Post by hawkeye on Aug 6, 2023 18:00:56 GMT
“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. Introducing first, she's being accompanied to the ring by Heaven Hughes. Hailing from Peaksville Ohio, she stands at five feet five inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and twenty-five pounds. She is inscrutable, indecipherable and downright impossible! This is VIOLYT GOODHEART!”
The sound of that name earned immediate jeers from those assembled, though the noise wasn't enough to put a damper on the ominously catchy intro of I Don’t Know How But They Found Me’s ‘Choke’.
CHOKE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvJjmWTg7Qo
Stop, drop
And drag me into place
And lock the fire escapes
I'll break your pretty face
Yeah, Yeah
Oh, you clever little things
The sycophantic teens
What a precious basket case
Yeah, Yeah
VIOLYT GOODHEART:
HEAVEN HUGHES:
Her anthem was greeted by panic from the lighting system and increased unease from the Red, White, & Bruised revelers, the former achieving full strobe status and the latter not quite sure how to greet the cheerily mercurial psychopath who'd been waging a war with the Greater Good since her abrupt return earlier in the year. Coherency was dealt yet another blow by the pair of cannons arranged on either side of the stage, both of which fired off massive clouds of red, white, and blue glitter at the start of the chorus! From the center of this multicolored maelstrom emerged a surprisingly dainty figure wearing an Uncle Sam hat and. Smiling cheerily as ever, Goodheart paused amidst the swirling glitter to glance at the blonde at her side. “Nothing like a parade, right, Hughes? Makes you wanna eat some apple pie and catch some fireflies right before you use a few sparklers to burn down the bandstand on the town common.”
Heaven, who'd been down with those first two items, regarded Goodheart warily. Arson, Vi?”
“Not arson! A conflagrational offering!I mean really, how can we properly honor the birth of this great nation without destroying some public property?”
“Your outfit's a good start.” Hughes replied. “Suitably patriotic and no fire necessary.”
“You're such a nerd sometimes, Hughes. But you're right, this outfit is pretty swank! Let's perambulate, shall we?”
That sounded fine to Heaven so she and the Pink Stranger set off down the aisle with Violyt zipping back and forth to clap hands or pie-face anyone who actually reached in her direction. Upon reaching the foot of the ramp she crossed to the other side and repeated the process all the way back to the top. With everyone thoroughly puzzled as to her motives (which was exactly how she liked it), the woman who called herself Violyt Goodheart turned her attention to the squared circle and started down for the second time in as many minutes while Heaven sat on the top step looking on in bemused fascination.
For tonight's show of patriotic pugilism, the blonde wore glittery blue trunks spangled with white stars, a V-shaped white trim 'belt' and much thinner white trim around the leg holes. Above this was a red and white striped halter-style top with blue trim along the neckline and edges. Her pads at knee and elbow were a matching red, her boots were gleaming white while her wrist tape was gleaming white. Atop all this she wore a classic white nylon windbreaker with pink trim at the collar and cuffs. It was the back of this windbreaker that offered concrete evidence that all was not as it seemed when it came to the Princess of Peaksville. Sure, the Lisa Frank style portrait of a bald eagle flying over a rainbow was perfectly on brand, however the message below advised the reader to ’Drink the blood of tyrants!’ in a disconcertingly cartoonish script.
Skidding onto the apron after a quick fist bump from Heaven, Violyt dipped through the ropes and doffed her hat and jacket, then tossed both to Merle the referee as she settled into the far corner. “You're not a square, right Merle?” she asked the zebra. “Like, arson's not a red flag for you?”
“Ummmmhhhh... I guess that depends on what's burning?”
Goodheart threw her head back and cackled. “SEE, Hughes?” she called to the other blonde. “HE gets it!”
The initial chords of America the Beautiful sent the hearts of many a FAWNatic soaring, though the villainous Goodheart seemed less than patriotic, her face appearing as though she’d just eaten a bad turnip.
Ignoring the Stranger, the proud Yankee Doodlers rose to their collective feet, not only out of respect for their country but out of excitement at the arrival of the wrestler who beautifully encompassed everything good about the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
The arena filled with cheers and hands moved over hearts as the eyes of the assembled gloriously shifted to an athletic, blonde hardbody in starts-n-stripes, Lady Liberty emerging from stage right.
And, at her side, a special treat, the Princess of the Four-Sided Forest herself, the lovely Giselle.
LADY LIBERTY:
PRINCESS GISELLE:
The sight of the fresh-faced brunette pushed the volume louder still. The Disney-adjacent royalty strode along her likewise beloved teammate to center stage. The dark-haired beauty wore what could only be called FAWNticized Sleeping Beauty gear.
(https://www.amiclubwear.com/costume-storybook-jj1-4615sultrysnow.html with red boots instead of pumps.)
The Woman called Liberty wore about her sublimely sporty frame the colors of her country, a spandex version of the American Flag snugly fitting around every crowd-pleasing curve. The sports top was white, the torch of liberty aflame in red across her bosom; below were sapphire boy-cut briefs decorated with a smattering of stars, her elbow pads a dazzling blue while her boots are a radiant red. Unlike the opposition, she wore her country’s colors with obvious pride amidst no irony or cynicism and it’s impossible for the patriotic FAWNatics in attendance to not love her for it.
Beside the blonde, the radiant Princess joined her partner on the trek to the ring, keeping even with the Lady’s pace. Liberty was handed a microphone as she ascended the steel steps and both paragons slipped into the ring, The Lady leading the way.
The Announcer beat her to the verbal punch.
“And her opponent, hailing from the Good Ole U.S.A., she stands five feet four inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and twenty-four pounds. She is the Shining Example, the Grappler Next Door and the All American’s All American, she is LADY LIBERTY!”
The National Treasure stood sharply at attention, the woman carrying herself with absolute assurance, an unfaltering confidence that’s spellbinding, with a smile nothing short of heart-melting.
Lady Liberty salutes, then the Girl of Every State USA brings the mic to her lips as she focused on the poorly-named Goodheart.
“You will find, Citizen. The Path of Anarchy is not one that leads through the Forest without peril. You may cast your incantations on the naïve...”
Hughes’ baby-face turned sour.
“But you will find Liberty not only lights the way but scalds the guilty with its righteous flame.”
A satisfied American Idol handed the stick to Merle and, with the Theme Park Monarch glancing apologetically at the Sorceress’ cherub, Greater Good moved to the corner opposite the Glittering Enigma and friend.
The Princess bid farewell through the ropes, dropping to the floor just in time for the chime of the opening bell.
Uncharacteristically grim-faced from the moment she'd clocked Goodheart's disingenuous duds, Liberty maintained her usual sense of honorable decorum until the bell CLANGED, but then she pushed off the buckles and would've charged straight into Violyt's corner if the Princess of Peaksville hadn't eased out and started trailing along the ropes. Posting up once she reached the center of the squared circle, the blonde pivoted on the ball of one foot to ensure Goodheart was always dead ahead. Hands clenched into fists that only grew tighter with each passing second, Lady abruptly barked, “Get over here, Goodheart. You've got a lot to answer for!”
Violyt arched an eyebrow and kept on strolling, though she made no effort to oblige the Do-Gooder's demand. “So, you do know my name. What happened to the 'citizen' shtick you so dutifully perfected? I am a citizen, you know. I've got about seven different drivers licenses' to prove--”
“You're not a citizen.” the blonde interrupted. “You're not even an anarchist, you're a creeping stain of corruption that ruins everything she touches! Not get out here and fight!”
Goodheart's smile had been faint, now it grew much more distinct. “You hear that, Heaven?” she asked the Santa Monica Sweetheart. “Patty Patriot here thinks you've been ruined just because you've got a friend she and Mommy Colleen don't understand. Betcha she'd like you a lot more if you were wearing--” The Glittering Enigma stopped mid-sentence, looked herself up and down and made a show of 'flicking' both thumbs in the waistband of her trunks. “Hey, waaaaaaaaaaaaait a second. What's this really about, Lady Lizardy? Are you mad because I'm going to win the inevitable 'who wore it better' po--”
Liberty rushed the smirking weirdo with a big Haymaker at the ready, unfortunately Goodheart was equally prepared and she laid out on one side, her two-fisted grip on the top rope providing a nice anchor while simultaneously creating a low bridge! The wiffed punch sent Liberty tumbling through empty space, but the Girl from Anytown adjusted mid-spill and managed to catch hold of the middle rope so that she ended up on one knee on the apron instead of flat on the floor.
With both blondes rising simultaneously, a surprised looking Violyt gave Liberty a small golf clap and said, “Hey, you're more nimble than I thought! So are you a secret luchadora like NNNGGHHH!”
The Lady reared back and tagged her with a heavy open-handed SLAP that earned cheers from the crowd and sent Goodheart backpedaling toward the middle of the ring. Eager to take the dangerous influence out of commission as quickly as possible, Liberty leapt onto the top rope in a single bound and dove at her adversary with both hands knotted high overhead in a Double Axehand—“HHHHRRRRRGGHH!”
Violyt didn't actually move out of the way, she only took a single step back and went down on one knee, the small adjustment enough to transform the beautiful high-flying offense into a most painful landing as Liberty THWHUMPED down crotch-first atop that posted knee! The improvised Inverted Atomic Drop brought Liberty's knees together and lowered her head to a point where Goodheart could easily snatch a Front Facelock. She also caught hold of the other blonde's dangling left wrist to ensure she had an extra hook set when she twisted underneath and laid out flat to THWHAM Liberty down on the back of her head and shoulders with a nasty Neckbreaker!
SNAP NECKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QJOFAB1do
The American Idol took it flush and rolled through to a slumped seat, both arms cradling the back of her head while one heel tapped the canvas absently. She started to stand a moment later so Violyt helped her out with a healthy handful of hair. Soon as Liberty was on her feet the Pink Stranger spun around and secured what was really nothing more than a Three Quarters Facelock, but rather than use it to transition to a Snapmare, Cutter or a hundred other moves, Goodheart simply twisted her opponent's head to the side at a sharp angle! Unprepared for such a painfully simple attack, Liberty reached back and tried to pull Vi's hands apart, but Goodheart simply wrenched that much harder and followed up with a quick Hip Check to the tummy for good measure.
“That was a REALLY aggressive response, it was a little disquieting, I'm not going to lie.” the blonde muttered as she continued trying to twist Liberty's head off her shoulders. “I mean really, I would've thought a paragon of virtue like you would be fine with a little harmless cosplay, but--”
“Hhhhrrrggghhh... it's pure mockery and you know it, Goodheart.” Liberty grunted. “You don't believe in the flag, and you sure as hell don't believe in America. Far as I can tell, you don't believe in anyNNNGGGHHH!”
Goodheart pivoted so she was facing Giselle, then dropped to one knee and flipped the Lady onto her butt with a heavy Snapmare. Switching over to a Chinlock the instant her foe touched down, Goodheart set the point of her right knee between the other blonde's shoulders and craaaaaaaaaaaaanked back hard enough to make Liberty groan through clenched teeth. “Therein lies you and Mommy Colleen's problem with me, Lizardy. Neither of you actually have the slightest clue what I believe.” The Pink Stranger wrenched on the Chinlock while grinding her knee into the vulnerable blonde's back. Liberty groaned and pulled at her attacker's laced fingers, but she didn't have much luck and Goodheart's attention was focused on Giselle anyway. “That's the biggest problem with the Greater Good as a whole, really. Not only do they not KNOW what the so-called opposition believes, they don't CARE about what their friends believe, especially if it doesn't support their own narrow worldview. Isn't that right, Princess?”
CHINLOCK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RS3nJsR-tU
Giselle frowned, shook her head 'no'. “You don't know what you're talking about, Violyt. They've been nothing but supportive during all your cra--” She cut herself off mid-sentence, the brunette apparently troubled by her own wording.
Goodheart arched an eyebrow. “My WHAT, Princess? I would call it a delightful willingness to engage you on a level that no one else on this roster has ever even considered and will continue to do so if you ever have the guts to face me by yourself again. But these FRIENDS of yours? They're so damned quick to denigrate everything you stand for. Everything that makes you who you are, they're happy to throw it in the trash if it means making their own lives easiNGH! NGH! NGH!”
Liberty finally slipped clear of Violyt's knee and in doing so was able to gouge a few quick elbows into the other blonde's gut. A heavier shot broke Goodheart's grip entirely so the Lady scrambled to verticality and--“AAAAARRRGGHHH!” Violyt rose with her, palmed the Do-Gooder's head in both hands and GOUGED her fingers into her eyes!
“We we having a conversation, Miss American Pie.” the Glittering Enigma hissed as she jostled the other blonde back and forth until she lost her balance and landed back on her butt.
“Get off her eyes, Violyt!” Merle hurried over to put a stop to the exceptionally rough treatment. “It's rude and you know it!”
Vi blinked at him, then actually released her grip and stood up. “You know what, Merle? It is rude. And we have to be better than those that wish to do us harm.”
“They're not trying to harm anyone!” Giselle countered from her place on the floor. “They're trying to protect everyone from your--”
Goodheart's face, which had been remarkably calm when speaking to the official, transformed into a mask of vicious contempt as she pivoted on one foot and THWHACKED a vicious Basement Super Kick into the back of Liberty's skull! The shot whiplashed the blinded blonde forward without actually knocking her over, so Violyt backed up several steps, then rushed forward and caught hold of LL's noggin just as she left her feet in a low, smooth somersault. The Rolling Neck Snap put more unwanted pressure on the Lady's neck, it also drove her forehead into the canvas with a heavy BWONK that had several floor-seat FAWNatics grimacing in the aftermath.
That combination of moves left the National Treasure stretched out flat on her back, yet Goodheart didn't try for a pin. Didn't even consider one, truth be told. Instead she slid out of the ring and went nose to nose with Giselle, who didn't cede an inch to the Princess of Peaksville.
“You are trying to walk in two worlds and it is exhausting.” Violyt spoke in a tone that belied the disgust on her face. “Your friends don't respect you or what makes you happy. They want you to burn your books. Renounce your faith. Believe in the same boring shit they believe. Angels and flags? No problem there! But castles? Unicorns? MAGIC? Unacceptable.”
“Shut your mouth.” Giselle said softly. “You don't know them. You don't know any--”
“Then do it.” Goodheart actually chested up on the brunette, forcing her back a step or two. “You know how to make this stop. How to make me go away like any fairy tale villain worth her salt. Tell me what THEY want to hear. Tell me you don't bel--”
“VIOLYT, WATCH OUT!”
Heaven shouted a warning from the other side of the ring and Goodheart spun toward the incoming threat, alas it was a heartbeat too late to get clear of Lady Liberty, who dove over the second rope like a red, white and blue missile to catch the Glittering Enigma with a Suicide Dive that BUHWHAMMED her full force into the steel guardrail!
Knees unhinged by the force of the collision, Goodheart slid to her butt and would've stayed there for quite some time if the Pretty Patriot hadn't snatched a handful of hair and hauled her upright. Switching one hand to the back of her foe's pink trunks, Liberty helped herself to a strong grip, then rushed the ring and tossed her burden under the bottom rope. She almost slid in after her, but stopped at the last moment to glance at Giselle.
“She's lying, you know. Colleen and I, we just want you to be happy.”
The protector of the Four-Sided Forest nodded, so Liberty hopped onto the apron and went back to work.
Violyt worked her way to a kneeling position. Unfortunately for the Pink Stranger, her blinking eyes pointed in the opposite direction of Liberty. The blonde bastion unleashed a portion of her righteous indignation, racing forward and THRUSTING a raised knee into the back of Goodheart’s skull.
The Enigma flopped to her chest and face as LL skidded to a stop after the impact.
“I wish I could say these colors never run,” the Girl from Anytown said dejectedly to no one in particular, “but with this wearing them, there might be a first time.”
Talking more into the mat than the nearby Lady, Vi responded with a weak but curt, “Not on me they won’t.”
Goodheart absently rolled to her back and began rising to a seat, but the Pretty Patriot was ready and sent her foe back to horizontal with a Soccer Kick to the chin.
Seamlessly, Liberty continued through the perfectly-placed kick. She charged to the ropes beyond, rebounding into an acrobatic cartwheel that ended with a double Leg Drop across the splayed Violyt, one muscular leg smashing across her fellow blonde’s chest, the other her throat.
The Princess of Peaksville, surely some ‘pretend city’ more likely an anarchist compound, spasmed, grasping at her neck. With the Lady’s tanned lower limbs draping across Goodheart, Merle dropped to hands and knees and slapped the canvas for a…
ONE…
Violyt shoved the stems off, rolling away, groaning and gasping, her windpipe trying to expand back to its normal size. Liberty kipped to her feet and put a hand to an ear. The FAWNatics roared in response.
“Now that’s the noise I want to hear. Not the BS from this ne’er do well.”
“You hear that,” Violyt croaked, her gaze set upon the Theme Park Monarch. “This paragon of virtue doesn’t want me to have freedom of speech. They won’t want you to have it either.”
“I have it,” Giselle replied, “but I use it with responsibility.”
“Enough debate,” the National Treasure interjected. “You may not be here to fight, but I am.”
The flaxen-haired hardbody grabbed a wrist and yanked Goodheart to her feet. Quickly transitioning to an Irish Whip, Liberty flung the Red, White and Blue Stranger across the canvas with as much energy as she could muster. Violyt ZOOMED to the far buckles, spinning into a titanic back-first collision that sent Goodheart to her backside, legs extended in front of her as she leaned against the bottom buckle.
The Pretty Patriot didn't need an engraved invitation. She’s an American in motion, racing toward her target and leaping into a Double Knee Strike, the bony joints RAMMING into Violyt’s shoulders, rocking the Glittering Enigma into a silent stupor.
DOUBLE KNEE STRIKE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCX3AbkUvkE
Liberty wasn't done with her corner retribution. With Giselle close below, The Lady sank her nails into Violyt’s scalp to keep her foe’s head steady and THUMPED in a couple more direct knee strikes, these to Goodheart’s chin that put the blonde somewhere close to Dream Street.
In the corner of the Sorceress, a worried Hughes tried to get a rhythmic clap going for her friend but found very few takers.
Across the way, Liberty grabbed both ankles and dragged the demented dishrag to the middle of the ring. With the former indie darling in place, Liberty turned and sprinted to the ropes. She rebounded at full speed, skipped over her adversary, and vaulted into the opposite set of cables, landing on the middle strand while using her hands to steady on the top for a majestic springboard Merica-sault to crush the iniquity from her vile opponent.
There was but one problem with the plan. Violyt’s not so helpless as she led to believe.
Getting her knees up, Vi skewered the descending Liberty’s tanned tummy and LL rolled away a retching wreck. Heaven was alone in pumping her fist at the sight while Giselle ran fingers through her cascading dark locks, the happy ending upended by the Sorceress trying to claim her Four-Sided Forest.
Goodheart took a moment to gather her breath. She rolled to her chest and, pointed toward the Disney-adjacent royalty, propped her chin in the ‘V’ of her joined palms. The Enigma shrugged.
“We can make beautiful music together,” Goodheart assured Giselle. “Much more pleasing than the John Philip Sousa crap this flag-draped phony prefers.”
The brunette ignored Violyt as best she could, encouraging her partner in the Greater Good to rise. Liberty manages, though she remained slightly doubled from her roiling abdomen.
Shaking her noggin, the Glittering Enigma pushed to her feet and spun into a charge of the Pretty Patriot, diving into a Dropkick to her fellow blonde’s knee that has the American Idol genuflecting in front of a rising Vi. Goodheart tugged Liberty up to a stooped stance, slipping beside her. The hunched Stranger scooped up her foe’s near leg, dropping it over the back of her neck, and LAUNCHED Liberty up and over, splattering the Girl from Anytown USA flat on her chest and flawless features with a Backdrop Facebuster.
BACKDROP FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIw1HNXKvjA
Violyt moved next to the face-down, splayed Liberty and showed off some of the artwork making her the most feared mercenary on the indie circuit for years, first raking her nails down Liberty’s back, leaving her own set of red stripes on the flag-wearing fake.
Goodheart then went lower, slipping her fingers under both sets of leg-holes of The Lady’s gear and YANKING UP, wedging the spandex HIGH into the Pretty Patriot’s crotch and crack. Liberty’s pelvis rose reflexively as she squeaked in anguish.
Violyt turned to an accusatory look from Merle.
“What? Just trying to raise the flag.”
The ref shook his head, pleading with Violyt to keep this a wrestling match, but Goodheart had a different show in mind for both Heaven and the Theme Park Monarch.
A forward-facing Violyt mounted Liberty’s lower back and sank her left set of digits into the blonde bastion’s golden locks. Goodheart tugged The Lady into a wicked spinal arch, then reached around and wrenched at Liberty’s beak, causing the baby blues of the Girl from Anytown to water.
After a dozen seconds of playtime, apparently done trying to rip her adversary’s nose from her face, Violyt raked a set of nails across the tear-filled azure pools, blinding Lady Liberty, the paragon screeching in agony, rubbing furiously at her burning peepers.
Using her grip on Liberty’s tousled mane, Vi THUNKED her foe’s face into the deck, then collected fishhooks on either side of The Lady’s lips to pull back, lifting the patriot’s noggin of the deck with only her curled digits, Liberty sporting a contorted Joker-esque rictus. Both blondes stared with very different expressions at a troubled Giselle.
“I’ll do ANYTHING for my friends. Will they?” Violyt asked.
“I wouldn’t want them to do what you do, Sorceress.”
“In defense of the Four-Sided Forest, a little fear can go a long way.”
Goodheart released her hooks and, this time with both hands, THUMPED Liberty’s forehead into the thinly-sheathed floorboards.
The Pink Stranger peeled what’s left of Liberty off the deck as she rose and led the staggering, stunned patriot to a neutral corner. She lifted the slack Lady off the mat like a babe in her arms, behind the knees and neck, then draped her as if on an altar across the middle ropes on either side.
With the Girl from Anytown ready for sacrifice, Goodheart climbed to a kneeling position on the top cables and thrust herself off to impale the helpless LL with a Turnbuckle Meteora, the carcass of Liberty ending stacked in the ropes of the corner.
TURNBUCKLE METEORA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Vxjh8BtMw
Violyt displayed the Greater Good weakness of both mind and spirit to the Princess, motioning to the tawny-skinned pile of rubble.
“You’re meant for more than this.”
Giselle made a concentrated effort to keep her eyes on Violyt and not the destruction she'd so freshly wrought. “That may be so, Sorceress.” she said calmly. “But I'm in charge of my destiny. Not you.”
“EXACTLY!” Goodheart put her fingers to her temples and jerked them away with a little 'mind blown' exploding noise. “YOU'RE in charge of the Four-Sided Forest, Princess. Not the arrogant angel or the prissy propagandist. They're not even visitors, they're interlopers. Personified encroachment from a world that lost its sense of wonder a loooooooooooong time ago. They want to drag you kicking and screaming from this place so you can join them in drib-drab humdrum Backrooms hellscape they call the real world. And do you know why, Princess?”
Goodheart's piercing green eyes were locked on Giselle's darker set. She wanted desperately to look away or maybe just blinking would break the blonde's hold on her, but she couldn't seem to do anything but inquire about an answer. “Wh--”
“Leave her alone, you poisonous lunatic.” Lady Liberty had made it to all fours, though one arm was currently strapped tight across her midsection in a valiant effort to return her vital organs to their original alignment. “Giselle's doing just fine, she doesn't need any of your corrosive nonsense rotting her braNNNNGGGGGHHH!”
The normally cheery Enigma rushed forward with a furious snarl and went down on her butt to THWHACK both heels into the side of Liberty's skull!
“Stop interrupting! Goodheart hissed at LL as she scrambled to her feet. “Better yet, why don't you try doing something productive for a change?”
Quite happy to help the Lady discover her new purpose despite their current difference of opinion, Vi scraped her off the canvas with a double handful of hair, then slipped one arm through her legs and another over one shoulder so she could scoop the National Treasure and THUMP her spine-first against the second turnbuckle. Liberty grunted and tried to wriggle free, but Goodheart used a well-placed shoulder to keep her burden in place while she deftly trapped the Lady's lower legs in place beneath the top turnbuckle.
“Perfect!” Goodheart said with an appraising smile as she took a step back to admire her handiwork. “Just like that, I've repurposed an obnoxious, meddling asshole into a flagpole!” She paused, touched her chin thoughtfully. “Of course now the colors are technically upside down and that's not good, maybe I should--” The Glittering Enigma broke off, bumped the heel of one palm against her forehead. “DUH! I fucking came dressed for this! How could I forget?” Without waiting for an answer, the blonde grabbed hold of the top rope and climbed into a mount on the second strand, unfortunately for Liberty the Princess of Peaksville made a point of planting the heel of her other foot squarely in the Do-Gooder's crotch!
“AAARRRHHHHHHH!” Lady shuddered from stem to stern as Goodheart aggressively ground her boot back and forth against the blonde's defenseless undercarriage.
Paying no attention to the wailing from the base of her flagpole, Violyt raised her left hand high and placed it over her heart. “Repeat after me.” she told the jeering FAWNatics. “Better yet, make up your own words, I'm not some conformist asshole.” Goodheart cleared her throat, then proclaimed, “I am an anomaly! I am not like you, you, or especially you! What you call sickness, I call inspiration! Your disgust thrills me! Your concern is ambrosia! And your fear?” Violyt paused to point a middle finger at Merle, who had the temerity to interrupt her pledge to ask for a rope break, of all things. Smiling wider than ever as Liberty crunched up to better scrabble at her grinding heel, Goodheart took a deep breath and finished, “God help me, I love it.”
Recitation complete, she hopped back and dropped to the mat while also THUMPING a short Double Axehandle into the other blonde's crotch! Lady Liberty jolted again, but Violyt had thoroughly knotted her stems and she remained hung up after the worst of the shivers subsided.
“All right Violyt, that's more than enough!” Merle warned in his most convincing 'stern' voice. Get her out of the corner now or I'll--”
The Princess of Peaksville knelt, grabbed Liberty by the hair and hoisted her up until she was almost seated on the middle turnbuck--“NNNNGGGGHHHH!” Goodheart cupped her chin in both hands, hopped up and braced her knees between the Lady's shoulders to THWHUMP all the breath from her body with a gorgeous Lungblower!
CORNER HUNG LUNGBLOWER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UnPwezvDOA
Liberty bounced on impact without yet tumbling clear of the Tree of Woe, which meant Goodheart could shift her feet up against the other blonde's back and kick off hard enough to shoot her back to that slumped seat for the second time in the span of heartbeats. Popping to her feet while LL hooked an arm over the top rope, Violyt turned around and reached over her right shoulder with both hands so she could clasp the chin and—'Ooooooooooooooooohhh!' from the FAWNatics when Goodheart dropped to her butt to THUNK the base of Liberty's skull against the point of her shoulder with a vile Hangman's Neckbreaker that finally succeeded in jolting her blonde loose from the sturdy snare.
CORNER HUNG HANGMAN'S NECKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-7gK2WoXE
The Lady collapsed into an unseemly tangle of limbs beside Violyt and might've stayed there for quite some time if the American Psycho hadn't grabbed hold at both wrists and draaaaaaaaaaaaaaagged her out to the center of the squared circle. Once there she relinquished her hooks and dropped down in a rude north-south arrangement that treated Liberty to a faceful of tummy even as Goodheart hooked a leg for the...
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Liberty shifted hard to one side, spilling Violyt off her perch with a half second to spare. The Glittering Enigma nodded thoughtfully, then sidled around so she was seated in close on the other blonde's left side. From there she took possession of LL's right wrist and pulled it backward so the Do-Gooder's forearm was wedged beneath her armpit. Immediately thereafter she reached over with her left hand to grip Liberty's right shoulder while deftly threading her right arm between forearm and bicep so she could grip her own left forearm to craaaaaaaaaaaaaaank back on a grounded version of the traditional Crossface Chickenwing!
“Go on Lizardy, tell the Princess you've been a bad friend.” Goodheart murmured as she went about trying to jerk her opponent's arm out of socket. “Tell her about all the conversations you've had with Mommy Colleen about how neither of you are convinced she's capable of dealing with me on her own--”
“THAT'S A LIE!” Liberty bellowed as she fought to get a knee braced against the mat. “She can kick your behind in a wrestling match no problem, but you're not here to wrestle! You're just an outside agitator! All you want to do is take the thing she values most and poison it for your own NGH! NGH! NGH!” Goodheart threw her left leg over top of the Pretty Patriot's noggin in what could've been a pretty effective Headscissors if she hadn't immediately brought her calf down like a bludgeon, Goodheart just THWHAPPING her calf against the side of Liberty's head over and over again.
GROUNDED CHICKENWING:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UI6zSeSd8U
Violyt made no demand of surrender, but the undefended pounding was so unpleasant to watch that Merle dropped to one knee and asked, “What do you say, Liberty? Do you want to give it up? If you need to submit just--”
“NO!” the Lady continued bicycling her legs against the mat to make slow, awkward progress toward the ropes.
“Now ask her if she's a bad friend.” Goodheart said to the zebra. “I'm trying to gauge her self awareness. Or lack there--”
“How would you even know?” Liberty grunted. “You only have people too foolish to recognize the snake oil you're sellHHHHRRRGGGGGGHHHH!”
Violyt shifted her left foot so it was set against Liberty's cheek and began to grrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiind like she was crushing a stubborn insect. “Let's get one thing straight.” Goodheart's voice was ice cold now. “You can talk to me however you want, but if you spout that bullshit about Heaven in my presence, I'll ruin you. Got that, bitcWHOAAAH!”
Liberty finally got a good angle for her right knee and used it to push off the mat, the Girl from Anytown rolling onto her back with Goodheart trapped between her and the canvas in an awkward pinning predicament good for...
ONE...
TWO...
Violyt let go and bucked the other blonde clear to keep the match going despite the disappointed boos of the FAWNatics. Scrambling to verticality a little ahead of the Red, White, & Blue Bomber, Goodheart grabbed a double handful of hair and hauled the knock-kneed blonde up alongsi—Liberty did some hair-pulling of her own, all the better to wedge the crown of her head beneath the point of the weirdo's chin. Then she went up on tiptoes and dropped to her knees to THUNK Goodheart with a Jawbreaker!
Goodheart rocked back on her heels without stumbling out of reach, so LL took hold of one wrist and hurled her at the strands with an Irish Wh—NO! The blonde dug in her heels and yanked Vi back the way she'd came! Leaning to the right so she could wrap both arms around Goodheart's hips and spin her around a gorgeous two-hundred and seventy degree arc that got decidedly uglier when she dropped to one knee and THWHUMPED the Pink Stranger's spine against her posted thigh! The Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker sent Goodheart bouncing off Liberty's thigh and the Lady wasted no time in collecting both legs to bundle them in a Back Press good for...
TILT-A-WHIRL BACKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOyQinVX9D4
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Violyt kicked out with a whisper to spare and though her continued defiance brought expected boos from the crowd, Liberty was more startled by what she didn't hear, namely any support from Giselle. Breathing hard, she glanced in that direction frowned when she saw the brunette watching her with wide, hurt eyes.
“Do you and Colleen really think I can't handle this on my own?”
“Of course not!” Liberty blurted. “It's just we're concerned about you getting in over your--” she trailed off as Giselle shook her head in disappointment. Without really thinking about it she turned her attention Heaven Hughes who only frowned before turning her attention to the Glittering Enigma.
“C'mon Violyt!” she called while pounding both palms against the apron. “You got this!”
Goodheart, never one to turn down a chance to ‘Hulk Up’, used the words as inspiration. She lifted her right arm. It started to shake with an ethereal energy. The Pink Stranger, acting even stranger than usual, pushed to one knee where Liberty NAILED her between the shoulderblades with a Double Axhandle.
Violyt raised both arms in bicep poses and flexed her back toward the wide-eyed Lady.
Goodheart ascended toward full vertical and the Red, White and Blue Bomber threw a Forearm Shiver into the back of Violyt’s neck. But The Enigma shrugged it off, adrenaline flowing by the gallon through her system.
Eyes wild, she turned and waggled an index finger at the Pretty Patriot, Liberty swallowing hard, unsure what’s going on and if it will soon involve the nutcase doubling in size and turning green.
With Heaven overjoyed and ebullient, Violyt pointed Liberty to the far ropes and the Girl from Anytown takes her up on the invitation. The flaxen-haired hardbody raced to the ropes and rebounded, wound up and delivered the Patriot Missile, a running American Uppercut that CRAAACKED into Violyt’s chin and laid Goodheart out in a sprawl.
PATRIOT MISSILE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kscg08GgGVM
The Pink Stranger stared blankly up at the USAmazing Icon, emerald eyes crossing, so much so one might think little birdies floated in her vision from the dazed glaze.
“Ain’t no adrenaline ever been pumped by a gland that beats some good ole Yankee spirit and sweat,” Liberty informed.
LL dragged a gobsmacked Violyt several feet out from Goodheart’s corner and laid her just so. Liberty strode back to the buckles and climbed to the top over a dejected Hughes. The babyfaced blonde gazed at Liberty as The Lady climbed to the top. Some might claim Heaven flinched in the direction of the Greater Good’s National Treasure, but grounded Hughes remained.
The American Idol looked out on her target and the roaring FAWNatics but also noticed Giselle had packed her tiara and was headed up the ramp. Liberty scarcely believed her eyes. Becoming angry, either at the Princess or at the Enigma for steering the Theme Park Monarch into a dark place OR both, the blonde paragon leapt into the stratosphere and tumbled through a full 450 degrees before SPLASHING her chiseled abdomen across Violyt’s midriff.
450 SPLASH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzFUX-BPrbQ
A huge burst of an exhalation pushed through Goodheart’s lips as she jackknifed under the aerial assault. Already perfectly placed for her Crossbody pin, Liberty hooked a raised leg and stacked the Glittering Enigma on her shoulders for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOO!
Heaven hopped into the air in worry, but Goodheart threw a shoulder up as Merle’s palm stopped a few inches from ending the match.
The Lady rose to her knees, not to glance at the official’s two raised fingers but to watch as the Princess exited backstage to find solace or answers or who could say?
Liberty shook her head and turned her attention back to a wheezing, groaning Goodheart. There was still a job to do and, if she did it well enough, the lunatic would know better than to enter Giselle’s Four-Sided Forest ever again.
Liberty latched onto a shoulder and elbow and pulled Violyt up as she rose, Goodheart slumping in the clutches of the National Treasure. The blonde hardbody tossed Vi into the ropes from short range. Without enough time to turn into the cables, the Pink Stranger hit them chest-first and backpedaled into Liberty’s authority.
Wrapping her tawny guns around the roiling tummy of the Enigma while dipping her head under Violyt’s left arm, LL sent Goodheart flipping up and over. Liberty twisted as she heaved, able to force the so-called Sorceress into a face-first hardcore collision with the canvas courtesy her signature Red Glare.
RED GLARE @ 00:06
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEs8Dgtf-C8
Everyone but Heaven thoroughly enjoyed the catastrophic landing, Violyt bouncing to a shaky hands and knees from the power of the impact. She could manage little but stare at the deck beneath her and perhaps wonder why the country’s most self-righteous citizen hadn't laid the wood to her further.
Instead, Liberty kipped to her feet to a huge ovation from her partisan supporters and led them in a rhythmic clap. Having lost her Greater Good cohort for the evening, she could still rely on the good people of Central Florida to be sensible and appreciate how important it is to FAWN and the country to put down a rabid dog like Goodheart.
Having completed her cheerleading, the Girl from Anytown approached a staggered and stooped Violyt from her six. Liberty snatched her foe’s arms then twists so the lowered head of the Enigma is pressed to her back. No simple Unprettier would this be. No. Liberty is ready to Light the Torch and put the Pink Stranger on the first train back to Peaksville.
But before Liberty could send Violyt into her spinning wheel of misfortune, Goodheart showed she still has the sense and lack of fair play to split the other blonde's tawny wickets with a punt to the privates that short circuited the Pretty Patriot’s plans.
With the crowd first groaning then bitterly booing the underhanded tactics of the Stranger, even Heaven noticeably taken aback by the depths her mentor just reached, Liberty stood frozen, knees knocking, her features twisted in agony, hands dropping to her undercarriage.
Behind her, Goodheart sweeps soaked golden strands off her face and glanced at her protégé.
“Better you learn now,” she says. “When you’re facing a bytch like this, the ends justify the means. And I’m ending this Greater Evil.”
Violyt surged to the ropes in front of the petrified patriot. She hopped to the middle rope, seemingly reborn in an instant. Grabbing the top strand for balance, she springboarded in a 180 and leapt to Liberty, her left arm encircling the dipped braincase of the golden-maned hardbody. Goodheart let gravity do the rest as she laid out and PLANTED the American Idol’s forehead into the mat with a brutal Diving DDT.
DIVING DDT @ 00:40
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9uQ6_E520
Liberty flopped in a spasm to her back after the blow, limbs ending in a wide spreadeagle. The Sorceress mounted and pressed tight in a Lateral Press, hooking the far leg for good measure, and picking up the pin that would create a foothold in the Four-Sided Forest with the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOO!
Apparently not only did these colors not run, they also didn’t fade, as The Lady’s body resuscitated, seemingly from the dead, a shoulder pushed a few inches off the canvas.
On the sidelines, Heaven somehow seemed excited and disappointed at once.
Inside, there was momentary consternation from Goodheart, then calm.
“Never said sanctimonious dullards couldn’t be tough. Particularly their heads.”
Violyt scraped what little was left of Liberty off the deck as she rose and backed the bullied National Treasure into the set of buckles above Heaven.
“Keep her here. I’ll be back.”
Goodheart strode to the far corner, a torn Hughes left to decide whether she’ll hook an arm around each leg to keep the flagging patriot in place for whatever the Glittering Enigma had in store for Liberty’s Swelter Swan Song.
Heaven instinctively reached for Liberty's red boots almost at once, then drew back at the last moment, her hands clenching into conflicted fists as she struggled with the demand. After a moment she reached for the blonde's shins again only to grab the bottom rope instead. “C'mon Vi!” she called over the din of the FAWNatics. “You got this!”
THWHACK! Indeed Goodheart did have it, no sooner had the words left Hughes' mouth did the Princess of Peaksville return in a pastel blur, her right leg whipping up at a near perfect forty-five degree angle to smash a Yakuza Kick off the Lady's cheek! Liberty's knees gave out and she dropped to her butt with both hands sitting limp in her lap. As for Goodheart she'd made tracks after the kick landed, the blonde wheeling around on her heel to run along the ropes just to turn back the instant she reached the next corn--THAWHACK! Violyt put her foe's head on a swivel with a second Yakuza Kick, one that saw the Do-Gooder's face run up the full length of Goodheart's gam as the limb ended up draped over the bottom rope.
CORNER YAKUZA KICK & FACE WASH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=biSo-OSeOnQ
Arms hooked over the second strand to keep her suspended in relative comfort, Violyt gave Heaven an appraising look and asked, “What'd I tell you, cherub?”
“You went low on her, Violyt. Then you dropped her right on her head. She wasn't going anywhere and even if she had... I can't help you like that.”
The Glittering Enigma looked stern before breaking into an off-kilter smile. “Good. Blind loyalty is a bad thing, cherub. Maybe you're still safe from Mommy Colleen and this one.” She patted the Lady's head, snatched a big 'ol handful of hair and extracted herself from the ropes so she could do the same for the other blonde. Dragging a penitent Liberty out into the deep water at center, Violyt wedged the Pretty Patriot's head between her thighs, then wrapped both arms around her waist and muscled the woozy warrior into a seat on her should—NO! Lady Liberty floated over and tumbled down Violyt's back, the National Treasure hooking her legs under Goodheart's arms to rip her loose from her moorings and stack her up on her shoulders in a Sunset Flip good for...
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Violyt somersaulted to boot-leather to escape the predicament and immediately rushed forward with a Toe Kick aimed at the sternum of the rising batt—raucous cheers from the capacity crowd when Liberty grabbed the Pink Stranger's ankle in both hands and clambered to her feet! Halving the grip to engage in a little nostalgia of her own, Liberty waggled a finger 'no, no, no!' in Goodheart's face before she tossed the captured foot aside with enough force to spin the weirdo around in a full circle! The Lady's Toe Kick didn't miss and she reeled Goodheart into a Standing Headscissors as soon as her noggin drew within reach. A sturdy Waistlock followed as cheers rang out all over arena when Liberty spun Violyt onto her shoulders and immediately dropped to a seat to THAWHAM her burden into the deck with a huge Sit-Out Powerbomb! Calves hooked over the other blonde's biceps, Lady Liberty pressed in close to the agitator's upturned haunches while the ref counted...
SIT-OUT POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6asW8167n8
ONE...
TWO...
THRENOOOOOOOO!
The Glittering Enigma twitched a shoulder up at the last possible instant, an escape that soured the crowd until Liberty scrambled to her feet and pointed toward the nearest corner. “This madness ends now!” she promised all the good citizens while slapping her right elbow en route to the turnbuckles. “Liberty's torch dispels the gloom of wickedness and fear and on the rare occasion when that's not enough... her elbow is more than up to the task!”
Bolstered by a fresh wave of support, the American Idol slipped through the ropes and quickly ascended to the high rent district. She'd just rose to her full height when a commotion from the crowd drew her attention. Her first glance was in Heaven's direction, but the Santa Monica Sweetheart was looking up the ramp with the rest of the floor-seat FAWNatics. It was Giselle, sans tiara and scepter and looking far graver than usual, but she was moving toward the squared circle with purpose. Apparently the bastion of sweetness and light hadn't felt right about leaving her friend to a possible two on one beatdown.
Catching the Lady's eye as she closed on the ring, the Princess said, “Finish this, Liberty. Finish this, because I don't know if I can.”
Liberty nodded, offered her friend a salute, then stood up and turned her attention to Goodheart, who was still sprawled on the deck in the aftermath of the Powerbomb. “This ends now, citizen.” The Lady leapt out into the void, her right elbow crooked up beside her ear to better bring the Light of Liberty blazing down on—Violyt rolled out of the way, leaving her flaxen-haired foe to THAWHAM down full force on the vacant canvas!
The momentum behind that catastrophic miss actually bounced Liberty to her feet, though her knees were knocking and her right arm was held tight against her chest. Understandably preoccupied with trying to will the pain away, she didn't even realize Goodheart was upright until the Pink Stranger lurched up and drilled a Headbutt against the bridge of her nose! Liberty's knees almost gave out but Vi kept her upright by wrapping both arms around the other wrestler's waist. From there she boosted her up and deftly angled the Lady's legs around her hips to keep her suitably cradled for the time it took her to thread her left arm over the Do-Gooder's right should—Goodheart went up on her toes and snapped backward to PLANT the Pretty Patriot flat on her face with Cradled Reverse STO she called Happy Thoughts!
HAPPY THOUGHTS @ 5:10
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ula_ftLmtdA
Liberty bounced just enough to slop onto her back with both arms splayed overhead, but there wasn't much after that save for the rise and fall of her chest. Appalled by the swift reversal of fortune, Giselle rushed the rest of the way to the ring and pounded the apron as hard as she could. “Shake it off, Liberty! You've got this, we're all with--”
'You' died before it reached her lips because Goodheart plunged her hands into the Do-Gooder's battle damp hair and hauled her upright just to double her over with a Toe Kick to the gut. Pivoting to face the Theme Park Monarch as soon as she'd thrust Liberty's noggin between her thighs, the Glittering Enigma tipped a wink to the brunette, then bent down and wrapped her arms around the Lady's midsection. Another lift and spin, but no dramatic escape now, the Girl from Anytown slumped forward in her perch until—Vi slung her foe forward and down while simultaneously dropping backward, the blonde bringing both knees up against her chest so that the National Treasure THWHUMPED down spine-first atop those posted joints!
UNICORNS & RAINBOWS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3ZGcBwfC8
Shunted somewhere over the rainbow by this awful encounter with Unicorns & Rainbows, Lady Liberty slid off those impaling knees in stupefied slow motion to finish stacked on her shoulders in a self-imposed Matchbook that became a lot less so when Goodheart wedged her shoulders into the pits of the other blonde's knees, all the better to keep her glued in place while the Princess of Peaksville locked eyes with the Protector of the Four-Sided Forest and the referee counted...
ONE...
TWO...
THREE!
Violyt leaned back on her haunches and tossed a little puff of red, white, and blue glitter into the air while the Announcer addressed the jeering crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall... VIOLYT GOODHEART!”
Merle came over and offered Goodheart his hand, but she shooed him away in favor of drawing Liberty into a slumped seat in her lap. Curling her left arm across Liberty's chest, Violyt patted the Lady's right shoulder and snuggled in against the defeated blonde's cheek, all while keeping her eyes on Giselle. “Your friends can't help you, Princess.” she said softly. “They can't help because they don't understand. And even if they did, they couldn't appreciate the magnitude of what this means to you. But you understand them, oddly enough. You sympathize with their plight even when it's clear they think you're just a child with an overactive imagin--”
“Silence your tongue, Sorceress.” Giselle ordered in a voice that would brook no insolence. “You know not of what you spe--” The Princess grabbed hold of the middle rope but otherwise fell silent when the Pink Stranger reached her free hand into her boot and pulled out the cake fork that'd caused so much trouble when she haunted the indies.
Cupping the other blonde's throat in her left hand, Goodheart touched the tines of the fork to Liberty's forehead and pressed until her prey began to grimace. “Hey, whoa Vi! Hold on now!” Heaven scrambled into the ring and hurried over to the other blonde's side. “There's no need for that, don't--”
“I told you the road would only get weirder, Hughes.” Violyt sounded remarkably calm for someone with a bit of silverware to another human's head. “I also told you I believe in free will so you can do whatever you want, just know that you'll have to live with whatever choice you--”
“Leave her alone.” Giselle interrupted. “You should be proud of her for showing some consideration to a vulnerable enemy. That's better than you think of Colleen and Liberty. Better than you think of most people, I imagine.”
“That's because she's a good person, Princess. Hughes here thinks everyone can be saved, not just the easy ones. She'll do great things someday, but this story isn't about her. It's about you. And what you're going to do to save poor little Libby and Mommy Colleen from the likes of me. Can you, though? That'd require some hard choices and you can't even stand up to these--”
“I hereby challenge you to trial by combat.” Giselle told the blonde in her most regal tone.
Violyt's eyes lit up. “Do you? The fair princess actually deigns to emerge from her castle to take up arms against the threat that so humiliated her in their first encounter?”
“She does.” the Princess agreed. “I challenge you for complete control of the Four-Sided Forest during our most sacred festival... The 'Mania of Fawns.”
“A most worthy date indeed. But what of the venue? No mere canvas is suitable for what I have in mind for you, Princess.”
Giselle was silent for several seconds. Eventually she said, “I see a tall, unforgiving cage of steel. One that allows you all the tricks and treachery your vile magics can conceive. One that will allow me to do unto you as you have done unto so many others.”
Violyt offered her a smile like charring paper. “Such a place requires the steepest of sacrifices, Princess. The Patriot seems unwilling to meet such a toll, as does your vaunted California Angel. Are you willing to pay the Crimson Price?”
A long moment of hesitation before Giselle nodded. “I'll pay any price to keep the Four-Sided Forest safe.” she promised. “But know this, Sorceress. Any price I pay, you'll pay double.”
Far from concerned, Goodheart looked elated. “Do you swear?” she murmured.
“By all the stars of heaven.” Giselle confirmed.
“Then I accept.” Violyt sighed in obvious delight. “At the Mania of Fawns we'll see if you truly believe in magic... or if you'll renounce it to save your own skin.”
Giselle said nothing so Goodheart planted a smooch on Liberty's temple and shoved her away. Rolling under the bottom rope even as Giselle climbed onto the apron, the Pink Stranger hopped over the guardrail and disappeared, leaving the Princess to tend to her vulnerable friend while a concerned Heaven Hughes pondered her next move on this dark, confusing road she'd chosen.
The sound of that name earned immediate jeers from those assembled, though the noise wasn't enough to put a damper on the ominously catchy intro of I Don’t Know How But They Found Me’s ‘Choke’.
CHOKE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvJjmWTg7Qo
Stop, drop
And drag me into place
And lock the fire escapes
I'll break your pretty face
Yeah, Yeah
Oh, you clever little things
The sycophantic teens
What a precious basket case
Yeah, Yeah
VIOLYT GOODHEART:
HEAVEN HUGHES:
Her anthem was greeted by panic from the lighting system and increased unease from the Red, White, & Bruised revelers, the former achieving full strobe status and the latter not quite sure how to greet the cheerily mercurial psychopath who'd been waging a war with the Greater Good since her abrupt return earlier in the year. Coherency was dealt yet another blow by the pair of cannons arranged on either side of the stage, both of which fired off massive clouds of red, white, and blue glitter at the start of the chorus! From the center of this multicolored maelstrom emerged a surprisingly dainty figure wearing an Uncle Sam hat and. Smiling cheerily as ever, Goodheart paused amidst the swirling glitter to glance at the blonde at her side. “Nothing like a parade, right, Hughes? Makes you wanna eat some apple pie and catch some fireflies right before you use a few sparklers to burn down the bandstand on the town common.”
Heaven, who'd been down with those first two items, regarded Goodheart warily. Arson, Vi?”
“Not arson! A conflagrational offering!I mean really, how can we properly honor the birth of this great nation without destroying some public property?”
“Your outfit's a good start.” Hughes replied. “Suitably patriotic and no fire necessary.”
“You're such a nerd sometimes, Hughes. But you're right, this outfit is pretty swank! Let's perambulate, shall we?”
That sounded fine to Heaven so she and the Pink Stranger set off down the aisle with Violyt zipping back and forth to clap hands or pie-face anyone who actually reached in her direction. Upon reaching the foot of the ramp she crossed to the other side and repeated the process all the way back to the top. With everyone thoroughly puzzled as to her motives (which was exactly how she liked it), the woman who called herself Violyt Goodheart turned her attention to the squared circle and started down for the second time in as many minutes while Heaven sat on the top step looking on in bemused fascination.
For tonight's show of patriotic pugilism, the blonde wore glittery blue trunks spangled with white stars, a V-shaped white trim 'belt' and much thinner white trim around the leg holes. Above this was a red and white striped halter-style top with blue trim along the neckline and edges. Her pads at knee and elbow were a matching red, her boots were gleaming white while her wrist tape was gleaming white. Atop all this she wore a classic white nylon windbreaker with pink trim at the collar and cuffs. It was the back of this windbreaker that offered concrete evidence that all was not as it seemed when it came to the Princess of Peaksville. Sure, the Lisa Frank style portrait of a bald eagle flying over a rainbow was perfectly on brand, however the message below advised the reader to ’Drink the blood of tyrants!’ in a disconcertingly cartoonish script.
Skidding onto the apron after a quick fist bump from Heaven, Violyt dipped through the ropes and doffed her hat and jacket, then tossed both to Merle the referee as she settled into the far corner. “You're not a square, right Merle?” she asked the zebra. “Like, arson's not a red flag for you?”
“Ummmmhhhh... I guess that depends on what's burning?”
Goodheart threw her head back and cackled. “SEE, Hughes?” she called to the other blonde. “HE gets it!”
The initial chords of America the Beautiful sent the hearts of many a FAWNatic soaring, though the villainous Goodheart seemed less than patriotic, her face appearing as though she’d just eaten a bad turnip.
Ignoring the Stranger, the proud Yankee Doodlers rose to their collective feet, not only out of respect for their country but out of excitement at the arrival of the wrestler who beautifully encompassed everything good about the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
The arena filled with cheers and hands moved over hearts as the eyes of the assembled gloriously shifted to an athletic, blonde hardbody in starts-n-stripes, Lady Liberty emerging from stage right.
And, at her side, a special treat, the Princess of the Four-Sided Forest herself, the lovely Giselle.
LADY LIBERTY:
PRINCESS GISELLE:
The sight of the fresh-faced brunette pushed the volume louder still. The Disney-adjacent royalty strode along her likewise beloved teammate to center stage. The dark-haired beauty wore what could only be called FAWNticized Sleeping Beauty gear.
(https://www.amiclubwear.com/costume-storybook-jj1-4615sultrysnow.html with red boots instead of pumps.)
The Woman called Liberty wore about her sublimely sporty frame the colors of her country, a spandex version of the American Flag snugly fitting around every crowd-pleasing curve. The sports top was white, the torch of liberty aflame in red across her bosom; below were sapphire boy-cut briefs decorated with a smattering of stars, her elbow pads a dazzling blue while her boots are a radiant red. Unlike the opposition, she wore her country’s colors with obvious pride amidst no irony or cynicism and it’s impossible for the patriotic FAWNatics in attendance to not love her for it.
Beside the blonde, the radiant Princess joined her partner on the trek to the ring, keeping even with the Lady’s pace. Liberty was handed a microphone as she ascended the steel steps and both paragons slipped into the ring, The Lady leading the way.
The Announcer beat her to the verbal punch.
“And her opponent, hailing from the Good Ole U.S.A., she stands five feet four inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and twenty-four pounds. She is the Shining Example, the Grappler Next Door and the All American’s All American, she is LADY LIBERTY!”
The National Treasure stood sharply at attention, the woman carrying herself with absolute assurance, an unfaltering confidence that’s spellbinding, with a smile nothing short of heart-melting.
Lady Liberty salutes, then the Girl of Every State USA brings the mic to her lips as she focused on the poorly-named Goodheart.
“You will find, Citizen. The Path of Anarchy is not one that leads through the Forest without peril. You may cast your incantations on the naïve...”
Hughes’ baby-face turned sour.
“But you will find Liberty not only lights the way but scalds the guilty with its righteous flame.”
A satisfied American Idol handed the stick to Merle and, with the Theme Park Monarch glancing apologetically at the Sorceress’ cherub, Greater Good moved to the corner opposite the Glittering Enigma and friend.
The Princess bid farewell through the ropes, dropping to the floor just in time for the chime of the opening bell.
Uncharacteristically grim-faced from the moment she'd clocked Goodheart's disingenuous duds, Liberty maintained her usual sense of honorable decorum until the bell CLANGED, but then she pushed off the buckles and would've charged straight into Violyt's corner if the Princess of Peaksville hadn't eased out and started trailing along the ropes. Posting up once she reached the center of the squared circle, the blonde pivoted on the ball of one foot to ensure Goodheart was always dead ahead. Hands clenched into fists that only grew tighter with each passing second, Lady abruptly barked, “Get over here, Goodheart. You've got a lot to answer for!”
Violyt arched an eyebrow and kept on strolling, though she made no effort to oblige the Do-Gooder's demand. “So, you do know my name. What happened to the 'citizen' shtick you so dutifully perfected? I am a citizen, you know. I've got about seven different drivers licenses' to prove--”
“You're not a citizen.” the blonde interrupted. “You're not even an anarchist, you're a creeping stain of corruption that ruins everything she touches! Not get out here and fight!”
Goodheart's smile had been faint, now it grew much more distinct. “You hear that, Heaven?” she asked the Santa Monica Sweetheart. “Patty Patriot here thinks you've been ruined just because you've got a friend she and Mommy Colleen don't understand. Betcha she'd like you a lot more if you were wearing--” The Glittering Enigma stopped mid-sentence, looked herself up and down and made a show of 'flicking' both thumbs in the waistband of her trunks. “Hey, waaaaaaaaaaaaait a second. What's this really about, Lady Lizardy? Are you mad because I'm going to win the inevitable 'who wore it better' po--”
Liberty rushed the smirking weirdo with a big Haymaker at the ready, unfortunately Goodheart was equally prepared and she laid out on one side, her two-fisted grip on the top rope providing a nice anchor while simultaneously creating a low bridge! The wiffed punch sent Liberty tumbling through empty space, but the Girl from Anytown adjusted mid-spill and managed to catch hold of the middle rope so that she ended up on one knee on the apron instead of flat on the floor.
With both blondes rising simultaneously, a surprised looking Violyt gave Liberty a small golf clap and said, “Hey, you're more nimble than I thought! So are you a secret luchadora like NNNGGHHH!”
The Lady reared back and tagged her with a heavy open-handed SLAP that earned cheers from the crowd and sent Goodheart backpedaling toward the middle of the ring. Eager to take the dangerous influence out of commission as quickly as possible, Liberty leapt onto the top rope in a single bound and dove at her adversary with both hands knotted high overhead in a Double Axehand—“HHHHRRRRRGGHH!”
Violyt didn't actually move out of the way, she only took a single step back and went down on one knee, the small adjustment enough to transform the beautiful high-flying offense into a most painful landing as Liberty THWHUMPED down crotch-first atop that posted knee! The improvised Inverted Atomic Drop brought Liberty's knees together and lowered her head to a point where Goodheart could easily snatch a Front Facelock. She also caught hold of the other blonde's dangling left wrist to ensure she had an extra hook set when she twisted underneath and laid out flat to THWHAM Liberty down on the back of her head and shoulders with a nasty Neckbreaker!
SNAP NECKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QJOFAB1do
The American Idol took it flush and rolled through to a slumped seat, both arms cradling the back of her head while one heel tapped the canvas absently. She started to stand a moment later so Violyt helped her out with a healthy handful of hair. Soon as Liberty was on her feet the Pink Stranger spun around and secured what was really nothing more than a Three Quarters Facelock, but rather than use it to transition to a Snapmare, Cutter or a hundred other moves, Goodheart simply twisted her opponent's head to the side at a sharp angle! Unprepared for such a painfully simple attack, Liberty reached back and tried to pull Vi's hands apart, but Goodheart simply wrenched that much harder and followed up with a quick Hip Check to the tummy for good measure.
“That was a REALLY aggressive response, it was a little disquieting, I'm not going to lie.” the blonde muttered as she continued trying to twist Liberty's head off her shoulders. “I mean really, I would've thought a paragon of virtue like you would be fine with a little harmless cosplay, but--”
“Hhhhrrrggghhh... it's pure mockery and you know it, Goodheart.” Liberty grunted. “You don't believe in the flag, and you sure as hell don't believe in America. Far as I can tell, you don't believe in anyNNNGGGHHH!”
Goodheart pivoted so she was facing Giselle, then dropped to one knee and flipped the Lady onto her butt with a heavy Snapmare. Switching over to a Chinlock the instant her foe touched down, Goodheart set the point of her right knee between the other blonde's shoulders and craaaaaaaaaaaaanked back hard enough to make Liberty groan through clenched teeth. “Therein lies you and Mommy Colleen's problem with me, Lizardy. Neither of you actually have the slightest clue what I believe.” The Pink Stranger wrenched on the Chinlock while grinding her knee into the vulnerable blonde's back. Liberty groaned and pulled at her attacker's laced fingers, but she didn't have much luck and Goodheart's attention was focused on Giselle anyway. “That's the biggest problem with the Greater Good as a whole, really. Not only do they not KNOW what the so-called opposition believes, they don't CARE about what their friends believe, especially if it doesn't support their own narrow worldview. Isn't that right, Princess?”
CHINLOCK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RS3nJsR-tU
Giselle frowned, shook her head 'no'. “You don't know what you're talking about, Violyt. They've been nothing but supportive during all your cra--” She cut herself off mid-sentence, the brunette apparently troubled by her own wording.
Goodheart arched an eyebrow. “My WHAT, Princess? I would call it a delightful willingness to engage you on a level that no one else on this roster has ever even considered and will continue to do so if you ever have the guts to face me by yourself again. But these FRIENDS of yours? They're so damned quick to denigrate everything you stand for. Everything that makes you who you are, they're happy to throw it in the trash if it means making their own lives easiNGH! NGH! NGH!”
Liberty finally slipped clear of Violyt's knee and in doing so was able to gouge a few quick elbows into the other blonde's gut. A heavier shot broke Goodheart's grip entirely so the Lady scrambled to verticality and--“AAAAARRRGGHHH!” Violyt rose with her, palmed the Do-Gooder's head in both hands and GOUGED her fingers into her eyes!
“We we having a conversation, Miss American Pie.” the Glittering Enigma hissed as she jostled the other blonde back and forth until she lost her balance and landed back on her butt.
“Get off her eyes, Violyt!” Merle hurried over to put a stop to the exceptionally rough treatment. “It's rude and you know it!”
Vi blinked at him, then actually released her grip and stood up. “You know what, Merle? It is rude. And we have to be better than those that wish to do us harm.”
“They're not trying to harm anyone!” Giselle countered from her place on the floor. “They're trying to protect everyone from your--”
Goodheart's face, which had been remarkably calm when speaking to the official, transformed into a mask of vicious contempt as she pivoted on one foot and THWHACKED a vicious Basement Super Kick into the back of Liberty's skull! The shot whiplashed the blinded blonde forward without actually knocking her over, so Violyt backed up several steps, then rushed forward and caught hold of LL's noggin just as she left her feet in a low, smooth somersault. The Rolling Neck Snap put more unwanted pressure on the Lady's neck, it also drove her forehead into the canvas with a heavy BWONK that had several floor-seat FAWNatics grimacing in the aftermath.
That combination of moves left the National Treasure stretched out flat on her back, yet Goodheart didn't try for a pin. Didn't even consider one, truth be told. Instead she slid out of the ring and went nose to nose with Giselle, who didn't cede an inch to the Princess of Peaksville.
“You are trying to walk in two worlds and it is exhausting.” Violyt spoke in a tone that belied the disgust on her face. “Your friends don't respect you or what makes you happy. They want you to burn your books. Renounce your faith. Believe in the same boring shit they believe. Angels and flags? No problem there! But castles? Unicorns? MAGIC? Unacceptable.”
“Shut your mouth.” Giselle said softly. “You don't know them. You don't know any--”
“Then do it.” Goodheart actually chested up on the brunette, forcing her back a step or two. “You know how to make this stop. How to make me go away like any fairy tale villain worth her salt. Tell me what THEY want to hear. Tell me you don't bel--”
“VIOLYT, WATCH OUT!”
Heaven shouted a warning from the other side of the ring and Goodheart spun toward the incoming threat, alas it was a heartbeat too late to get clear of Lady Liberty, who dove over the second rope like a red, white and blue missile to catch the Glittering Enigma with a Suicide Dive that BUHWHAMMED her full force into the steel guardrail!
Knees unhinged by the force of the collision, Goodheart slid to her butt and would've stayed there for quite some time if the Pretty Patriot hadn't snatched a handful of hair and hauled her upright. Switching one hand to the back of her foe's pink trunks, Liberty helped herself to a strong grip, then rushed the ring and tossed her burden under the bottom rope. She almost slid in after her, but stopped at the last moment to glance at Giselle.
“She's lying, you know. Colleen and I, we just want you to be happy.”
The protector of the Four-Sided Forest nodded, so Liberty hopped onto the apron and went back to work.
Violyt worked her way to a kneeling position. Unfortunately for the Pink Stranger, her blinking eyes pointed in the opposite direction of Liberty. The blonde bastion unleashed a portion of her righteous indignation, racing forward and THRUSTING a raised knee into the back of Goodheart’s skull.
The Enigma flopped to her chest and face as LL skidded to a stop after the impact.
“I wish I could say these colors never run,” the Girl from Anytown said dejectedly to no one in particular, “but with this wearing them, there might be a first time.”
Talking more into the mat than the nearby Lady, Vi responded with a weak but curt, “Not on me they won’t.”
Goodheart absently rolled to her back and began rising to a seat, but the Pretty Patriot was ready and sent her foe back to horizontal with a Soccer Kick to the chin.
Seamlessly, Liberty continued through the perfectly-placed kick. She charged to the ropes beyond, rebounding into an acrobatic cartwheel that ended with a double Leg Drop across the splayed Violyt, one muscular leg smashing across her fellow blonde’s chest, the other her throat.
The Princess of Peaksville, surely some ‘pretend city’ more likely an anarchist compound, spasmed, grasping at her neck. With the Lady’s tanned lower limbs draping across Goodheart, Merle dropped to hands and knees and slapped the canvas for a…
ONE…
Violyt shoved the stems off, rolling away, groaning and gasping, her windpipe trying to expand back to its normal size. Liberty kipped to her feet and put a hand to an ear. The FAWNatics roared in response.
“Now that’s the noise I want to hear. Not the BS from this ne’er do well.”
“You hear that,” Violyt croaked, her gaze set upon the Theme Park Monarch. “This paragon of virtue doesn’t want me to have freedom of speech. They won’t want you to have it either.”
“I have it,” Giselle replied, “but I use it with responsibility.”
“Enough debate,” the National Treasure interjected. “You may not be here to fight, but I am.”
The flaxen-haired hardbody grabbed a wrist and yanked Goodheart to her feet. Quickly transitioning to an Irish Whip, Liberty flung the Red, White and Blue Stranger across the canvas with as much energy as she could muster. Violyt ZOOMED to the far buckles, spinning into a titanic back-first collision that sent Goodheart to her backside, legs extended in front of her as she leaned against the bottom buckle.
The Pretty Patriot didn't need an engraved invitation. She’s an American in motion, racing toward her target and leaping into a Double Knee Strike, the bony joints RAMMING into Violyt’s shoulders, rocking the Glittering Enigma into a silent stupor.
DOUBLE KNEE STRIKE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCX3AbkUvkE
Liberty wasn't done with her corner retribution. With Giselle close below, The Lady sank her nails into Violyt’s scalp to keep her foe’s head steady and THUMPED in a couple more direct knee strikes, these to Goodheart’s chin that put the blonde somewhere close to Dream Street.
In the corner of the Sorceress, a worried Hughes tried to get a rhythmic clap going for her friend but found very few takers.
Across the way, Liberty grabbed both ankles and dragged the demented dishrag to the middle of the ring. With the former indie darling in place, Liberty turned and sprinted to the ropes. She rebounded at full speed, skipped over her adversary, and vaulted into the opposite set of cables, landing on the middle strand while using her hands to steady on the top for a majestic springboard Merica-sault to crush the iniquity from her vile opponent.
There was but one problem with the plan. Violyt’s not so helpless as she led to believe.
Getting her knees up, Vi skewered the descending Liberty’s tanned tummy and LL rolled away a retching wreck. Heaven was alone in pumping her fist at the sight while Giselle ran fingers through her cascading dark locks, the happy ending upended by the Sorceress trying to claim her Four-Sided Forest.
Goodheart took a moment to gather her breath. She rolled to her chest and, pointed toward the Disney-adjacent royalty, propped her chin in the ‘V’ of her joined palms. The Enigma shrugged.
“We can make beautiful music together,” Goodheart assured Giselle. “Much more pleasing than the John Philip Sousa crap this flag-draped phony prefers.”
The brunette ignored Violyt as best she could, encouraging her partner in the Greater Good to rise. Liberty manages, though she remained slightly doubled from her roiling abdomen.
Shaking her noggin, the Glittering Enigma pushed to her feet and spun into a charge of the Pretty Patriot, diving into a Dropkick to her fellow blonde’s knee that has the American Idol genuflecting in front of a rising Vi. Goodheart tugged Liberty up to a stooped stance, slipping beside her. The hunched Stranger scooped up her foe’s near leg, dropping it over the back of her neck, and LAUNCHED Liberty up and over, splattering the Girl from Anytown USA flat on her chest and flawless features with a Backdrop Facebuster.
BACKDROP FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIw1HNXKvjA
Violyt moved next to the face-down, splayed Liberty and showed off some of the artwork making her the most feared mercenary on the indie circuit for years, first raking her nails down Liberty’s back, leaving her own set of red stripes on the flag-wearing fake.
Goodheart then went lower, slipping her fingers under both sets of leg-holes of The Lady’s gear and YANKING UP, wedging the spandex HIGH into the Pretty Patriot’s crotch and crack. Liberty’s pelvis rose reflexively as she squeaked in anguish.
Violyt turned to an accusatory look from Merle.
“What? Just trying to raise the flag.”
The ref shook his head, pleading with Violyt to keep this a wrestling match, but Goodheart had a different show in mind for both Heaven and the Theme Park Monarch.
A forward-facing Violyt mounted Liberty’s lower back and sank her left set of digits into the blonde bastion’s golden locks. Goodheart tugged The Lady into a wicked spinal arch, then reached around and wrenched at Liberty’s beak, causing the baby blues of the Girl from Anytown to water.
After a dozen seconds of playtime, apparently done trying to rip her adversary’s nose from her face, Violyt raked a set of nails across the tear-filled azure pools, blinding Lady Liberty, the paragon screeching in agony, rubbing furiously at her burning peepers.
Using her grip on Liberty’s tousled mane, Vi THUNKED her foe’s face into the deck, then collected fishhooks on either side of The Lady’s lips to pull back, lifting the patriot’s noggin of the deck with only her curled digits, Liberty sporting a contorted Joker-esque rictus. Both blondes stared with very different expressions at a troubled Giselle.
“I’ll do ANYTHING for my friends. Will they?” Violyt asked.
“I wouldn’t want them to do what you do, Sorceress.”
“In defense of the Four-Sided Forest, a little fear can go a long way.”
Goodheart released her hooks and, this time with both hands, THUMPED Liberty’s forehead into the thinly-sheathed floorboards.
The Pink Stranger peeled what’s left of Liberty off the deck as she rose and led the staggering, stunned patriot to a neutral corner. She lifted the slack Lady off the mat like a babe in her arms, behind the knees and neck, then draped her as if on an altar across the middle ropes on either side.
With the Girl from Anytown ready for sacrifice, Goodheart climbed to a kneeling position on the top cables and thrust herself off to impale the helpless LL with a Turnbuckle Meteora, the carcass of Liberty ending stacked in the ropes of the corner.
TURNBUCKLE METEORA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Vxjh8BtMw
Violyt displayed the Greater Good weakness of both mind and spirit to the Princess, motioning to the tawny-skinned pile of rubble.
“You’re meant for more than this.”
Giselle made a concentrated effort to keep her eyes on Violyt and not the destruction she'd so freshly wrought. “That may be so, Sorceress.” she said calmly. “But I'm in charge of my destiny. Not you.”
“EXACTLY!” Goodheart put her fingers to her temples and jerked them away with a little 'mind blown' exploding noise. “YOU'RE in charge of the Four-Sided Forest, Princess. Not the arrogant angel or the prissy propagandist. They're not even visitors, they're interlopers. Personified encroachment from a world that lost its sense of wonder a loooooooooooong time ago. They want to drag you kicking and screaming from this place so you can join them in drib-drab humdrum Backrooms hellscape they call the real world. And do you know why, Princess?”
Goodheart's piercing green eyes were locked on Giselle's darker set. She wanted desperately to look away or maybe just blinking would break the blonde's hold on her, but she couldn't seem to do anything but inquire about an answer. “Wh--”
“Leave her alone, you poisonous lunatic.” Lady Liberty had made it to all fours, though one arm was currently strapped tight across her midsection in a valiant effort to return her vital organs to their original alignment. “Giselle's doing just fine, she doesn't need any of your corrosive nonsense rotting her braNNNNGGGGGHHH!”
The normally cheery Enigma rushed forward with a furious snarl and went down on her butt to THWHACK both heels into the side of Liberty's skull!
“Stop interrupting! Goodheart hissed at LL as she scrambled to her feet. “Better yet, why don't you try doing something productive for a change?”
Quite happy to help the Lady discover her new purpose despite their current difference of opinion, Vi scraped her off the canvas with a double handful of hair, then slipped one arm through her legs and another over one shoulder so she could scoop the National Treasure and THUMP her spine-first against the second turnbuckle. Liberty grunted and tried to wriggle free, but Goodheart used a well-placed shoulder to keep her burden in place while she deftly trapped the Lady's lower legs in place beneath the top turnbuckle.
“Perfect!” Goodheart said with an appraising smile as she took a step back to admire her handiwork. “Just like that, I've repurposed an obnoxious, meddling asshole into a flagpole!” She paused, touched her chin thoughtfully. “Of course now the colors are technically upside down and that's not good, maybe I should--” The Glittering Enigma broke off, bumped the heel of one palm against her forehead. “DUH! I fucking came dressed for this! How could I forget?” Without waiting for an answer, the blonde grabbed hold of the top rope and climbed into a mount on the second strand, unfortunately for Liberty the Princess of Peaksville made a point of planting the heel of her other foot squarely in the Do-Gooder's crotch!
“AAARRRHHHHHHH!” Lady shuddered from stem to stern as Goodheart aggressively ground her boot back and forth against the blonde's defenseless undercarriage.
Paying no attention to the wailing from the base of her flagpole, Violyt raised her left hand high and placed it over her heart. “Repeat after me.” she told the jeering FAWNatics. “Better yet, make up your own words, I'm not some conformist asshole.” Goodheart cleared her throat, then proclaimed, “I am an anomaly! I am not like you, you, or especially you! What you call sickness, I call inspiration! Your disgust thrills me! Your concern is ambrosia! And your fear?” Violyt paused to point a middle finger at Merle, who had the temerity to interrupt her pledge to ask for a rope break, of all things. Smiling wider than ever as Liberty crunched up to better scrabble at her grinding heel, Goodheart took a deep breath and finished, “God help me, I love it.”
Recitation complete, she hopped back and dropped to the mat while also THUMPING a short Double Axehandle into the other blonde's crotch! Lady Liberty jolted again, but Violyt had thoroughly knotted her stems and she remained hung up after the worst of the shivers subsided.
“All right Violyt, that's more than enough!” Merle warned in his most convincing 'stern' voice. Get her out of the corner now or I'll--”
The Princess of Peaksville knelt, grabbed Liberty by the hair and hoisted her up until she was almost seated on the middle turnbuck--“NNNNGGGGHHHH!” Goodheart cupped her chin in both hands, hopped up and braced her knees between the Lady's shoulders to THWHUMP all the breath from her body with a gorgeous Lungblower!
CORNER HUNG LUNGBLOWER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UnPwezvDOA
Liberty bounced on impact without yet tumbling clear of the Tree of Woe, which meant Goodheart could shift her feet up against the other blonde's back and kick off hard enough to shoot her back to that slumped seat for the second time in the span of heartbeats. Popping to her feet while LL hooked an arm over the top rope, Violyt turned around and reached over her right shoulder with both hands so she could clasp the chin and—'Ooooooooooooooooohhh!' from the FAWNatics when Goodheart dropped to her butt to THUNK the base of Liberty's skull against the point of her shoulder with a vile Hangman's Neckbreaker that finally succeeded in jolting her blonde loose from the sturdy snare.
CORNER HUNG HANGMAN'S NECKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-7gK2WoXE
The Lady collapsed into an unseemly tangle of limbs beside Violyt and might've stayed there for quite some time if the American Psycho hadn't grabbed hold at both wrists and draaaaaaaaaaaaaaagged her out to the center of the squared circle. Once there she relinquished her hooks and dropped down in a rude north-south arrangement that treated Liberty to a faceful of tummy even as Goodheart hooked a leg for the...
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Liberty shifted hard to one side, spilling Violyt off her perch with a half second to spare. The Glittering Enigma nodded thoughtfully, then sidled around so she was seated in close on the other blonde's left side. From there she took possession of LL's right wrist and pulled it backward so the Do-Gooder's forearm was wedged beneath her armpit. Immediately thereafter she reached over with her left hand to grip Liberty's right shoulder while deftly threading her right arm between forearm and bicep so she could grip her own left forearm to craaaaaaaaaaaaaaank back on a grounded version of the traditional Crossface Chickenwing!
“Go on Lizardy, tell the Princess you've been a bad friend.” Goodheart murmured as she went about trying to jerk her opponent's arm out of socket. “Tell her about all the conversations you've had with Mommy Colleen about how neither of you are convinced she's capable of dealing with me on her own--”
“THAT'S A LIE!” Liberty bellowed as she fought to get a knee braced against the mat. “She can kick your behind in a wrestling match no problem, but you're not here to wrestle! You're just an outside agitator! All you want to do is take the thing she values most and poison it for your own NGH! NGH! NGH!” Goodheart threw her left leg over top of the Pretty Patriot's noggin in what could've been a pretty effective Headscissors if she hadn't immediately brought her calf down like a bludgeon, Goodheart just THWHAPPING her calf against the side of Liberty's head over and over again.
GROUNDED CHICKENWING:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UI6zSeSd8U
Violyt made no demand of surrender, but the undefended pounding was so unpleasant to watch that Merle dropped to one knee and asked, “What do you say, Liberty? Do you want to give it up? If you need to submit just--”
“NO!” the Lady continued bicycling her legs against the mat to make slow, awkward progress toward the ropes.
“Now ask her if she's a bad friend.” Goodheart said to the zebra. “I'm trying to gauge her self awareness. Or lack there--”
“How would you even know?” Liberty grunted. “You only have people too foolish to recognize the snake oil you're sellHHHHRRRGGGGGGHHHH!”
Violyt shifted her left foot so it was set against Liberty's cheek and began to grrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiind like she was crushing a stubborn insect. “Let's get one thing straight.” Goodheart's voice was ice cold now. “You can talk to me however you want, but if you spout that bullshit about Heaven in my presence, I'll ruin you. Got that, bitcWHOAAAH!”
Liberty finally got a good angle for her right knee and used it to push off the mat, the Girl from Anytown rolling onto her back with Goodheart trapped between her and the canvas in an awkward pinning predicament good for...
ONE...
TWO...
Violyt let go and bucked the other blonde clear to keep the match going despite the disappointed boos of the FAWNatics. Scrambling to verticality a little ahead of the Red, White, & Blue Bomber, Goodheart grabbed a double handful of hair and hauled the knock-kneed blonde up alongsi—Liberty did some hair-pulling of her own, all the better to wedge the crown of her head beneath the point of the weirdo's chin. Then she went up on tiptoes and dropped to her knees to THUNK Goodheart with a Jawbreaker!
Goodheart rocked back on her heels without stumbling out of reach, so LL took hold of one wrist and hurled her at the strands with an Irish Wh—NO! The blonde dug in her heels and yanked Vi back the way she'd came! Leaning to the right so she could wrap both arms around Goodheart's hips and spin her around a gorgeous two-hundred and seventy degree arc that got decidedly uglier when she dropped to one knee and THWHUMPED the Pink Stranger's spine against her posted thigh! The Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker sent Goodheart bouncing off Liberty's thigh and the Lady wasted no time in collecting both legs to bundle them in a Back Press good for...
TILT-A-WHIRL BACKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOyQinVX9D4
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Violyt kicked out with a whisper to spare and though her continued defiance brought expected boos from the crowd, Liberty was more startled by what she didn't hear, namely any support from Giselle. Breathing hard, she glanced in that direction frowned when she saw the brunette watching her with wide, hurt eyes.
“Do you and Colleen really think I can't handle this on my own?”
“Of course not!” Liberty blurted. “It's just we're concerned about you getting in over your--” she trailed off as Giselle shook her head in disappointment. Without really thinking about it she turned her attention Heaven Hughes who only frowned before turning her attention to the Glittering Enigma.
“C'mon Violyt!” she called while pounding both palms against the apron. “You got this!”
Goodheart, never one to turn down a chance to ‘Hulk Up’, used the words as inspiration. She lifted her right arm. It started to shake with an ethereal energy. The Pink Stranger, acting even stranger than usual, pushed to one knee where Liberty NAILED her between the shoulderblades with a Double Axhandle.
Violyt raised both arms in bicep poses and flexed her back toward the wide-eyed Lady.
Goodheart ascended toward full vertical and the Red, White and Blue Bomber threw a Forearm Shiver into the back of Violyt’s neck. But The Enigma shrugged it off, adrenaline flowing by the gallon through her system.
Eyes wild, she turned and waggled an index finger at the Pretty Patriot, Liberty swallowing hard, unsure what’s going on and if it will soon involve the nutcase doubling in size and turning green.
With Heaven overjoyed and ebullient, Violyt pointed Liberty to the far ropes and the Girl from Anytown takes her up on the invitation. The flaxen-haired hardbody raced to the ropes and rebounded, wound up and delivered the Patriot Missile, a running American Uppercut that CRAAACKED into Violyt’s chin and laid Goodheart out in a sprawl.
PATRIOT MISSILE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kscg08GgGVM
The Pink Stranger stared blankly up at the USAmazing Icon, emerald eyes crossing, so much so one might think little birdies floated in her vision from the dazed glaze.
“Ain’t no adrenaline ever been pumped by a gland that beats some good ole Yankee spirit and sweat,” Liberty informed.
LL dragged a gobsmacked Violyt several feet out from Goodheart’s corner and laid her just so. Liberty strode back to the buckles and climbed to the top over a dejected Hughes. The babyfaced blonde gazed at Liberty as The Lady climbed to the top. Some might claim Heaven flinched in the direction of the Greater Good’s National Treasure, but grounded Hughes remained.
The American Idol looked out on her target and the roaring FAWNatics but also noticed Giselle had packed her tiara and was headed up the ramp. Liberty scarcely believed her eyes. Becoming angry, either at the Princess or at the Enigma for steering the Theme Park Monarch into a dark place OR both, the blonde paragon leapt into the stratosphere and tumbled through a full 450 degrees before SPLASHING her chiseled abdomen across Violyt’s midriff.
450 SPLASH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzFUX-BPrbQ
A huge burst of an exhalation pushed through Goodheart’s lips as she jackknifed under the aerial assault. Already perfectly placed for her Crossbody pin, Liberty hooked a raised leg and stacked the Glittering Enigma on her shoulders for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOO!
Heaven hopped into the air in worry, but Goodheart threw a shoulder up as Merle’s palm stopped a few inches from ending the match.
The Lady rose to her knees, not to glance at the official’s two raised fingers but to watch as the Princess exited backstage to find solace or answers or who could say?
Liberty shook her head and turned her attention back to a wheezing, groaning Goodheart. There was still a job to do and, if she did it well enough, the lunatic would know better than to enter Giselle’s Four-Sided Forest ever again.
Liberty latched onto a shoulder and elbow and pulled Violyt up as she rose, Goodheart slumping in the clutches of the National Treasure. The blonde hardbody tossed Vi into the ropes from short range. Without enough time to turn into the cables, the Pink Stranger hit them chest-first and backpedaled into Liberty’s authority.
Wrapping her tawny guns around the roiling tummy of the Enigma while dipping her head under Violyt’s left arm, LL sent Goodheart flipping up and over. Liberty twisted as she heaved, able to force the so-called Sorceress into a face-first hardcore collision with the canvas courtesy her signature Red Glare.
RED GLARE @ 00:06
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEs8Dgtf-C8
Everyone but Heaven thoroughly enjoyed the catastrophic landing, Violyt bouncing to a shaky hands and knees from the power of the impact. She could manage little but stare at the deck beneath her and perhaps wonder why the country’s most self-righteous citizen hadn't laid the wood to her further.
Instead, Liberty kipped to her feet to a huge ovation from her partisan supporters and led them in a rhythmic clap. Having lost her Greater Good cohort for the evening, she could still rely on the good people of Central Florida to be sensible and appreciate how important it is to FAWN and the country to put down a rabid dog like Goodheart.
Having completed her cheerleading, the Girl from Anytown approached a staggered and stooped Violyt from her six. Liberty snatched her foe’s arms then twists so the lowered head of the Enigma is pressed to her back. No simple Unprettier would this be. No. Liberty is ready to Light the Torch and put the Pink Stranger on the first train back to Peaksville.
But before Liberty could send Violyt into her spinning wheel of misfortune, Goodheart showed she still has the sense and lack of fair play to split the other blonde's tawny wickets with a punt to the privates that short circuited the Pretty Patriot’s plans.
With the crowd first groaning then bitterly booing the underhanded tactics of the Stranger, even Heaven noticeably taken aback by the depths her mentor just reached, Liberty stood frozen, knees knocking, her features twisted in agony, hands dropping to her undercarriage.
Behind her, Goodheart sweeps soaked golden strands off her face and glanced at her protégé.
“Better you learn now,” she says. “When you’re facing a bytch like this, the ends justify the means. And I’m ending this Greater Evil.”
Violyt surged to the ropes in front of the petrified patriot. She hopped to the middle rope, seemingly reborn in an instant. Grabbing the top strand for balance, she springboarded in a 180 and leapt to Liberty, her left arm encircling the dipped braincase of the golden-maned hardbody. Goodheart let gravity do the rest as she laid out and PLANTED the American Idol’s forehead into the mat with a brutal Diving DDT.
DIVING DDT @ 00:40
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9uQ6_E520
Liberty flopped in a spasm to her back after the blow, limbs ending in a wide spreadeagle. The Sorceress mounted and pressed tight in a Lateral Press, hooking the far leg for good measure, and picking up the pin that would create a foothold in the Four-Sided Forest with the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOO!
Apparently not only did these colors not run, they also didn’t fade, as The Lady’s body resuscitated, seemingly from the dead, a shoulder pushed a few inches off the canvas.
On the sidelines, Heaven somehow seemed excited and disappointed at once.
Inside, there was momentary consternation from Goodheart, then calm.
“Never said sanctimonious dullards couldn’t be tough. Particularly their heads.”
Violyt scraped what little was left of Liberty off the deck as she rose and backed the bullied National Treasure into the set of buckles above Heaven.
“Keep her here. I’ll be back.”
Goodheart strode to the far corner, a torn Hughes left to decide whether she’ll hook an arm around each leg to keep the flagging patriot in place for whatever the Glittering Enigma had in store for Liberty’s Swelter Swan Song.
Heaven instinctively reached for Liberty's red boots almost at once, then drew back at the last moment, her hands clenching into conflicted fists as she struggled with the demand. After a moment she reached for the blonde's shins again only to grab the bottom rope instead. “C'mon Vi!” she called over the din of the FAWNatics. “You got this!”
THWHACK! Indeed Goodheart did have it, no sooner had the words left Hughes' mouth did the Princess of Peaksville return in a pastel blur, her right leg whipping up at a near perfect forty-five degree angle to smash a Yakuza Kick off the Lady's cheek! Liberty's knees gave out and she dropped to her butt with both hands sitting limp in her lap. As for Goodheart she'd made tracks after the kick landed, the blonde wheeling around on her heel to run along the ropes just to turn back the instant she reached the next corn--THAWHACK! Violyt put her foe's head on a swivel with a second Yakuza Kick, one that saw the Do-Gooder's face run up the full length of Goodheart's gam as the limb ended up draped over the bottom rope.
CORNER YAKUZA KICK & FACE WASH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=biSo-OSeOnQ
Arms hooked over the second strand to keep her suspended in relative comfort, Violyt gave Heaven an appraising look and asked, “What'd I tell you, cherub?”
“You went low on her, Violyt. Then you dropped her right on her head. She wasn't going anywhere and even if she had... I can't help you like that.”
The Glittering Enigma looked stern before breaking into an off-kilter smile. “Good. Blind loyalty is a bad thing, cherub. Maybe you're still safe from Mommy Colleen and this one.” She patted the Lady's head, snatched a big 'ol handful of hair and extracted herself from the ropes so she could do the same for the other blonde. Dragging a penitent Liberty out into the deep water at center, Violyt wedged the Pretty Patriot's head between her thighs, then wrapped both arms around her waist and muscled the woozy warrior into a seat on her should—NO! Lady Liberty floated over and tumbled down Violyt's back, the National Treasure hooking her legs under Goodheart's arms to rip her loose from her moorings and stack her up on her shoulders in a Sunset Flip good for...
ONE...
TWO...
THRNOOOO!
Violyt somersaulted to boot-leather to escape the predicament and immediately rushed forward with a Toe Kick aimed at the sternum of the rising batt—raucous cheers from the capacity crowd when Liberty grabbed the Pink Stranger's ankle in both hands and clambered to her feet! Halving the grip to engage in a little nostalgia of her own, Liberty waggled a finger 'no, no, no!' in Goodheart's face before she tossed the captured foot aside with enough force to spin the weirdo around in a full circle! The Lady's Toe Kick didn't miss and she reeled Goodheart into a Standing Headscissors as soon as her noggin drew within reach. A sturdy Waistlock followed as cheers rang out all over arena when Liberty spun Violyt onto her shoulders and immediately dropped to a seat to THAWHAM her burden into the deck with a huge Sit-Out Powerbomb! Calves hooked over the other blonde's biceps, Lady Liberty pressed in close to the agitator's upturned haunches while the ref counted...
SIT-OUT POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6asW8167n8
ONE...
TWO...
THRENOOOOOOOO!
The Glittering Enigma twitched a shoulder up at the last possible instant, an escape that soured the crowd until Liberty scrambled to her feet and pointed toward the nearest corner. “This madness ends now!” she promised all the good citizens while slapping her right elbow en route to the turnbuckles. “Liberty's torch dispels the gloom of wickedness and fear and on the rare occasion when that's not enough... her elbow is more than up to the task!”
Bolstered by a fresh wave of support, the American Idol slipped through the ropes and quickly ascended to the high rent district. She'd just rose to her full height when a commotion from the crowd drew her attention. Her first glance was in Heaven's direction, but the Santa Monica Sweetheart was looking up the ramp with the rest of the floor-seat FAWNatics. It was Giselle, sans tiara and scepter and looking far graver than usual, but she was moving toward the squared circle with purpose. Apparently the bastion of sweetness and light hadn't felt right about leaving her friend to a possible two on one beatdown.
Catching the Lady's eye as she closed on the ring, the Princess said, “Finish this, Liberty. Finish this, because I don't know if I can.”
Liberty nodded, offered her friend a salute, then stood up and turned her attention to Goodheart, who was still sprawled on the deck in the aftermath of the Powerbomb. “This ends now, citizen.” The Lady leapt out into the void, her right elbow crooked up beside her ear to better bring the Light of Liberty blazing down on—Violyt rolled out of the way, leaving her flaxen-haired foe to THAWHAM down full force on the vacant canvas!
The momentum behind that catastrophic miss actually bounced Liberty to her feet, though her knees were knocking and her right arm was held tight against her chest. Understandably preoccupied with trying to will the pain away, she didn't even realize Goodheart was upright until the Pink Stranger lurched up and drilled a Headbutt against the bridge of her nose! Liberty's knees almost gave out but Vi kept her upright by wrapping both arms around the other wrestler's waist. From there she boosted her up and deftly angled the Lady's legs around her hips to keep her suitably cradled for the time it took her to thread her left arm over the Do-Gooder's right should—Goodheart went up on her toes and snapped backward to PLANT the Pretty Patriot flat on her face with Cradled Reverse STO she called Happy Thoughts!
HAPPY THOUGHTS @ 5:10
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ula_ftLmtdA
Liberty bounced just enough to slop onto her back with both arms splayed overhead, but there wasn't much after that save for the rise and fall of her chest. Appalled by the swift reversal of fortune, Giselle rushed the rest of the way to the ring and pounded the apron as hard as she could. “Shake it off, Liberty! You've got this, we're all with--”
'You' died before it reached her lips because Goodheart plunged her hands into the Do-Gooder's battle damp hair and hauled her upright just to double her over with a Toe Kick to the gut. Pivoting to face the Theme Park Monarch as soon as she'd thrust Liberty's noggin between her thighs, the Glittering Enigma tipped a wink to the brunette, then bent down and wrapped her arms around the Lady's midsection. Another lift and spin, but no dramatic escape now, the Girl from Anytown slumped forward in her perch until—Vi slung her foe forward and down while simultaneously dropping backward, the blonde bringing both knees up against her chest so that the National Treasure THWHUMPED down spine-first atop those posted joints!
UNICORNS & RAINBOWS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3ZGcBwfC8
Shunted somewhere over the rainbow by this awful encounter with Unicorns & Rainbows, Lady Liberty slid off those impaling knees in stupefied slow motion to finish stacked on her shoulders in a self-imposed Matchbook that became a lot less so when Goodheart wedged her shoulders into the pits of the other blonde's knees, all the better to keep her glued in place while the Princess of Peaksville locked eyes with the Protector of the Four-Sided Forest and the referee counted...
ONE...
TWO...
THREE!
Violyt leaned back on her haunches and tossed a little puff of red, white, and blue glitter into the air while the Announcer addressed the jeering crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall... VIOLYT GOODHEART!”
Merle came over and offered Goodheart his hand, but she shooed him away in favor of drawing Liberty into a slumped seat in her lap. Curling her left arm across Liberty's chest, Violyt patted the Lady's right shoulder and snuggled in against the defeated blonde's cheek, all while keeping her eyes on Giselle. “Your friends can't help you, Princess.” she said softly. “They can't help because they don't understand. And even if they did, they couldn't appreciate the magnitude of what this means to you. But you understand them, oddly enough. You sympathize with their plight even when it's clear they think you're just a child with an overactive imagin--”
“Silence your tongue, Sorceress.” Giselle ordered in a voice that would brook no insolence. “You know not of what you spe--” The Princess grabbed hold of the middle rope but otherwise fell silent when the Pink Stranger reached her free hand into her boot and pulled out the cake fork that'd caused so much trouble when she haunted the indies.
Cupping the other blonde's throat in her left hand, Goodheart touched the tines of the fork to Liberty's forehead and pressed until her prey began to grimace. “Hey, whoa Vi! Hold on now!” Heaven scrambled into the ring and hurried over to the other blonde's side. “There's no need for that, don't--”
“I told you the road would only get weirder, Hughes.” Violyt sounded remarkably calm for someone with a bit of silverware to another human's head. “I also told you I believe in free will so you can do whatever you want, just know that you'll have to live with whatever choice you--”
“Leave her alone.” Giselle interrupted. “You should be proud of her for showing some consideration to a vulnerable enemy. That's better than you think of Colleen and Liberty. Better than you think of most people, I imagine.”
“That's because she's a good person, Princess. Hughes here thinks everyone can be saved, not just the easy ones. She'll do great things someday, but this story isn't about her. It's about you. And what you're going to do to save poor little Libby and Mommy Colleen from the likes of me. Can you, though? That'd require some hard choices and you can't even stand up to these--”
“I hereby challenge you to trial by combat.” Giselle told the blonde in her most regal tone.
Violyt's eyes lit up. “Do you? The fair princess actually deigns to emerge from her castle to take up arms against the threat that so humiliated her in their first encounter?”
“She does.” the Princess agreed. “I challenge you for complete control of the Four-Sided Forest during our most sacred festival... The 'Mania of Fawns.”
“A most worthy date indeed. But what of the venue? No mere canvas is suitable for what I have in mind for you, Princess.”
Giselle was silent for several seconds. Eventually she said, “I see a tall, unforgiving cage of steel. One that allows you all the tricks and treachery your vile magics can conceive. One that will allow me to do unto you as you have done unto so many others.”
Violyt offered her a smile like charring paper. “Such a place requires the steepest of sacrifices, Princess. The Patriot seems unwilling to meet such a toll, as does your vaunted California Angel. Are you willing to pay the Crimson Price?”
A long moment of hesitation before Giselle nodded. “I'll pay any price to keep the Four-Sided Forest safe.” she promised. “But know this, Sorceress. Any price I pay, you'll pay double.”
Far from concerned, Goodheart looked elated. “Do you swear?” she murmured.
“By all the stars of heaven.” Giselle confirmed.
“Then I accept.” Violyt sighed in obvious delight. “At the Mania of Fawns we'll see if you truly believe in magic... or if you'll renounce it to save your own skin.”
Giselle said nothing so Goodheart planted a smooch on Liberty's temple and shoved her away. Rolling under the bottom rope even as Giselle climbed onto the apron, the Pink Stranger hopped over the guardrail and disappeared, leaving the Princess to tend to her vulnerable friend while a concerned Heaven Hughes pondered her next move on this dark, confusing road she'd chosen.