Daughter, again Brewster pulled the limb in close, protecting as best she could while rolling up to her backside and butt-scooting toward the corner closest to her most ardent supporter.
“Get up, Daisy,” Veronica demanded. “Don’t go looking for the false prophet to save you…unless she’s got a replacement arm in her bag of tricks.”
Brewster’s back pressed against the corner and she edged up the buckles, right arm still cradling her left, Wainright in her ear but beyond earshot of the stalking Destroyer-class blonde. Veronica closed the gap carefully, motioning Adelaide to come out and join her, but the Churchgoer concentrated instead on rolling her left shoulder, biting her lower lip while poorly concealing the pain.
Brought in by the honey of the Weeping Angel’s anguish, the challenger surged forward, reaching for a Collar & Elbow Tie-Up when a red cloud burst from between the nearly pursed lips of the Daughter of Darkness. Deftly, Treymane ducked under Adelaide’s signature Mist, a slight streak of crimson creating a mohawk of sorts down the middle of Ronnie’s golden mane. The Pinstripe Powerhouse forced a shoulder forward and gutted the alabaster midriff of the champion, folding Brewster between top rope and middle, her boots leaving the canvas.
Veronica grabbed the middle strands on either side and followed with a second and third thrust, deep guttural grunts escaping Brewster’s lips along with a rosy trickle of leftover mist makings. After the third impaling blow, Treymane wrapped her arms around the battered tummy of the champion and drew her out, capturing the gasping titleholder over her right shoulder like a sack of potatoes and walking her to dead center.
There, the challenger powered the waning Daughter of Darkness skyward and simply allowed gravity to take its course, no power of Eternal Midnight able to rescind the laws governing the ring and the earth around it.
Adelaide pancaked to the canvas, rattling the mat with her chest-first collision. The blonde sett in the Churchgoer’s blind spot, eschewing a pin attempt. Instead, she waited silently, the crowd hushed in anticipation as the wobbly champion struggled to her knees, head droopy, body swaying, the beating Treymane had been laying on her taking its toll.
Ronnie had more in mind as she struck from behind, wrapping her hands around Adelaide’s left wrist and buggywhipping the limb to force Brewster to her feet. Once there, the powerhouse showed her technical skills, using the brunette as a personal jungle gym, the champ’s right knee was a stepping stone used to swing her legs around the captured limb and tumbled to the deck, dragging Brewster off her feet and into a Cross Armbreaker that had Adelaide immediately flailing, rolling toward the blonde’s Scissors before she could lock down and ride the hold to a submission victory.
CROSS ARMBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJ4MPuRhiI
Miranda breathed a noticeable sigh of relief when her disciple links fingers and kept Veronica from what most likely would be the road out of Eternal Midnight for FAWN and a second World title reign for the Gorgeous Gangster.
But not only was Adelaide able to roll to counter, but she kept the momentum long enough to stack Treymane on her shoulders. While still in the more threatening position, Ronnie was forced to finish the effort to break Adelaide’s hands apart then break her arm with Castle’s growing count of…
ONE…
TWO…
Veronica released, scrambling from under Brewster. She’s nearly away, but Adelaide was able to curve a hand around an ankle on the way and trip Treymane. The Dangerous Dame fell forward and fate was kind to the Churchgoer, the blonde’s throat dropping across the middle rope. As a kneeling Ronnie choked, trying to draw air past her compressed windpipe, Adelaide rose to unsteady feet and howled in pain when she brushed her left arm across Nick.
“You heathen fool,” she wailed, pulling her wrecked limb closer.
Castle apologized profusely, it should be noted with his back turned to the challenger. Meanwhile, Miranda laced her fingers behind Veronica’s noggin from her stance on the floor and YANKED down on the blonde’s head. She drew the neck of the gasping and soon redfaced challenger tight to the rubber-coated steel, determined to choke the life from the wildly flailing Gorgeous Gangster, sending Ronnie’s title hopes to sleep with da fishes.
Not about to let Wainright get away with such grand scale cheating, the FAWNatics bellowed to get Nick’s attention even as Treymane’s boots kicked a frantic tattoo against the canvas. Castle rounded on the challenger within seconds of the increased ruckus, alas Miranda never took her eyes off the Senior Official and she’d reached safe distance with a few heartbeats to spare. Still, Nick was no fool and he made quick note of the dozens of fingers pointed in the blonde’s direction. “Keep your distance, Miranda.” he warned.
“That is precisely what I am doing, Mr. Castle.”
The conversation might’ve continued a bit longer if Adelaide hadn’t stormed by the zebra on a beeline for Veronica, who’d just made it to boot-leather with help from the ropes. Closing in on her opponent’s left, Brewster snapped a quick kick into the back of Ronnie’s knee, forcing her to drop into an unnecessary penance. Then she snatched the middle rope in both hands, pushed it forward and let it go to snap back against the bridge of Treymane’s nose! Completely surprised by the mean-spirited innovation, Treymane tumbled backward in a rough somersault that brought her out on all fours near the center of the squared circle.
“Don’t even think about groveling, heathen.” the Weeping Angel snarled as she closed in. “It’s far too late for that sort of leniency.”
Her vision blurred by watering eyes, Veronica grunted, “I don’t need leniency from the likes of you, DaiNNNNGGGGHHH!”
Adelaide brought her right leg up like a Rockette and brought it down like an executioner, the brunette THWHUMPING her heel deep between Treymane’s shoulders. The Dangerous Dame grimaced, rose to one knee and paid for her tenacity with a quick Back Kick to the sternum and a slightly more measured Soccer Kick directly across her chest.
RIGHTEOUS KICKS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEBs5ggiEVg
All three hit hard, but Veronica refused to collapse, so Brewster whipped around and hit the ropes at a dead run. On the way back she took to the skies in a low hop that drove her knees into Treymane’s shoulders and THWHUNKED the back of the blonde’s head against the canvas like a basketball dropped from a respectable height. Seated comfortably astride her throne after the Midnight Meteora, Brewster made sure to treat Veronica to a faceful of crushed velvet briefs while she leaned back and hooked the left leg in a Half Matchbook good for…
MIDNIGHT METEORA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4cHvmDakJs
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Relief from all corners of the FAWN Arena when Treymane bucked the champion clear of her tawdry perch. Alas escape did not mean reprieve, as the Magnificent Moll discovered when Brewster scraped her off the mat and quickly segued into a Standing Headscissors. Taking a moment to squeeeeeeeeeze the blonde’s noggin between her thighs, Adelaide engendered a little more bad will by grabbing hold of ‘Ronnie’s waistband and hiking her pinstripes north by a good three to four inches. “This is your hero? This… cliché…” she jostled the wedgie back n’ forth to emphasize her disdain for the challenger, “is where you’ve placed all your hopes and dreams? Well heathens, I will enjoy breaking her in your stead!”
Brewster raaaaaaked defenseless glutes for good measure, wrapped both arms around Treymane’s waist and spun her up onto her shoulders in the stall position for a Powerbomb. Every card carrying member of the Treymane Gang urged their leader to squirm free of the dangerous predicament, indeed they were still urging when Brewster went up on tiptoe and just PLANTED Veronica flat on her back with a ring-shaking Powerbomb.
POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpld-nCsccs
‘Ronnie’s legs kicked into the air so Adelaide reached for them only to draw back when Miranda called, “Our point is not yet made, sister. I believe this particular sinner needs to feel the Twitch of the Death Nerve.”
A nasty smile crossed Adelaide’s red-stained lips. “As you wish, sister.”
Swinging around to the other woman’s left, Brewster snagged hold at ankle and wrist to better draaaaaaag her burden closer to the appropriate corner. With her sacrifice properly laid out the Weeping Angel headed to the corner, stepped out onto the apron and made her way to the high rent district. Rising to her full height, the Queen of Nightmares raised both hands to the heavens, then smote Treymane’s ruin with a double bird just before she leapt out into the void and pulled her knees up to hip level.
There was a sound like a sigh magnified a thousand fold as those assembled drew in a sharp gasp to prepare themselves for the challenger’s untimely destruction. This was followed by a cacophonous roar when ‘Ronnie rolled out of the way, leaving Brewster to crash and burn on NO! Adelaide adjusted on the fly, leaning forward into a gorgeous tuck n’ roll that returned her to verticality in the blink of an eye. Disgusted by the blonde’s blasphemous durability, Brewster charged her flat out, left arm already drawn back for an Elbow Str--
“WHOOOAAAAAHHHH!”
The Gorgeous Gangster dipped low, threaded a shoulder between the champ’s legs and muscled her up across her shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry! “NO SWEET SORROW HERE, DAISY!” Treymane bellowed at the top of her lungs. “JUST A--” she ‘hupped’ Adelaide into a Powerbomb stall and THAWHAMMED her down on the back of her head and shoulders just as the crowd finished ‘HARD GOODBYE!’ On her knees after the emphatic counter, Treymane wedged her shoulders into the pits of Adelaide’s knees and planted on her palms and tiptoes to keep the True Believer down for…
HARD GOODBYE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lb7wysxwYs
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Consternation from the crowd and relief from Miranda when Brewster lurched free of the cover by the slimmest of margins. Far less shaken by champ’s escape than the rest of her followers, the Dangerous Dame buried both hands in Adelaide’s dark hair and hauled her off the mat just far enough to secure a second Fireman’s Carry. “PUT HER DOWN, SISTER!” Miranda roared from her place near the apron. “YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT YOUR WAR TO WIN!”
Treymane shifted her left hand to Brewster’s right knee and the right to her chest, then turned to keep a wary eye on the Prophet of Pain. “Sorry, Madre. Sun’s about to come up and there’s not a damned thing you can do about it.” With that she slung Adelaide up, stepped out from under and hooked her right arm across the champ’s chest while simultaneously dropping to her knees to THA-WHAM Brewster spine-first into the mat with the maneuver she’d come to call the Fade to Black.
FADE TO BLACK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crgm43lhgJ0
The calls for a cover were practically deafening, yet ‘Ronnie ignored them in favor of another domineering handful of hair. No resistance from Adelaide, the Daughter of Darkness’s hands hung limp at her sides until Treymane hauled her up and trapped both arms in a snug Double Underhook. Unable to hold her position in a time of such spiritual crisis, Wainright leapt onto the apron and would’ve made her way through the ropes if Castle hadn’t rushed over to block her entry. Only daring to take her eyes off the blonde once she was satisfied with Castle’s block, Veronica tightened her S-grip and muttered, “Time to plant you once and for all, DaisyWHOOOAAAAANNNGGGHHH!”
Adelaide hit full reverse so abruptly that Treymane didn’t even think about digging in her heels until the back of the champ’s knees hit the second rope. The shift in leverage resulted in an awkward fall for the brunette, Brewster tumbling through the strands into end up on her knees only because she managed to snatch hold of the middle rope. Veronica didn’t fare much better, in fact she probably got the worst of it, as she didn’t have a hand free to keep her neck from ‘TWANGING’ against the top rope.
Momentarily free of the resurgent blonde’s clutches, Adelaide clambered to boot-leather and helped herself to a handful of Treymane’s hair. The crowd worried about a Suplex from the ring to the floor, but the reality proved far worse, as Brewster dragged her prey’s torso between the top and middle ropes before securing the Front Facelock. Veronica, vaguely aware that something malicious was unfolding around her, grabbed the middle rope in one hand and pak-pak-pak’ed punches into the brunette’s ribs with the other. Alas it wasn’t enough to stop the insidious creep of Eternal Midnight as she and the rest of the FAWNatics discovered when Brewster dropped / slid to a seat under the bottom rope, a move that THWHONKED the crown of the challenger’s skull against the edge of the apron!
APRON DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp8QuFxgBI8
Treymane went stiff as a board, then turned to boneless noir sludge as she tumbled through the ropes to somehow land on one knee just beside the ring. “FINISH HER!” Miranda shouted at the World Champion when Adelaide didn’t pounce on Veronica quick enough for Wainright’s liking. “FINISH THE HEATHEN RIGHT NOW, SISTER!”
Brewster groaned, rolled onto her stomach and ever so slowly worked a hand into ‘Ronnie’s hair. One hook wasn’t nearly enough to move all that deadweight so she added a second and began to slide backward to haul the Devastated Dame back into the squared circle. Through it all the throng urged Treymane to shake it off, to dig into those seemingly limitless reserves one more time, anything to separate the Weeping Angel from her golden prize, but Veronica couldn’t oblige, she couldn’t even oblige her own body, which currently responded to nothing save Brewster’s not so tender ministrations. Claiming Treymane’s right wrist in a death-grip, Adelaide slipped behind the blonde to pull that arm snug across her throat. In the next breath she dipped down, worked her right arm between Veronica’s legs and let out a triumphant roar when she muscled the other woman up onto her shoulders. Everyone knew what came next. Some of them looked away, others kept their eyes locked in hopes of a last second miracle, and at least one took it all in with a maliciously beatific smile. No matter the anticipation, each and every one of them cringed when the Daughter of Darkness kicked both legs forward and laid out on her left hip to THAWHUNK Treymane squarely on the back of her head and shoulders.
BLOOD & BLACK LACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggQhjXPD_fA
The Magnificent Moll slopped onto her back in a defenseless starfish and she offered only the softest of groans when Brewster slid into position and dropped her glutes atop the challenger’s mouth and nose. Snatching a wrist in either hand, Adelaide folded Treymane’s hands across her chest and flipped hair from her eyes, the Queen of Nightmares banishing her opposition to a particularly humiliating corner of Eternal Midnight while Castle and the rest of the heathens counted…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
The bell CLANGED to end the match, but Adelaide did not relinquish her perch, in fact she commenced a slow, sultry grind, a velvet-sheathed butt buffing to ensure Treymane’s face was nice and shiny for the Announcer’s confirmation. “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall and STILL the FAWN World Champion… ADELAIDE BREWSTER!”
Miranda, returned to her usual state of icy unflappability now that the Pinstripe Uprising was quashed beneath Adelaide’s seat, took the big belt from a gulping FAWN tech and rolled under the bottom rope to present it to the Weeping Angel. Brewster didn’t notice at first, she’d filled her hands with Veronica’s tummy, the vengeful grappler squeezing and kneading like she meant to dig through to the other side. “The battle is yours, Adelaide.” Miranda said quietly. “Allow yourself a moment to bask in this glory while the rest of your sisters deal with this impudent trash.”
Adelaide slowed to a halt, extended a hand to Wainright and stood shortly thereafter. Once the belt was around her waist the brunette clasped both hands against her chest and lowered her head. The lights went out when Miranda did the same and when they came back the Church of Eternal Midnight was five strong. Flanked by Helena Graylock, Tiffany Mayes and the newcomer Penny Tremblay, Wainright swept a hand over the defenseless frame of Veronica Treymane and said, “Sisters, I fear we have been too merciful in our dealings with the heathens thus far. They grow bolder with every incursion against Eternal Midnight and I for one can not allow that to stand. Can you?”
HELENA GRAYLOCK:
TIFFANY MAYES:
PENELOPE TREMBLAY:
The congregation shook their collective head ‘no’, Tremblay going so far as to mouth the word over and over again. Pleased by their devotion to the cause, the Messiah of Misery stepped back and motioned for Adelaide to do the same. “This heathen is yours, sisters. Do with her as you will.”
Tiffany, Helena and Penny exchanged a look, followed by a nod that sent the Inquisitor racing to the nearest corner. Meanwhile Tremblay peeled the former Champ off the mat with a double handful of hair and slipped around behind to wedge her head beneath Treymane’s left arm. Motionless until the acolyte hooked an arm around Veronica’s waist, Helena tightened the red leather glove on her right hand, then reached out and grabbed the Gorgeous Gangster by the throat. A handful of trunks at Treymane’s hip provided Graylock all the leverage she needed to hoist ‘Ronnie up for what looked like the mother of all Choke Slams, or possibly Backdrop Suplexes, if Penny’s positioning was any indication. In the end it turned out to be even worse than anticipated, as Tremblay shifted a quarter turn beneath the heathen and laid out on her back just as Helena started to force Veronica down. Drawing her knees up mid-descent, Penny endured the painful THAWHUMP of Treymane landing atop her shins with a satisfied smile.
Damned near snapped in half by the combination of Choke Slam and Spine Tremblar, the Pinstripe Powerhouse lolled onto her back with both arms thrown overhead, blissfully unaware of the dark shadow stretched across her gulping midsection. Rising out of her crouch, Tiffany Mayes nodded to Miranda and-- the lights went out.
The rumble of surprise from the crowd grew that much louder following a heavy, booming KER-ASH that the well-practiced ear recognized as the sound of a body crashing through a table, most likely that of the commentary team. Light returned in another five seconds and with it came a heartbeat of silence followed by a thunderclap roar from the capacity crowd. For the Church of Eternal Midnight was no longer alone in the ring.
They were in fact, quite surrounded.
On the far side of the squared circle stood Becky Clayton. Directly to her left was Susannah Burlingame. Lenore Lemarchand stood across the ring from the Ace, the resplendent Raven smiling ever so slightly as she spun a field hockey stick in one hand. And directly to her left was Emily West herself, the Queen of the Black Court looking as thoughtful and dangerous as ever after almost two years away from a FAWN ring.
BECKY CLAYTON:
SUSANNAH BURLINGAME:
LENORE LEMARCHAND:
EMILY WEST:
Stock still in the wake of this most unwelcome encroachment, Miranda’s eyes left Emily’s just long enough to confirm that Tiffany was indeed cratered amidst the remains of the Commentator’s Desk. “What’s the meaning of this, Emily?” the Messiah of Misery asked quietly. “The terms of our agreement are clear.”
“Yes they are.” West agreed at once. “Which is why I’m disappointed to see you take such great efforts to upend the board on this great game. Backstage attacks, preying on the vulnerable… blatant cheating when your… protégé… is clearly outmatched. Midnight cannot last forever, Miranda, no matter what you believe. If you won’t allow the clock to move ahead… we’ll move it for you.”
Adelaide snapped the World Title loose and tossed it down. “I’d like to see you try, heath--”
Lenore took a step forward, which resulted in a raised hand from both West and Wainright.
“I believe it’s time to renegotiate the terms of our understanding, Emily.” Miranda purred. “And it all hinges on a single, simple revision. Stay out of our way… and we won’t destroy you.”
The corner of West’s mouth ticked up in a smile. “Direct. I appreciate that. Allow me to suggest a counter proposal. Take your asses out of this ring in the next five seconds and we won’t have to end the night with any more unpleasantness.”
Miranda’s answering smile was far wider. “Sisters, this false idol and her cadre of heathen martinets wants us to bend the knee. What say you to that?”
“Kiss my ass, geeks.” Adelaide growled.
Wainright offered the Amazing Academic a slow, ‘what can ya do?’ smile and said, “Humble these pretenders, sisters.”
Just like that the ring became a whirlwind as zealots and courtiers met in several savage skirmishes. The pairings changed several times over the course of less than a minute, though when the tide turned it was Lenore that drove Penny through the strands with a shot from her field hockey stick. This allowed her a free shot across Helena’s back, which broke the redhead’s Goozle on Becky and allowed the two of them to send the Gray Lady over the top rope with a stereo Clothesline. Adelaide was next to go, the World Champ overextending herself on a missed Roundhouse and eating a Rainmaker Super Kick immediately thereafter. Miranda was last to leave, her hammer and tongs brawling with Emily coming to an abrupt end when West lowered a shoulder and sent her tumbling over the top rope to be caught by Helena and Penny.
Shoulder to shoulder for the first time in what felt like forever the Black Court formed a bulwark between Veronica and the Churchgoers, who looked to be regrouping rather quickly.
Eerily calm amidst all this chaos, Miranda grabbed Adelaide and Penny by a shoulder and squeezed hard enough to distract them from returning to the ring. “Ease yourself sisters.” she murmured. “Let them have their moment. “The memory of their hubris will be all the more amusing when contrasted by the feel of our boots on their throats.”
Brewster and Tremblay relaxed a little, though their mood wasn’t helped by Helena stomping over with Tiffany draped across one shoulder. Snatching her gold from the brave FAWN tech that dared get close enough to offer it, Adelaide stepped forward and raised the World Title overhead. “Heathens rejoice in a false queen’s call, but Midnight comes for one and all… even you, Emily West.”
The Amazing Academic opened her mouth to reply, but the lights went out one more time and the Church was long gone when they returned.
“That’s a hell of an opening salvo.” Becky said to no one in particular. “Think they got the message?”
Lenore spun Edgar one handed, then set the end against the mat like a makeshift walking stick. “Felt like it to me. But Wainright’s a tremendous motivator. They’re not going down easy.”
Sue looked up from Veronica, who she’d tended to once the ring was cleared. “Good. I hope they stick around as long as they can. I’ve been looking to kick some righteous asses for a long, looong time.”
“I’m sure there will be ample opportunities for all of you to do just that.” Emily said once she was sure the zealots were gone. “But for now I think we should clear the ring so Veronica can have some breathing room.”
The Black Court turned to the Dangerous Dame, who’d just made it to one knee. The crowd buzzed at the implication, though Treymane put a quick end to the speculation by struggling to her feet. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate the assist, I do.” she huffed. “But I’m not much of a follower, never have been. And I sure as hell won’t take a knee.”
“No followers here, Veronica. Just a group of likeminded women that abhor chaos. We know what needs to be done to put the Church of Eternal Midnight in check and will set about doing so. You’re more than welcome to do the same… but don’t get in our way.”
“I could say the same thing to you, Dais-Emily.” Veronica corrected herself at the last second.
“Your candor is refreshing.” West noted with a small smile. “But our position is clear, as is yours. So we’ll see you on the board, Veronica Treymane.”
The Black Queen dipped her head to ‘Ronnie, then slipped through the ropes with Becky, Lenore and finally Susan following behind.
“Looks like there’s about to be a real dangerous crossfire.” ‘Ronnie murmured. “But I’ve got more than enough firepower to be the last dame standing.” An appropriate sentiment, considering it was the last thing the audience saw as the ‘Mania broadcast faded to black.
Color fled from the ‘Mania broadcast in the blink of an eye, but the sound was still decidedly modern, as evidenced by the deafening roar from the FAWNatics. Accompanied by Social Distortion’s ‘Machine Gun Blues’ the Pinstripe Powerhouse stormed through the curtain, paused atop the stage and flicked her trenchcoat aside to reveal the replica Thompson braced against one thigh. “You’ve fed on FAWN for the last time, Daisy.” Veronica told the lurking menace. “Tonight I’m putting your fangs in my collection plate… and the World Title will make for a lovely tithe.” With that she raised the Thompson and now ‘Ronnie grinned from ear to ear as she pointed her barking iron down the aisle and let loose with a blistering line of pyro. Releasing the trigger only when the drum clicked empty, Veronica dropped the barking iron to her side and made quick time toward the squared circle.
VERONICA TREYMANE:
A return to golden form tonight as the Destroyer-class blonde sported the dark blue ’championship’ version of her boy-cut pinstripe trunks and bustier. The accompanying suspenders and belt gleamed bright white, while her pads and boots matched the white of her stripes. Her boots remained matte black, as per usual. Making her way up the steps with her Thompson angled over one shoulder, ‘Ronnie doffed her Fedora and set it on the ring-post before handing her barking iron over to senior official Nick Castle.
“Good call,” the ref smiled after accepting Treymane’s coat as well, “I’m not sure bullets are of much use against vampires.”
“Thomson’s just for show, Shamus.” Veronica answered with a smile of her own. “These though,” she swatted at her elbows and knees, “these’ll do things a stake never could.”
Castle just nodded and went to deposit her accoutrements, allowing the blonde to enter the ring and salute the Treymane gang from all four corners. Hopping down from the far corner just as her music started to fade, Veronica trained her eyes on the stage and murmured, “Time you paid for your sins, Brewster.”
Not about to be played a fool on FAWN’s biggest stage, the Announcer raised his mic and said, “Ladies and gentlemen… Miranda Wainright.”
MIRANDA WAINRIGHT:
The jeers were as loud as they were prompt and only grew more deafening once the Messiah of Misery stepped from behind the curtain to take her place at the pulpit of center stage, round topped black hat on her head and a microphone in one hand.
“You have been lied to, my poor heathen friends.” This did nothing for the crowd’s mood, not that their disdain slowed Wainright in the slightest. “Jeer to the fullest extent of your little black hearts, but it is true. For you have been told time and time again that THIS night, more than any other before or after comes rife with the hope of a fresh start. Of a different path. Of respite from the soul crushing monotony that makes up the bulk of your waking life. But this is a lie. Nothing more than a fever dream that some faceless marketing team has designed to bilk you out of your hard earned money on this night and all others like it. Oh, the names attached to some of the other tawdry trophies in this disgusting sideshow may change from time to time, but as long as my Weeping Angel possesses the FAWN World Championship, nothing will change. The clock won’t rise. The dawn won’t break. The dark will not recede. MIDNIGHT IS ETERNAL.”
A veritable wall of sound rose to drown her out and Miranda didn’t waste her breath shouting them down, rather she waited until they’d exhausted themselves. Only then did she turn her attention to Veronica Treymane. “And yet even in these dark days you can find a bright, shining fraud offering empty, pretty promises. One stands before me now, eager to reclaim a prize that was once hers.”
Veronica strode from her corner to the middle of the ring. “It’ll be mine before you know it, Daisy.” she promised.
Miranda regarded her with a smile simultaneous sad and wicked. “Your will is admirable, but the way is still blocked to you, sister. But just because you are not strong enough to venture into the Heart of Darkness does not mean that it will not send an emmisary forth to meet your blasphemous challenge. Now I beg you Veronica Treymane, steady the frantic pounding of your cowardly heart and hear my words even as your doom approaches. Hailing from Oxrun Station, Connecticut, she stands at five feet six inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and twenty-five pounds. She is the Daughter of Darkness, the Queen of Nightmares and last but certainly not least, YOUR FAWN World Champion! Now drop to your knees and denigrate yourselves before the might of ADELAIDE BREWSTER!”
GLORY & GORE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSVBkD4IRhg
The lights died as her name reached the rafters and the speakers answered the call with the soft, eerie opening of Lorde’s ‘Glory and Gore’. For a moment there was nothing but darkness and pinpricks of cell phone light, then a few lights on either side of the stage ‘whoomped’ on to reveal Miranda waiting in a carpet of ankle deep fog. Still no sign of the toothy Churchgoer and that was the way it stayed until a cold blue light illuminated the gloomy recession leading to the curtain. A figure swung down from the ceiling of that narrow throat, a figure hanging by her knees from a bar suspended just out of camera view. Arms crossed over her chest, Adelaide Brewster opened her eyes, then twisted loose and landed on her feet just as her anthem warned ‘Now we’re in the ring and we’re coming for blood.’
ADELAIDE BREWSTER:
Flanked by the Prophet of Pain, Adelaide reached to the small of her back and undid the clasp that held the World Title in place. Raising it to shoulder level, she extended her tongue and sloooooooooowly licked the glimmering faceplate, much to the disgust of those in attendance. Brewster paid them absolutely no mind, focusing instead on a bit of murmured conversation. When it was over Adelaide started down the ramp with Miranda following perhaps half a dozen steps behind. For her first ‘Mania Main Event the Daughter of Darkness wore a gleaming black two-piece done in crushed velvet that showed off the power in her hips and shoulders in almost agonizing detail. The look was accented with a clunky black belt complete with a buckle done up as a snarling wolf’s head and matching black boots and pads.
Reaching the ring quickly without once taking her eyes off the former World Champion, Adelaide slunk under the bottom ropes, pushed to her feet and took possession of the center. Practically daring the blonde to come get her, she hoisted the belt high and threw her head back to ‘FWOOOOOOOOSH’ a cloud of Crimson Mist into the air. Serene in the center of this pocket storm, she handed the strap to Nick Castle and backed into her corner to await the opening bell.
Almost preternaturally silent throughout the course of Castle’s instructions, the FAWNatics turned it up to eleven as soon as the official called for the opening bell. Veronica circled to her right at once on the not-so-off chance that the champion might try to introduce her to the Red Mist at the outset. But Adelaide merely smiled and licked her teeth, the Queen of Nightmares making a point to let her tongue play over the points of her canines. “Only brought the Madre with you tonight, Daisy?” Treymane said in reference to the looming specter of Miranda Wainright. “You must be feeling exceptionally confident. Or maybe the others are waiting in the wings in case of a heathen uprising.”
Brewster batted her lashes in a way the blonde found far more annoying than a mere roll of the eyes. “Are you implying that I might need outside assistance to defeat you, sister?” she cooed. “Lest you forget, I’ve already fed upon your tawdry partner, as well as that mouthy redhead. And just last month I destroyed the woman that once sent you to a hospital in some godforsaken Mexican vill-”
The Pinstripe Powerhouse flicked out both hands, caught hold of Adelaide’s hair and reeled her into a high, high Kneelift that THWHONKED between the champ’s eyes!
STANDING HIGH KNEE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WEa1B1GXn8
“I was an angry, stupid kid when I took that match.” ‘Ronnie barked at Brewster as the champ stumbled away from the impact. “And if you think that’s who you’re in the ring with tonight, well Daisy, this’ll turn into your worst nightNNNNGGGGHHH!”
The Weeping Angel came out of her wobble in a silky smooth rotation that meant a whole lotta extra force behind the Forearm Smash she THWHAPPED off Treymane’s jaw! Veronica went back on her heels, then down to one knee when Adelaide drove a quick Back Kick into the pit of her stomach.
ROLLING ELBOW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDAOADBr8c
Just like that the brunette snatched hold of her prey’s left wrist and folded that arm back up behind her head, these sinister preparations earning a roar of concern from the crowd. Right hand already balled into a fist, Brewster drew it all the way back and-- grunted in surprise and pain when Veronica beat her to the literal punch with a straight right hand to the brunette’s midsection! This reversal of fortune allowed the Pinstripe Powerhouse to take control over Adelaide’s Wristlock and she celebrated by yanking the off-balance battler into a short Shoulderblock that might’ve become a full-blown Spear if ‘Ronnie hadn’t surged to boot leather and charged the corner with Brewster folded over one shoulder!
“UUUUUUNNNNNGGGGHHH!” Adelaide hit the roughly-padded steel at top speed and proceeded to hit it half a dozen more times because Treymane grabbed the middle rope in both hands and thum-thum-thum-THUMPED half a dozen more Shoulderblocks into the brunette’s midsection.
She was well on her way to a baker’s dozen when Castle came over and said, “Ease off, ‘Ronnie. She’s in the ropes.”
The challenger ceased her assault, however the break wasn’t exactly ‘clean’ because Treymane helped herself to Adelaide’s hair and hauled her up to growl, “You can’t bully me, Daisy. You can’t wrestle me and you sure as HELL can’t intimidate MEEEERRRRAAAAARRRRHH!”
The salacious cheers from some sections of the audience transformed into horrified groans that echoed from all sides of the arena once the FAWNatics realized that what looked like a kiss from Brewster to Treymane was in truth the World Champion gnawing on her opponent’s bottom lip! Seizing control of the clinch two full seconds before the ref thought to start a count, Adelaide clamped down on the blonde’s shoulders and spun around to BWUUUNG her against the buckles she’d so recently occupied. “Who said anything about intimidation, Daisy?” Brewster tittered in her prey’s ear. “I’m here to eat you alive!” She grabbed a fistful of hair, bared Treymane’s throat with a sharp yank and lowered her head to get another mouthful of the Gorgeous Gangster.
With one arm pinned between her torso and Brewster’s encroaching frame, Veronica was reduced to a retaliatory hair pull, one that, while stern enough to make the zealot growl, did nothing to alleviate the jugular munching. Her own teeth bared in a furious grimace, Treymane slipped a foot over the bottom rope and shouted, “ROPES, NICK! GET HER OFFA ME!”
She needn’t have wasted her breath, Castle was already on the scene and swatting at Brewster’s shoulder. “She’s in the ropes, Adelaide! Back off already!” Nick had a count at the ready but the Daughter of Darkness surprised him and everyone else in the arena by stepping back with both hands raised overhead.
“Is this what you had in mind, arbiter?”
“Ummmh, yes, actually. Thank you very much.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
Brewster’s hands came forward and down, the vindictive World Champion raaaaaaaking ’Ronnie from forehead to chin! Treymane turned away from the savage scoring even though she had no place to go with the buckles already at her back. What little protection this afforded her face was recouped by her neck as Adelaide smeared herself across the challenger’s back to once again worry and chew on the base of her neck!
No warning from Castle this time, he stepped up beside his charges and counted off, “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOURWHOAH!”
Blonde and brunette whipped away from the buckles in a tottering half circle, the latter still attached to the former via her dentistry while ‘Ronnie had actually strengthened their bond thanks to a massive double fistful of Adelaide’s dark hair. Castle (and the rest of the crowd) was still getting a bead on this new arrangement when Veronica ended her foe’s callous snacking with a follicle-augmented Snapmare that THUMPED Brewster down flat on her butt. Quick to halve her hair hold once Adelaide was seated (the other hand continued to twist and yank on those dark locks, much to Nick’s consternation) Veronica stepped back as far as she could and THWHACKED a spiteful Soccer Kick between the other wrestler’s shoulders!
PINSTRIPE PUNT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQic5fslxo
Adelaide hissed, made to get to one knee, but Treymane doubled down on the hair hold and stretched her out flat on the thinly-sheathed plywood. “You wanna bite me? You wanna bite me, Daisy?” The Gorgeous Gangster spun and dropped into a full mount atop the champ’s chest, a perch that let her rain several heavy Forearm Smashes directly across Brewster’s décolletage. The Weeping Angel covered up quickly enough, unfortunately the punishment doled out on her girls was only to ensure Adelaide’s hands were thusly occupied when Treymane hooked her own mitts into the brunette’s mouth, (one over each set of teeth) and pulled like she meant to dislocate her rival’s jaw!
The ‘OOOOOHHH!’ from the crowd was followed by a gurgled shriek from Brewster and a horrified grimace from Nick. “Jesus ‘Ronnie, get your fingers outta her mouth! ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!”
Treymane broke the hold, SMACKED her foe across the cheek and jammed a finger under her nose. “I’m taking your fangs tonight, bytch.”
It was with that goal in mind that she ran the ropes, raced back and took to the skies in a gorgeous vertical leap that ended with the point of her left knee coming down between Brewster’s eyeNO! Adelaide rolled clear, leaving the challenger’s knee to THUNK the empty mat! Tumbling to her back following the errant strike, Veronica drew the aching limb tight to her chest only to have Adelaide yank it away immediately thereafter. Dark eyes alight with righteous anger, the Queen of Nightmares used Treymane’s ankle to roll her onto her stomach. From there she dropped to one knee and pressed forward on the captured limb so it was forced flat against the canvas in an awkward looking ‘V’.
“I agree, Daisy. You are taking my fangs tonight.” Brewster cooed as she enforced unnatural angles on her foe’s long leg. “You’re taking them in the neck. The forehead and anywhere else I f*cking see fit!”
Already fighting for purchase so she could haul herself to the ropes, Veronica grunted, “I’ll take them home in my hands when all is said and done you vicious little AAARRRGGGGGHHHH!” Brewster lifted the blonde’s leg off the mat, reached under her thigh with her right hand so she could add a touch of Single Leg Crab to the already agonizing trap of the Heel Hook.
LEG-WRENCH HEEL HOOK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV8BTQ3k9o8
“Don’t bother tapping out yet.” Adelaide purred. “I’m not letting go until you’ve carved bloody furrows in the canvas!”
Veronica wasn’t in any position to argue, her leg folded at a worrying, agonizing angle. As told, she dug her nails into the canvas, any piece of the champion out of reach.
Castle got in front of the blonde. “Just tell me,” Nick informed. Treymane shook her head firmly but with no panic, teeth clenching.
She pulled her way toward the ropes, slowly, surely and painfully, reaching within an arm’s length after a half-dozen seconds. Before she could clench the cables, Brewster released only to drag Veronica back to the middle by her lower limb.
But before she could reapply dead center and possibly put the defense on ice, Ronnie twisted to her back and kicked the Daughter of Darkness away.
Adelaide rolled a tongue over her bared choppers as she moved to a butt-scooting Ronnie, the blonde making space but the champion eating it just as quickly. Veronica shot out her ‘good’ leg to keep the Churchgoer at bay. On the third piston-like pump of the limb, Adelaide’s able to snatch the limb at the ankle with both hands.
Skillfully, the brunette flipped the Pinstripe Powerhouse to her back while mounting the leg in a reverse straddle, lightly Scissoring the limb at the knee while wrapping her arms tight around Treymane’s ankle. Viciously, she twisted the joint outward then inward, stretching ligaments in equal measure in each direction before deciding to amp the pressure outward with her precise Ankle Lock.
Miranda cheered politely from the sidelines, no sign of doubt Eternal Midnight would indeed fall over the mock moll.
Wainright’s confidence seemed well-placed as Brewster delighted in ravaging another leg of the blonde’s, screwing Ronnie literally and figuratively with her lock. Veronica bit her lower lip but couldn’t help but mewl in pain from the abuse. Again, she’s forced to bury nails into canvas to save herself, this time reaching her destination, wrapping a palm around the bottom rope.
“GET HER OFF!” Veronica demanded instantly. When Nick was a bit slow to count, she added a more plaintive “OFF!” At the count of FOUR, Brewster released and backed no more than a step away. Veronica curled an arm around the lowermost cable, giving Castle a ‘Really?’ look.
With both wheels bothering her, the Destroyer-class beauty employed the ropes to rise and hobbled away from the strands in an arc avoiding the predatory nibbler. Her locomotion limited, Ronnie readied for an immediate attack and the Churchgoer didn’t disappoint, sweeping a leg at Treymane’s. Brewster failed to connect, but the skip to avoid the tactic left Veronica off-balance on her balky stems and she couldn’t avoid the next parry when Adelaide brought the same leg higher, gutting her foe with a back kick that left the blonde doubled and groaning.
Brewster tugged Veronica into a Front Facelock and seemed ready to DDT the blonde, but the Pinstripe Powerhouse showed a hint of her strength when she broke the hold and pushed the Daughter of Darkness away several steps. Looking a bit drained by Adelaide’s recent dominion, Treymane nevertheless surged forward with a Clothesline, but swung over the top when the champion dipped.
Adelaide grabbed the challenger’s scythe-like arm while slipping underneath and used it to swing around the sturdy frame of the Dangerous Dame. Brewster’s legs ascended and clamped shut around the opposite arm. Miranda dragged a thumb across her throat as the leader of the Church knew what’s coming, Adelaide using her momentum to RIP Veronica off her feet, planting the blonde’s skull and shoulders to the deck with a Crucifix Driver.
CRUCIFIX DRIVER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ory2gJqyuak
The matchbooked Treymane was stacked on those shoulders, ass pointed to the rafters, head bracketed by her legs, for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOO!
A stunned Wainright looked on in disbelief as Veronica pushed a shoulder up, surely Castle having played guardian angel to the champion to slow the count and save her. Miranda warned Nick about any further chicanery in defense of the challenger, Nick looking unnerved by the not so subtle threat.
For her part, Adelaide sank a set of nails into the flaxen locks of her challenger and tugged Treymane up to a seated position, Ronnie droopy, arms leaded at her sides, chin to chest. Sensing an opportunity to snack, Adelaide brought teeth to flesh, sinking the pearlies softly into an open nape.
The mastication brought Treymane out of her stupor and she flailed as Brewster indulged. The wild throes from the Dangerous Dame threw the champion away and she rose with a guilty grin, Veronica left with a love bite mark to remember the champ by.
Still in no condition to take advantage of repulsing the champion, Veronica managed to roll to hands and knees but seemed stuck there. Adelaide was ready to take things out of her comfort zone to end Ronnie’s night, climbing the buckles and turning to face the rising blonde. As Veronica ascended slowly and gingerly and turned to find her foe, the bat took wing, vaulting off the top buckle and soaring toward Treymane.
At the last moment, Veronica caught sight of the approaching Churchgoer and stepped to the side, snagging the champ’s left arm on her descent. As momentum sent Adelaide into a tumble to the canvas, Veronica following her there, instantly the challenger and ex-World Champ worked the captured limb into a Fujiwara Armbar.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR @ 1:03
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8YyAccU4k
Veronica leaned her perpendicular frame into that of the titleholder, drawing back the pilfered arm with her, threatening to wreck Brewster’s shoulder. Treymane felt the satisfaction of a cry of pain from the Daughter of Darkness, but soon after felt her shoulders against the canvas when Adelaide cleverly rolled to her right and stacked Ronnie on her shoulders for the…
ONE…
TWO…
The Destroyer-class blonde was forced to give up her submission and scrambled to her feet to avoid the loss. Adelaide was slower to vertical, the cradling of her injured wing keeping her from rising as quickly. And Veronica made her pay, stepping to the brunette and NAILING her with a straight right hand to the chin that ROCKED Adelaide to her dark core.
Treymane follows with a wicked chopping left-handed slap that elicited the requisite ‘WOOO’ from the audience. Grabbing Brewster’s dark locks with both hands, she forced the champion to bend at the waist and lifted a head-snapping knee to Adelaide’s flawless features. The cherry on top of her Drive by Night Flurry was completed with a discus clothesline that nearly decapitates the Daughter of Darkness, Adelaide’s boot soles leaving earth with the fierce force of the blow, the back of her skull and shoulders SLAMMING against the canvas.
DRIVE BY NIGHT FLURRY:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0c8wv7uHDY
Veronica dropped to her knees next to the splayed Adelaide, spent from minutes of abuse and the energy poured into the Flurry, but after a moment, she flopped across the body of her foe, ready to begin her second reign as World Champion.
ONE
TWO…
Brewster powered out simultaneous with ‘TWO!’ dashing any hopes the FAWNatics might’ve harbored about ‘Ronnie’s Lariat acting as a suitable stake substitute.
Teeth bared in a furious hiss as she scrambled to verticality, the champ bade Treymane forward and the Pinstripe Powerhouse obliged, or rather. feinted well enough to sucker her rival into a quick Toe Kick to the belly! Adelaide doubled over so the blonde clubbed her across the shoulders, then stepped in close and reached ‘round behind to snag Brewster’s left wrist when the brunette straightened up. Hammerlock secured with one hand, Veronica cinched the other across Adelaide’s noggin to keep her bogged down in a Front Facelock. Just like that she popped her hips to take the Weeping Angel up, over and down, the full weight of her sturdy frame THWHUMPING atop that folded arm!
HAMMERLOCK SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP_qv4eAWB4
Adelaide groaned on impact but didn’t sit up, rather she rolled to her stomach while carefully folding the damaged limb against her chest. This proved a sound defense until a vengeful ‘Ronnie Treymane planted a stomp between her shoulders and followed up with a quick Leg Drop across the back of the churchgoer’s neck. Adelaide instinctively brought both arms up to protect her head only to spout something extremely heathenish when the Gorgeous Gangster grabbed hold of her left wrist!
“I’m so glad you decided you wanted to mat wrestle, Daisy.” Treymane huffed after she’d yanked the champion to her knees. “I’ve been wanting to stretch your ass all over this canvas for more than a year now.”
“Such a shame that you’re doomed to failUUURRRGGGHHH!” Brewster’s taunt ended in a mouthful of canvas because Veronica spun under the vulnerable limb and laid out on her belly to drive the brunette into the thinly-sheathed plywood. Anger growing in direct proportion to her pain, the Daughter of Darkness clambered back to all fours threes and might’ve turned it into an Arm Wringer of her own if Treymane hadn’t repeated her previous tactic, the high-speed twist just DRIVING Brewster into the mat shoulder-first. Still tethered to the World Champ via her tenacious Wristlock, Veronica gave it a few hard yanks en route to drawing Adelaide to boot-leather. One last tug reeled Brewster into a quick Short-Arm Clothesline across the clavicle that put her on the deck for the third time in less than twenty seconds.
TWO GROUNDED ARMBREAKERS & SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqeyPbrthSk
Finally pausing to flip some hair out of her eyes when Brewster didn’t immediately sit up or roll over, ‘Ronnie ‘flicked’ her trunks back into place, then strode a circle around the brunette to plot her next angle of attack. No surprise in her choice of target as she honed in on the left arm once again, her technique however proved a bit startling because instead of anything even remotely technical she simply grabbed hold of the zealot’s left wrist, braced her right foot against that shoulder and puuuuuulllllled like she meant to take it as a souvenir.
“AAAAAAHHHHH F*CK!” Adelaide wailed in anguish, both heels beating against the mat while her free hand scrabbled and clawed at Treymane’s encroaching boot.
It wasn’t elegant and it damned sure wasn’t pretty, but that wail told Nick Castle it was plenty effective so he hurried over to the action and-- “Don’t bother wasting your breath on her, Shamus.” Veronica told the official. “Daisy here is just a puppet. That one over there… she’s the one pulling all the strings.”
Castle didn’t have to follow the challenger’s gaze to know she was staring daggers at Miranda, who was undoubtedly returning them with interest. In no particular mood to draw Wainright’s ire, he dropped to one knee beside the grunting brunette and asked, “What do you say, Adelaide? Need me to call for the bell?”
“I’d sooner chew my way out than give this filthy heathen the satisfaction of EEEERRRRGGGHHH!”
Veronica pulled her foot from Brewster’s shoulder only to come down with all of her weight in a Knee Drop delivered to that same suffering joint. “Don’t worry about chewing anything off, Daisy.” ‘Ronnie smirked in the midst of grrrrrrrriiinding her knee into her foe’s shoulder. “You’ll pass out from the pain long before it comes to that. And when you do that ten pounds of leather and gold is going home with me.”
“An unlikely outcome of this confrontation, sister.” Miranda chimed in from her pulpit outside the ring. “You’ll need far more than a trenchcoat and a toy Thompson to withstand the onslaught of Eternal Mid--”
Treymane pounded her knee into Adelaide’s shoulder yet again, drawing a loud yowl from the suffering champion. “Looks like I’m doing pretty good, sister Daisy.” Veronica countered. “Adelaide thinks so.”
Adelaide most certainly did not, alas she was in no position to contradict the Gorgeous Gangster when Treymane got to her feet and forced the champion to do the same. Careful to keep a firm grip on Brewster’s left wrist, the big blonde poured on the hurt with a slow motion Arm Wringer that she segued into a Hammerlock before dipping beneath Adelaide’s right arm with the tenderized left arm still glued to the zealot’s back. With Brewster’s right arm draped over her shoulders, Treymane crooked her free arm into a ‘V’ and gouged a trio of Elbow Drops into the base of Adelaide’s skull before she cupped the nape of the champ’s neck before she muscled her up n’ over with a creative fusion of Belly to Belly Suplex and Russian Leg Sweep. Whatever it was, it THWHUMPED Brewster down on her increasingly gimpy left arm. Curious as to the fruits of her labors, Treymane sidled into a Lateral Press and made sure to plant a hand on the brunette’s left shoulder while Castle counted…
HAMMERLOCK RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl6rcxw5kmI
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Adelaide twisted her hips to one side to break the cover rather than wrest her shoulder loose, a detail that did not go unnoticed by the Pinstripe Powerhouse. “Aches are starting to accumulate, huh Daisy?” ‘Ronnie asked after she’d pulled the Daughter of Darkness to a seat. “Too bad all that ‘feeding’ didn’t actually do a goddamned thing.”
“Did more than you know, little girl.” Adelaide growled as she tried to twist away from the blonde. “As you’ll discover the next time I NNGHH!”
Treymane cuffed her across the shoulders, then palmed the back of her head with her right hand while she stretched / trapped the brunette’s left wing beneath her left armpit. In the next instant she pushed Brewster’s head down and stepped over with her left leg to keep the zealot’s chin pressed into her breastbone while ‘Ronnie hooked that ankle against Adelaide’s left bicep. From there Treymane dropped to her back, brought her right leg up and crossed her ankles to put a hellacious squeeze on Brewster’s bad shoulder, not to mention a nasty kink in her neck.
NOIREVOIR PART 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCGK_hBm28Y
Mightily displeased by the pain etched on her sister’s face, Miranda slapped the apron with both hands and called, “Be strong, Adelaide! This heathen’s machinations are no match for you, let alone your faith. Come to my voice and all will be well!”
“The hell it will.” Veronica muttered. “I’ll tear your shoulder out of socket long before you reach the aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh shyt! That’s how it’s going to be, DaisyEEEEERRRRRRHHHHHH!”
Adelaide RAKED the back of Treymane’s left thigh a second time, making sure to really dig in deep before scoring the exposed skin. This didn’t cause any noticeable relaxation in the hold, it did however disrupt the Gorgeous Gangster’s concentration long enough for Brewster to shuffle a few inches closer to the strands. Of course Veronica answered with her strongest / longest constriction yet, which meant Adelaide was forced to claw even harder than prior. And so it went, an ever escalating game of ‘You hurt me, I hurt you back’ that drew both ladies ever closer to the supposed sanctuary of the rubber-coated steel.
Miranda silently slid around the corner, staying on the apron’s edge, now in front of the champ’s efforts to save herself. Veronica, acutely aware of Wainright’s altered positioning, demanded Castle keep an eye on Brewster’s guru, and he did his best. But when it seemed Adelaide was growing ever closer to surrender from Treymane’s vigilant effort to remove her arm, he had to get in place to offer the Churchgoer a way out.
With Nick’s attention diverted, Miranda wrapped her palms around the bottom rope and pushed it as best she could the extra inch necessary for Adelaide to curl a lonely finger around the cable. As the brunette squealed in anguish she’s got possession of the rope, Wainright removed her effort and Castle was left none the wiser, demanding the Gorgeous Gangster give up her submission.
Veronica, having missed Miranda’s shenanigans as well, dismounted and stepped back no more than two strides, waiting impatiently as the Daughter of Darkness cradled her injured wing close while using her right hand to pull slowly to her feet.
Trying to catch Veronica off her guard, the Weeping Angel charged, one working upper limb or no, throwing her right arm in a Clothesline toward the blonde’s clavicle. But Ronnie intercepted the limb, snatching it as she ducked under. The Pinstripe Powerhouse drew side by side in opposite directions with the World Champion and threw her body back, laying out and DRIVING the brunette’s head and chest into the deck with a brutal arm-trap STO that left Adelaide facedown and splayed.
ARM TRAP STO:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwPVhUyvuM
Miranda showed her first hint of concern, idly sweeping a set of digits through her blonde locks, offering nothing more spiritual than an emphatic “Let’s go!”
But Treymane’s already genuflecting atop the downed Churchgoer, grinding her right knee into the increasingly balky left shoulder of Brewster, grabbing the wrist of the very same arm and bending it in a Hammerlock around the planted knee. Treymane rose only after stomping a boot sole down on Adelaide’s upturned left hand to pin it with left foot then STOMPED again in a much more tender area, the left shoulder, with her right.
The crowd couldn’t help but groan reflexively in something akin to sympathy for the champion as she writhed on the mat like she’s received 10,000 volts. Things looking dark for its Daughter, again Brewster pulled the limb in close, protecting as best she could while rolling up to her backside and butt-scooting toward the corner closest to her most ardent supporter.
“Get up, Daisy,” Veronica demanded. “Don’t go looking for the false prophet to save you…unless she’s got a replacement arm in her bag of tricks.”
Brewster’s back pressed against the corner and she edged up the buckles, right arm still cradling her left, Wainright in her ear but beyond earshot of the stalking Destroyer-class blonde. Veronica closed the gap carefully, motioning Adelaide to come out and join her, but the Churchgoer concentrated instead on rolling her left shoulder, biting her lower lip while poorly concealing the pain.
Brought in by the honey of the Weeping Angel’s anguish, the challenger surged forward, reaching for a Collar & Elbow Tie-Up when a red cloud burst from between the nearly pursed lips of the Daughter of Darkness. Deftly, Treymane ducked under Adelaide’s signature Mist, a slight streak of crimson creating a mohawk of sorts down the middle of Ronnie’s golden mane. The Pinstripe Powerhouse forced a shoulder forward and gutted the alabaster midriff of the champion, folding Brewster between top rope and middle, her boots leaving the canvas.
Veronica grabbed the middle strands on either side and followed with a second and third thrust, deep guttural grunts escaping Brewster’s lips along with a rosy trickle of leftover mist makings. After the third impaling blow, Treymane wrapped her arms around the battered tummy of the champion and drew her out, capturing the gasping titleholder over her right shoulder like a sack of potatoes and walking her to dead center.
There, the challenger powered the waning Daughter of Darkness skyward and simply allowed gravity to take its course, no power of Eternal Midnight able to rescind the laws governing the ring and the earth around it.
Adelaide pancaked to the canvas, rattling the mat with her chest-first collision. The blonde sett in the Churchgoer’s blind spot, eschewing a pin attempt. Instead, she waited silently, the crowd hushed in anticipation as the wobbly champion struggled to her knees, head droopy, body swaying, the beating Treymane had been laying on her taking its toll.
Ronnie had more in mind as she struck from behind, wrapping her hands around Adelaide’s left wrist and buggywhipping the limb to force Brewster to her feet. Once there, the powerhouse showed her technical skills, using the brunette as a personal jungle gym, the champ’s right knee was a stepping stone used to swing her legs around the captured limb and tumbled to the deck, dragging Brewster off her feet and into a Cross Armbreaker that had Adelaide immediately flailing, rolling toward the blonde’s Scissors before she could lock down and ride the hold to a submission victory.
CROSS ARMBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJ4MPuRhiI
Miranda breathed a noticeable sigh of relief when her disciple links fingers and kept Veronica from what most likely would be the road out of Eternal Midnight for FAWN and a second World title reign for the Gorgeous Gangster.
But not only was Adelaide able to roll to counter, but she kept the momentum long enough to stack Treymane on her shoulders. While still in the more threatening position, Ronnie was forced to finish the effort to break Adelaide’s hands apart then break her arm with Castle’s growing count of…
ONE…
TWO…
Veronica released, scrambling from under Brewster. She’s nearly away, but Adelaide was able to curve a hand around an ankle on the way and trip Treymane. The Dangerous Dame fell forward and fate was kind to the Churchgoer, the blonde’s throat dropping across the middle rope. As a kneeling Ronnie choked, trying to draw air past her compressed windpipe, Adelaide rose to unsteady feet and howled in pain when she brushed her left arm across Nick.
“You heathen fool,” she wailed, pulling her wrecked limb closer.
Castle apologized profusely, it should be noted with his back turned to the challenger. Meanwhile, Miranda laced her fingers behind Veronica’s noggin from her stance on the floor and YANKED down on the blonde’s head. She drew the neck of the gasping and soon redfaced challenger tight to the rubber-coated steel, determined to choke the life from the wildly flailing Gorgeous Gangster, sending Ronnie’s title hopes to sleep with da fishes.
Not about to let Wainright get away with such grand scale cheating, the FAWNatics bellowed to get Nick’s attention even as Treymane’s boots kicked a frantic tattoo against the canvas. Castle rounded on the challenger within seconds of the increased ruckus, alas Miranda never took her eyes off the Senior Official and she’d reached safe distance with a few heartbeats to spare. Still, Nick was no fool and he made quick note of the dozens of fingers pointed in the blonde’s direction. “Keep your distance, Miranda.” he warned.
“That is precisely what I am doing, Mr. Castle.”
The conversation might’ve continued a bit longer if Adelaide hadn’t stormed by the zebra on a beeline for Veronica, who’d just made it to boot-leather with help from the ropes. Closing in on her opponent’s left, Brewster snapped a quick kick into the back of Ronnie’s knee, forcing her to drop into an unnecessary penance. Then she snatched the middle rope in both hands, pushed it forward and let it go to snap back against the bridge of Treymane’s nose! Completely surprised by the mean-spirited innovation, Treymane tumbled backward in a rough somersault that brought her out on all fours near the center of the squared circle.
“Don’t even think about groveling, heathen.” the Weeping Angel snarled as she closed in. “It’s far too late for that sort of leniency.”
Her vision blurred by watering eyes, Veronica grunted, “I don’t need leniency from the likes of you, DaiNNNNGGGGHHH!”
Adelaide brought her right leg up like a Rockette and brought it down like an executioner, the brunette THWHUMPING her heel deep between Treymane’s shoulders. The Dangerous Dame grimaced, rose to one knee and paid for her tenacity with a quick Back Kick to the sternum and a slightly more measured Soccer Kick directly across her chest.
RIGHTEOUS KICKS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEBs5ggiEVg
All three hit hard, but Veronica refused to collapse, so Brewster whipped around and hit the ropes at a dead run. On the way back she took to the skies in a low hop that drove her knees into Treymane’s shoulders and THWHUNKED the back of the blonde’s head against the canvas like a basketball dropped from a respectable height. Seated comfortably astride her throne after the Midnight Meteora, Brewster made sure to treat Veronica to a faceful of crushed velvet briefs while she leaned back and hooked the left leg in a Half Matchbook good for…
MIDNIGHT METEORA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4cHvmDakJs
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Relief from all corners of the FAWN Arena when Treymane bucked the champion clear of her tawdry perch. Alas escape did not mean reprieve, as the Magnificent Moll discovered when Brewster scraped her off the mat and quickly segued into a Standing Headscissors. Taking a moment to squeeeeeeeeeze the blonde’s noggin between her thighs, Adelaide engendered a little more bad will by grabbing hold of ‘Ronnie’s waistband and hiking her pinstripes north by a good three to four inches. “This is your hero? This… cliché…” she jostled the wedgie back n’ forth to emphasize her disdain for the challenger, “is where you’ve placed all your hopes and dreams? Well heathens, I will enjoy breaking her in your stead!”
Brewster raaaaaaked defenseless glutes for good measure, wrapped both arms around Treymane’s waist and spun her up onto her shoulders in the stall position for a Powerbomb. Every card carrying member of the Treymane Gang urged their leader to squirm free of the dangerous predicament, indeed they were still urging when Brewster went up on tiptoe and just PLANTED Veronica flat on her back with a ring-shaking Powerbomb.
POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpld-nCsccs
‘Ronnie’s legs kicked into the air so Adelaide reached for them only to draw back when Miranda called, “Our point is not yet made, sister. I believe this particular sinner needs to feel the Twitch of the Death Nerve.”
A nasty smile crossed Adelaide’s red-stained lips. “As you wish, sister.”
Swinging around to the other woman’s left, Brewster snagged hold at ankle and wrist to better draaaaaaag her burden closer to the appropriate corner. With her sacrifice properly laid out the Weeping Angel headed to the corner, stepped out onto the apron and made her way to the high rent district. Rising to her full height, the Queen of Nightmares raised both hands to the heavens, then smote Treymane’s ruin with a double bird just before she leapt out into the void and pulled her knees up to hip level.
There was a sound like a sigh magnified a thousand fold as those assembled drew in a sharp gasp to prepare themselves for the challenger’s untimely destruction. This was followed by a cacophonous roar when ‘Ronnie rolled out of the way, leaving Brewster to crash and burn on NO! Adelaide adjusted on the fly, leaning forward into a gorgeous tuck n’ roll that returned her to verticality in the blink of an eye. Disgusted by the blonde’s blasphemous durability, Brewster charged her flat out, left arm already drawn back for an Elbow Str--
“WHOOOAAAAAHHHH!”
The Gorgeous Gangster dipped low, threaded a shoulder between the champ’s legs and muscled her up across her shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry! “NO SWEET SORROW HERE, DAISY!” Treymane bellowed at the top of her lungs. “JUST A--” she ‘hupped’ Adelaide into a Powerbomb stall and THAWHAMMED her down on the back of her head and shoulders just as the crowd finished ‘HARD GOODBYE!’ On her knees after the emphatic counter, Treymane wedged her shoulders into the pits of Adelaide’s knees and planted on her palms and tiptoes to keep the True Believer down for…
HARD GOODBYE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lb7wysxwYs
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Consternation from the crowd and relief from Miranda when Brewster lurched free of the cover by the slimmest of margins. Far less shaken by champ’s escape than the rest of her followers, the Dangerous Dame buried both hands in Adelaide’s dark hair and hauled her off the mat just far enough to secure a second Fireman’s Carry. “PUT HER DOWN, SISTER!” Miranda roared from her place near the apron. “YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT YOUR WAR TO WIN!”
Treymane shifted her left hand to Brewster’s right knee and the right to her chest, then turned to keep a wary eye on the Prophet of Pain. “Sorry, Madre. Sun’s about to come up and there’s not a damned thing you can do about it.” With that she slung Adelaide up, stepped out from under and hooked her right arm across the champ’s chest while simultaneously dropping to her knees to THA-WHAM Brewster spine-first into the mat with the maneuver she’d come to call the Fade to Black.
FADE TO BLACK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crgm43lhgJ0
The calls for a cover were practically deafening, yet ‘Ronnie ignored them in favor of another domineering handful of hair. No resistance from Adelaide, the Daughter of Darkness’s hands hung limp at her sides until Treymane hauled her up and trapped both arms in a snug Double Underhook. Unable to hold her position in a time of such spiritual crisis, Wainright leapt onto the apron and would’ve made her way through the ropes if Castle hadn’t rushed over to block her entry. Only daring to take her eyes off the blonde once she was satisfied with Castle’s block, Veronica tightened her S-grip and muttered, “Time to plant you once and for all, DaisyWHOOOAAAAANNNGGGHHH!”
Adelaide hit full reverse so abruptly that Treymane didn’t even think about digging in her heels until the back of the champ’s knees hit the second rope. The shift in leverage resulted in an awkward fall for the brunette, Brewster tumbling through the strands into end up on her knees only because she managed to snatch hold of the middle rope. Veronica didn’t fare much better, in fact she probably got the worst of it, as she didn’t have a hand free to keep her neck from ‘TWANGING’ against the top rope.
Momentarily free of the resurgent blonde’s clutches, Adelaide clambered to boot-leather and helped herself to a handful of Treymane’s hair. The crowd worried about a Suplex from the ring to the floor, but the reality proved far worse, as Brewster dragged her prey’s torso between the top and middle ropes before securing the Front Facelock. Veronica, vaguely aware that something malicious was unfolding around her, grabbed the middle rope in one hand and pak-pak-pak’ed punches into the brunette’s ribs with the other. Alas it wasn’t enough to stop the insidious creep of Eternal Midnight as she and the rest of the FAWNatics discovered when Brewster dropped / slid to a seat under the bottom rope, a move that THWHONKED the crown of the challenger’s skull against the edge of the apron!
APRON DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp8QuFxgBI8
Treymane went stiff as a board, then turned to boneless noir sludge as she tumbled through the ropes to somehow land on one knee just beside the ring. “FINISH HER!” Miranda shouted at the World Champion when Adelaide didn’t pounce on Veronica quick enough for Wainright’s liking. “FINISH THE HEATHEN RIGHT NOW, SISTER!”
Brewster groaned, rolled onto her stomach and ever so slowly worked a hand into ‘Ronnie’s hair. One hook wasn’t nearly enough to move all that deadweight so she added a second and began to slide backward to haul the Devastated Dame back into the squared circle. Through it all the throng urged Treymane to shake it off, to dig into those seemingly limitless reserves one more time, anything to separate the Weeping Angel from her golden prize, but Veronica couldn’t oblige, she couldn’t even oblige her own body, which currently responded to nothing save Brewster’s not so tender ministrations. Claiming Treymane’s right wrist in a death-grip, Adelaide slipped behind the blonde to pull that arm snug across her throat. In the next breath she dipped down, worked her right arm between Veronica’s legs and let out a triumphant roar when she muscled the other woman up onto her shoulders. Everyone knew what came next. Some of them looked away, others kept their eyes locked in hopes of a last second miracle, and at least one took it all in with a maliciously beatific smile. No matter the anticipation, each and every one of them cringed when the Daughter of Darkness kicked both legs forward and laid out on her left hip to THAWHUNK Treymane squarely on the back of her head and shoulders.
BLOOD & BLACK LACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggQhjXPD_fA
The Magnificent Moll slopped onto her back in a defenseless starfish and she offered only the softest of groans when Brewster slid into position and dropped her glutes atop the challenger’s mouth and nose. Snatching a wrist in either hand, Adelaide folded Treymane’s hands across her chest and flipped hair from her eyes, the Queen of Nightmares banishing her opposition to a particularly humiliating corner of Eternal Midnight while Castle and the rest of the heathens counted…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
The bell CLANGED to end the match, but Adelaide did not relinquish her perch, in fact she commenced a slow, sultry grind, a velvet-sheathed butt buffing to ensure Treymane’s face was nice and shiny for the Announcer’s confirmation. “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall and STILL the FAWN World Champion… ADELAIDE BREWSTER!”
Miranda, returned to her usual state of icy unflappability now that the Pinstripe Uprising was quashed beneath Adelaide’s seat, took the big belt from a gulping FAWN tech and rolled under the bottom rope to present it to the Weeping Angel. Brewster didn’t notice at first, she’d filled her hands with Veronica’s tummy, the vengeful grappler squeezing and kneading like she meant to dig through to the other side. “The battle is yours, Adelaide.” Miranda said quietly. “Allow yourself a moment to bask in this glory while the rest of your sisters deal with this impudent trash.”
Adelaide slowed to a halt, extended a hand to Wainright and stood shortly thereafter. Once the belt was around her waist the brunette clasped both hands against her chest and lowered her head. The lights went out when Miranda did the same and when they came back the Church of Eternal Midnight was five strong. Flanked by Helena Graylock, Tiffany Mayes and the newcomer Penny Tremblay, Wainright swept a hand over the defenseless frame of Veronica Treymane and said, “Sisters, I fear we have been too merciful in our dealings with the heathens thus far. They grow bolder with every incursion against Eternal Midnight and I for one can not allow that to stand. Can you?”
HELENA GRAYLOCK:
TIFFANY MAYES:
PENELOPE TREMBLAY:
The congregation shook their collective head ‘no’, Tremblay going so far as to mouth the word over and over again. Pleased by their devotion to the cause, the Messiah of Misery stepped back and motioned for Adelaide to do the same. “This heathen is yours, sisters. Do with her as you will.”
Tiffany, Helena and Penny exchanged a look, followed by a nod that sent the Inquisitor racing to the nearest corner. Meanwhile Tremblay peeled the former Champ off the mat with a double handful of hair and slipped around behind to wedge her head beneath Treymane’s left arm. Motionless until the acolyte hooked an arm around Veronica’s waist, Helena tightened the red leather glove on her right hand, then reached out and grabbed the Gorgeous Gangster by the throat. A handful of trunks at Treymane’s hip provided Graylock all the leverage she needed to hoist ‘Ronnie up for what looked like the mother of all Choke Slams, or possibly Backdrop Suplexes, if Penny’s positioning was any indication. In the end it turned out to be even worse than anticipated, as Tremblay shifted a quarter turn beneath the heathen and laid out on her back just as Helena started to force Veronica down. Drawing her knees up mid-descent, Penny endured the painful THAWHUMP of Treymane landing atop her shins with a satisfied smile.
Damned near snapped in half by the combination of Choke Slam and Spine Tremblar, the Pinstripe Powerhouse lolled onto her back with both arms thrown overhead, blissfully unaware of the dark shadow stretched across her gulping midsection. Rising out of her crouch, Tiffany Mayes nodded to Miranda and-- the lights went out.
The rumble of surprise from the crowd grew that much louder following a heavy, booming KER-ASH that the well-practiced ear recognized as the sound of a body crashing through a table, most likely that of the commentary team. Light returned in another five seconds and with it came a heartbeat of silence followed by a thunderclap roar from the capacity crowd. For the Church of Eternal Midnight was no longer alone in the ring.
They were in fact, quite surrounded.
On the far side of the squared circle stood Becky Clayton. Directly to her left was Susannah Burlingame. Lenore Lemarchand stood across the ring from the Ace, the resplendent Raven smiling ever so slightly as she spun a field hockey stick in one hand. And directly to her left was Emily West herself, the Queen of the Black Court looking as thoughtful and dangerous as ever after almost two years away from a FAWN ring.
BECKY CLAYTON:
SUSANNAH BURLINGAME:
LENORE LEMARCHAND:
EMILY WEST:
Stock still in the wake of this most unwelcome encroachment, Miranda’s eyes left Emily’s just long enough to confirm that Tiffany was indeed cratered amidst the remains of the Commentator’s Desk. “What’s the meaning of this, Emily?” the Messiah of Misery asked quietly. “The terms of our agreement are clear.”
“Yes they are.” West agreed at once. “Which is why I’m disappointed to see you take such great efforts to upend the board on this great game. Backstage attacks, preying on the vulnerable… blatant cheating when your… protégé… is clearly outmatched. Midnight cannot last forever, Miranda, no matter what you believe. If you won’t allow the clock to move ahead… we’ll move it for you.”
Adelaide snapped the World Title loose and tossed it down. “I’d like to see you try, heath--”
Lenore took a step forward, which resulted in a raised hand from both West and Wainright.
“I believe it’s time to renegotiate the terms of our understanding, Emily.” Miranda purred. “And it all hinges on a single, simple revision. Stay out of our way… and we won’t destroy you.”
The corner of West’s mouth ticked up in a smile. “Direct. I appreciate that. Allow me to suggest a counter proposal. Take your asses out of this ring in the next five seconds and we won’t have to end the night with any more unpleasantness.”
Miranda’s answering smile was far wider. “Sisters, this false idol and her cadre of heathen martinets wants us to bend the knee. What say you to that?”
“Kiss my ass, geeks.” Adelaide growled.
Wainright offered the Amazing Academic a slow, ‘what can ya do?’ smile and said, “Humble these pretenders, sisters.”
Just like that the ring became a whirlwind as zealots and courtiers met in several savage skirmishes. The pairings changed several times over the course of less than a minute, though when the tide turned it was Lenore that drove Penny through the strands with a shot from her field hockey stick. This allowed her a free shot across Helena’s back, which broke the redhead’s Goozle on Becky and allowed the two of them to send the Gray Lady over the top rope with a stereo Clothesline. Adelaide was next to go, the World Champ overextending herself on a missed Roundhouse and eating a Rainmaker Super Kick immediately thereafter. Miranda was last to leave, her hammer and tongs brawling with Emily coming to an abrupt end when West lowered a shoulder and sent her tumbling over the top rope to be caught by Helena and Penny.
Shoulder to shoulder for the first time in what felt like forever the Black Court formed a bulwark between Veronica and the Churchgoers, who looked to be regrouping rather quickly.
Eerily calm amidst all this chaos, Miranda grabbed Adelaide and Penny by a shoulder and squeezed hard enough to distract them from returning to the ring. “Ease yourself sisters.” she murmured. “Let them have their moment. “The memory of their hubris will be all the more amusing when contrasted by the feel of our boots on their throats.”
Brewster and Tremblay relaxed a little, though their mood wasn’t helped by Helena stomping over with Tiffany draped across one shoulder. Snatching her gold from the brave FAWN tech that dared get close enough to offer it, Adelaide stepped forward and raised the World Title overhead. “Heathens rejoice in a false queen’s call, but Midnight comes for one and all… even you, Emily West.”
The Amazing Academic opened her mouth to reply, but the lights went out one more time and the Church was long gone when they returned.
“That’s a hell of an opening salvo.” Becky said to no one in particular. “Think they got the message?”
Lenore spun Edgar one handed, then set the end against the mat like a makeshift walking stick. “Felt like it to me. But Wainright’s a tremendous motivator. They’re not going down easy.”
Sue looked up from Veronica, who she’d tended to once the ring was cleared. “Good. I hope they stick around as long as they can. I’ve been looking to kick some righteous asses for a long, looong time.”
“I’m sure there will be ample opportunities for all of you to do just that.” Emily said once she was sure the zealots were gone. “But for now I think we should clear the ring so Veronica can have some breathing room.”
The Black Court turned to the Dangerous Dame, who’d just made it to one knee. The crowd buzzed at the implication, though Treymane put a quick end to the speculation by struggling to her feet. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate the assist, I do.” she huffed. “But I’m not much of a follower, never have been. And I sure as hell won’t take a knee.”
“No followers here, Veronica. Just a group of likeminded women that abhor chaos. We know what needs to be done to put the Church of Eternal Midnight in check and will set about doing so. You’re more than welcome to do the same… but don’t get in our way.”
“I could say the same thing to you, Dais-Emily.” Veronica corrected herself at the last second.
“Your candor is refreshing.” West noted with a small smile. “But our position is clear, as is yours. So we’ll see you on the board, Veronica Treymane.”
The Black Queen dipped her head to ‘Ronnie, then slipped through the ropes with Becky, Lenore and finally Susan following behind.
“Looks like there’s about to be a real dangerous crossfire.” ‘Ronnie murmured. “But I’ve got more than enough firepower to be the last dame standing.” An appropriate sentiment, considering it was the last thing the audience saw as the ‘Mania broadcast faded to black.