Chapter Three: 19-0

Hobbs End Washington, Barron Community Center…



“Hey Daph, I got good news!” Randall Creighton called out as he pushed into the small gym all his wrestlers used when they ran shows out of Hobbs End. At this time of the morning it was deserted, save for a lissome brunette putting in some serious work at the elliptical.



Looking up from her workout without actually slowing down, she craned a look over one shoulder and asked, “You found number twenty?”



Randal, who owned Evergreen State Pro Wrestling and served as its senior referee, nodded an affirmative. “Yeah, she just got into town last night. I think you and she are gonna tear the house down.”



The brunette on the elliptical smiled, lowered her head and burned through the last minute of her routine before she stopped pedaling and leaned back with a satisfied sigh. After a long sip from her water bottle and scrub from her towel, she climbed off the machine and made for the promoter. “She just got into town last night? So you DID get someone I haven’t faced before? Someone from outside the state?”



The promoter grinned, pleased to see the interest from his top (and to be honest, only) female talent. “Better. She’s all the way from the east coast, somewhere in New England, I think. Relatively new on the scene, but she’s been getting great reviews from the outfits she’s done business with out there. Works under a mask, sort of a mysterious evil genius gimmick. Goes by the name of Cipher.”



Daphne Dufresne, known to her small but vocal fan base as the Green Queen and by most of her coworkers as a colossally talented, prima donna pain in the ass, furrowed her brow as she tried to place the name. After a moment she shook her head and said, “Never heard of her. You sure she’s good enough to hang with me for half an hour?”



Creighton’s smile threatened to take over his face. He knew she’d react like this, which was why he’d held back this little tidbit. “I don’t know, she hung a loss on Rita Carrick last month. Is that good enough for you?”



Daphne straightened up, suddenly paying much more attention. “No shyt, really? Her grin matched his own and the competitive gleam in her eye was practically blinding. Understandable when you knew that Daph had been trying to arrange a match between herself and the Pitbull for the better part of a year. Getting a chance to take down the woman who’d defeated Rita Carrick would be an excellent get, especially as she tried to hit a milestone in her burgeoning career. As if she’d read his mind, Daphne asked, “She knows the score, right? I’ll give her plenty of offense, make sure she looks like a threat, then rally in the last few minutes and plant her center of the ring to send the fans home happy. I know I told you I wanted steeper competition and I do, but twenty wins in a row is a big deal AND I’ve heard rumors of a FAWN talent scout in town for this show. Have you heard anything about that?”



Give Randal credit, the man kept a straight face when he answered. “News to me. But if there is someone here, I’m sure you’ll make a great impression.”



“I know I will.” Dufresne answered sharply. “I just don’t need some chick going into business for herself when I’m trying to write my ticket out of here. No offense, Randall. You’ve been good to me since day one, but there’s just not enough women’s wrestling in this part of the country. I want to take down the best in the world and that means I gotta go to Chicago or Orlando and that means I need to have a great match every time I go out there..”



Randall Creighton, who damned well knew he would catch hell (and possibly a slap or two) if Dufresne knew she’d have to win tonight’s match strictly on her own merits, swatted her on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Daph. She knows tonight’s all about making you look good, so go out there, put on a show and prove to everyone that you’re ready for the big leagues.”



Daphne Dufresne slung her towel across her shoulders and nodded. “I know I am, Randall. Just as long as she knows it too. I’m just about done wasting away in community center gyms.” She patted him on the back and started toward the door. “Thanks for finding someone new, Randall. If I’m on my way out the door, I want to leave these people with something they won’t soon forget.”



He didn’t answer until she was out of the room. “Me too, Daph. Me too.”



********



“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for coming out to ESPW’s FALL BRAWL!” the Announcer said to the small, but packed house. “It is now time for our Main Event! Introducing first, making her debut, she hails from the darkest corners of your warped little minds, standing at five feet four inches tall, she weighs in tonight at one hundred and twenty-five pounds, she is the inscrutable, the unbreakable, CIPHER!”



‘Heavy is the Head’ pounded through the speakers, prompting a solid round of boos from the ESPW’s regulars. Though they’d never laid eyes on Cipher before, they knew anyone opposing their heroine had to be a villainess of the highest order and they welcomed her accordingly. Their derision grew all the louder when the curtain flitted open and the woman in question stepped onto the small stage. Impressed by the noise summoned for her arrival, the Maiden of Mystery swept a glance across the crowd and found herself sadly lacking any questions worthy of her intellect. Hoping that her adversary for the evening would prove more useful in that regard, she eased down the ramp and headed for the squared circle.



For her first (and presumably only) match in ESPW, the fireplug brunette wore a black lucha mask that covered everything save her mouth and her hair. Below was a one-piece done in black & white like a chessboard. Cut high on the hips and low in the back, it showed off her shoulders, glutes and thighs to great effect. Her elbow and knee pads were matte black (the latter emblazoned with blood red question marks) while her boots were the same black & white as her one-piece.



Paying the good people of Hobbs End all the attention they deserved, which was to say, absolutely none, Cipher climbed the steel steps, dipped between the ropes and promptly took the microphone from the Announcer. Silencing her anthem with a gesture, the masked woman raised the mic and said, “I’ve heard it told that this sad little hamlet is home to a woman who calls herself the Green Queen. It is also my understanding that this so called queen is on something of a winning streak, nineteen straight victories I believe?”



“YOU’RE GONNA MAKE IT TWENTY, SWEETIE!” shouted someone from near the back.



Emily turned in that direction. “Don’t speak unless spoken to, troglodyte. As I was about to say, my name is Cipher, but tonight you can call me Spoiler because I am going to embarrass this little whelp of yours in honor of all the real royalty she’s defrauding with her every breath. So calm your nerves and steady your pounding heart, little queen. Your audience with the unanswerable question starts right now.”



Resuming his duties once he retrieved the mic from Cipher, the Announcer called, “And introducing her opponent! Hailing from Seattle Washington, she stands at five feet seven inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and thirty-five pounds. She is currently nineteen and oh here in ESPW competition, she is the Green Queen, DAPHNE DUFRESNE!



The curtain burst open and Daphne burst through to the sort of applause usually reserved for the FAWN Arena or the Angel Dome. Stopping on the stage for just a moment, the limber, almost ridiculously toned brunette pointed a finger at her opposition and shouted, “YOU’RE NOT A QUESTION, BABY! YOU’RE JUST THE NEXT NAME ON MY LIST!”



DAPHNE DUFRESNE:






That got the crowd going all the louder and gave Daphne all the motivation she needed to charge down the aisle. Instead of going straight for the ring she swung right and made a circuit around the perimeter to swat hands with anyone (read: everyone) who reached for her. This also doubled as a chance for her to scope the faces for signs of anyone who looked like a talent scout, but the brunette didn’t notice anyone out of the ordinary. Trying not to look disappointed, she went to the steps and raced up only to hop onto the turnbuckle. From that vantage point she put her hands on her hips and looked down at Cipher. “Will you kneel before your queen, miscreant?”



Cipher stepped forward, started to dip, then raised one hand and flipped Dufresne the bird.



Daphne snorted and dropped down from the corner. Part of her wanted to floor the bytch with a Super Kick right now, but instead she stepped to the middle of the ring and stretched her arms so the fans could better take her in. Tonight she wore an emerald green one-piece with an hour glass shaped piece of mesh across the chest (the negative space of which created a sort of bikini top look) and an identical shape, albeit turned on its side, across her tummy to better show off her sculpted torso. Her boots and wrist tape were a matching green while her boots were gleaming black.



Randall, now sporting the black pants and striped shirt of officials the world over, made a quick inspection of Daphne’s togs and patted her hip once he was satisfied. “You’re good, Daph. Get to the corner so I can ring the bell.”



“Hope this chick is ready, Randall.” the brunette said it so softly only he could hear. “She’s about to get wrecked.”



Already savoring the sound of twenty and oh, Daphne ran a hand through her short stylish tousle and backed into the far corner. If there WERE any FAWN scouts in the building tonight, she was gonna blow their mind.



The CLANG of the bell was still echoing through the tiny arena when Daphne Dufresne shouted, “C’MON!” and started to clap.



Emily had been in the ring with some popular women during the course of her career (the three night series against Shea London in the U.K five years ago STILL gave her the chills, not that she’d ever admit such a low emotion to the Sensational One) and yet she was amazed at just how quickly everyone joined in with the younger brunette. If Rita Carrick was loved by the good people of Calumet, then Daphne Dufresne was adored by the folks of Hobbs End. Of course impressed hardly meant awed, and West / Cipher dismissed their auditory efforts with a derisive wave before leaving the corner.



Settled into a limber crouch now that the locals were thoroughly on her side, Dufresne strode to the middle of the ring and, without waiting for the masked woman to join her, called out, “So you like riddles, do you, Cipher? Well I’ve got a good one. What’s black and white and about to kneel right about here?” She grinned and tapped the mat with the toe of one boot.



West rolled her eyes, then posited, “The official. I believe he’ll be searching for your teeth.”



The response was near unanimous jeers, with only a few laughs scattered throughout, yet the shadow of something that looked an awful lot like anger flashed in the ingénue’s eyes. Then she offered Cipher a competitive grin and raised her right hand overhead. “That’s a good wrong answer you got there, baby. You want the right one? Step up and take my hand.”



Em closed the distance, but stayed conveniently out of grappling range. “If I take it, you’re not getting it back. That goes for any other extremities you might be foolish enough to give NGH!”



Daphne vaulted off the mat in a gorgeous vertical leap and PWAAAKED both heels into Cipher’s mush with a Standing Dropkick. Genuinely astounded at just how quickly the other woman moved, West landed flat on her back, rolled clear and popped to one knee all in the span of perhaps a second. Quick though she was, Dufresne was already vertical and irritatingly close when the veteran took the knee. “I don’t know who you are,” the ridiculously popular brunette murmured to her penitent opposition, “but I know you went over on the Pitbull in her own backyard and I’m here to tell you that’s not gonna happen tonight. Now stand up and wrestle!” Daphne took a step back and raised her right hand with a saucy little finger waggle.



Mildly irritated at being ordered around by this neophyte in front of what had to be no more than a hundred people, Emily complied with the demand only after she’d made a slight adjustment to the Cipher mask. “That slavering beast thought she could answer my questions too and I left her with a permanent headache. What makes you think you’ll fare better than her, little girl?”



Dufresne replied with a smile that the fans would’ve labeled charming, but to West it looked quite predatory. “Because you don’t know who you’re messing with, little EGH!”



Em ‘smacked’ her hand against Daphne’s and squeezed the younger woman’s fingers with her own. “I don’t think you do either, Ms. Dufresne. Perhaps tonight can be a learning experience for both of us.”



The Black Queen hoisted her other hand and Daphne claimed it at once. Test of Strength complete, the brunettes jerked their locked arms down to shoulder level and stepped forward hard enough to earn a mutual grunt when their chests ‘thumped’. Chin set comfortably in the hollow of her opponent’s shoulder, Cipher pressed forward a little more and let her lips brush the other wrestler’s ear. “Impressive fan-base you’ve built for yourself, Dufresne. Worried they might stray if they see you falt--”



“OOOOWWWW! SHE BIT ME!”



Daphne wailed it so loudly and jerked back so abruptly that for a split second Emily wondered if she *had* accidentally nipped her foe’s ear. That split second’s distraction gave the green-clad battler enough of an opening to yank Em’s arms up over her head and push onto her toes. Suddenly that three inch, ten pound height differential was making a lot of difference as Em felt her hands slowly but surely rolling back on her wrists. Muttering curses as the ref admonished her over what was almost certainly an imaginary nibble, the Amazing Academic poured her power into holding off Dufresne’s advance, alas the younger woman just bounced on her toes again and Emily started to sink.



Eying her handiwork with obvious appreciation, Dufresne blew a strand of hair off her forehead and teased, “That’s the thing, Cipher. I don’t falter. Not here. Not tonight. And certainly not against some chick who’s too scared to show her own face!” Em had an answer at the ready, unfortunately it got smeared all over her face when Dufresne jabbed a short Kneelift into her mouth. “That’s for biting my ear.” she snapped. “And this is for getting the riddle wrong!” She rose onto tiptoes and leaaaaaaaaned down, the increase in pressure forcing Cipher to both knees.



“What do you say, Cipher?” the official asked the masked woman. “Do you need to call it a night?”



Emily forced herself to smile through the growing pain in her wrists. “What? And let this pampered little brat record another win without having to earn it? I think not.”



Dufresne’s smile faded a bit. “Watch yourself, honey. Unless your fingertips can touch your forearms.” she bore down a little more to emphasize the point.



Quickly forming a hypothesis about the other brunette’s mindset, West snorted derisively and looked to the referee, rather than Daphne. “She certainly thinks highly of herself, doesn’t she? How do you tolerate the constant self-aggrandizat--”



Dufresne snarled, dipped her knees to apply even more pressure and ‘eeeped!’ in surprise when Cipher bulled her way to one knee. “I don’t think so, baby.” Daphne huffed. “Your knees just look too good on that ma--dammit!”



Em pushed off a second time and in less than ten seconds she and the other brunette were on level ground. “Question. How does Daphne Dufresne react in the face of adversity?” Cipher mused. “Answer. To be determined.”



Nose crinkling in irritation, the younger woman muttered, “You think this is adversity? This is nothing but resistance train--” her teeth ‘clacked’ shut as West slowly forced her to one knee and then the other. But where Dufresne had satisfied herself with forcing Cipher into an unwanted penance, the Maiden of Mysteries dropped to her knees as well and carefully placed her rival’s hands against the canvas.



“You’re right, Daphne. The low side of a Test of Strength is hardly a difficult proposition for someone of your talents. THIS however, may prove a bit more daunting.”



Dufresne grimaced and shook her head ‘no’. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’tTEERRRGGGHH!”



West stepped on Daphne’s fingers and stood up with a smarmy flourish that earned her an energetic round of boos. “It would seem that your erstwhile heroine has found herself without the use of her hands!” Emily told the jeering throng. “Perhaps some more clapping would lift her spirits?” She experimented with a few different tempos, none of which seemed to rally the fans or do much for Dufresne’s state of mind. “Hmmmh, this is harder than it looks! Perhaps you could show me your tech-- oh, that’s right. Never mind. I’ll figure it out on my OOOFFFHHH!”



Daphne tugged her right hand loose with a hiss, curled it into a fist and slammed it deep into her attacker’s midsection. “You got a lot to learn, Cipher.” the grounded brunette growled. “Not messing with me chief among theMMMNNNNNGGGHH!”



Emily grabbed a double handful of her opponent’s hair, jerked her forward and drilled a quick knee into Dufresne’s forehead. Daphne ‘oofffhed’ and spun to all fours, making her a perfect target for the boot Emily placed between her shoulders. This was no stomp though, rather she pushed up and stepped over, forcing the energetic newcomer down onto the canvas like she was nothing more than a doormat for the masked woman. Making no effort to conceal her smirk, West strutted to the nearest corner, mounted the second rope and put both hands on her hips.



“This, THIS is what you offer me? I’d heard amazing this heroine of yours was something to behold, but what challenge has she presented so far? None whatsoever! You disappoint me Hobbs End.”



The locals shifted from jeers to cheers in a heartbeat and West reacted accordingly, leaping back from her perch in an elevated leapfrog that saved her from what could’ve been a very nasty fall. Landing on the canvas with a neat little ‘thump’, Emily stifled a snicker even as Daphne smacked a frustrated hand against the top turnbuckle. “Attacking when my back is turned, Dufresne? Not very sporting. Perhaps you’re not the heroine I thought you--”



“Shut your mouth.” Daphne said softly. “You want me to meet you head on? Stop dancing around like a coward.”



West let her smile fade, though the ‘c’ word didn’t bother her in the slightest. “I’m right here my alliteration loving friend. Ready and waiting for the best you have to offer, assuming it extends beyond mere wordplay.”



Dufresne opened her mouth, snapped it shut without saying anything. After a moment she shook her head and promised, “I am going to tie you in knots, honey. And I’m going to enjoy it.”



Her tone carefully neutral (she had an idea this would irritate the other brunette more than obvious smarminess) Cipher replied, “Strong words from a woman who spent the last several seconds with her back wedged against the turnbuck--”



Daphne came for her with the same blinding speed she’d shown with the Dropkick, but this time there was enough canvas between them for West to ready a defense. Setting herself just low enough to make sure the limber lovely didn’t attempt to whip around on her six, Emily welcomed the taller woman into a snug Collar & Elbow Lock-Up and twisted her hips to flip their positions. With Daphne rocked back on her heels, Cipher dug in and started marching her toward the corner. She’d made it a good half dozen steps when Dufresne set her heels and pushed back, bringing Em’s progress to a halt. Showing teeth as the masked grappler fought to regain control, Daphne leaned in close, her lips brushing the lobe of West’s right ear. “I don’t know your game, but you’re going to pay for embarrassing me.” The whisper was soft and mean, Dufresne’s teeth were sharp and cool, as Cipher discovered when Daphne bit her ear!



Emily’d been preparing herself for something like this ever since the ingénue complained of a non-existent infraction and she managed to remain silent, she could not, however, keep Dufresne from marching her toward the nearest corner. Simultaneously angered and intrigued by the challenges presented by her opponent, the Amazing Academic offered no resistance as the distance between her butt and buckles grew less and less. Which wasn’t to say she wasn’t thinking, heaven forfend. Almost certain of her hypothesis now, Emily decided on another experiment. Squeezing Daphne’s bicep a little tighter, West slid her other hand up to the nape of her foe’s neck and let her fingertips tickle Dufresne’s ha--



Daphne whipped around in a violent half circle and flung herself into the corner hard enough to make the buckles ‘BWUUUUNNNNG! “HAIR!” Daphne growled when the ref came over to investigate. “She pulled my hair!”



Em thought the man would simply take Dufresne’s word for it, so she was pleased when he inspected the clench and frowned. “Looks legal to me, Daphne.”



“Indeed it is!” Cipher agreed. “I can hardly be blamed if Ms. Dufresne’s roots lack the fortitude required of NNGH!”



The trapped woman flattened one hand into a paddle and CRAAACKED Emily across the cheek in a short, mean, Bytch Slap. “Just because you didn’t see it doesn’t mean she’s innocent, Randall!” Daphne sniped. “Now back her up, I’m in the corner! And make sure it’s a clean break!”



Randall the referee tapped two fingers on Emily’s bicep and said, “Ok Cipher, raise your hands and back up to center ring, please.”



The Black Queen had every intention of following the command, but she was also certain a woman like Cipher wouldn’t do so without a parting shot, so let go and slowly drew her hands away from the younger woman’s head. The break was *almost* complete when Emily took Daphne’s right cheek between thumb and forefinger and gave it the gentlest pinch, followed by an equally soft smack. “What a charming little girl you are.” she cooed. Dufresne started forward and West backed off fast, her hands well above shoulder level. She thought she’d imagined it before, but there was no doubt about it now, Daphne wasn’t just angry, she was furious.



No stranger to that sort of rage in her adversaries, Emily fully expected Dufresne to charge out of the buckles, so she was genuinely surprised when the taller woman blinked the hate away and flashed a knowing smile. “More charming than you know, Cipher.” Rolling her shoulders, she stepped out of the turnbuckles and beckoned Em forward. “Ready to see if you can stuff me in a corner without yanking my hair?”



“Quite.” Emily chirped. “Shall I come to you?”



“If you’re feeling up to it.”



“Oh, I am.”



West punctuated with a lunge, one that would’ve driven Dufresne into the thinly-padded steel if her opponent hadn’t pivoted at the last instant and THHWUMPED a Kneelift across her midsection. Enveloping Cipher in an embrace that was equal parts Bear Hug and Lock-Up, Daphne spun them both around and drove the curvier battler into the turnbuckles as hard as she could.



Happy to give Dufresne a taste of her own medicine even if she was a little short of breath at the moment, Emily threaded a boot between the top and middle ropes and huffed, “I’m in the ropes. Get her off, pleasSEEMMMPPH!”



Daphne slid a hand over Cipher’s mouth and pinched her nose shut, effectively smothering her. In the same breath she worked her other hand between their chests and SQUEEZED Em’s right breast hard enough to make the veteran stamp her foot in pain. “Whatever your game is,” Dufresne leaned in to murmur in her opponent’s face, a subtle bit of ring generalship that West realized effectively shielded the ref from Daphne’s infraction, “you’re going to regret trying to run it on me. This is MY HOUSE, bytch!” Daphne took Emily’s nipple between thumb and forefinger and gave it a savage twist before clearing away with hands raised high overhead. “THAT’S how you do a clean break, Cipher! Give it a try, if you can ever get me into the corner, that is!”



Camouflaging her amusement with a snarl that was itself totally genuine, Cipher ran a hand through her hair but made no effort to tend to her abused bounty. Instead she taunted, “I’ll scrape you along every inch of this ring, if you’d dare to grapple me without whining to the ref every five seconds. Do you think you can do that, little girl? Feel free to ask for his permission fir--”



Daphne stormed in for a clench and Emily accepted, only this time she did what the younger woman had accused her of earlier. She snatched a HUGE handful of hair and used it to whip Dufresne in a half circle that led straight back to the corner they’d both occupied so recently. Making no effort to cover her own violation (she was the villainess, after all) Emily yanked Daphne’s hair until she hissed, then cupped her cheeks between thumb and forefinger and mashed them together in an embarrassing ‘fishface’. “This is no game, little girl.” Emily was close enough to rest her forehead against Dufresne’s straining pate. “It’s a test. And as of this moment you’re failing in most spectacular fashion.”



Daphne hissed like a cat and started to say something, but it turned into a wheezing ‘OOOFFHH!” when West bodied into her and SHUMPED a short Kneelift between the taller woman’s thighs. Dufresne slumped forward at once, her cheek resting heavily on Emily’s left shoulder. Dipping her knees slightly, West shifted her footing and let Daphne tumble across her shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry. The crowd booed when the Maiden of Mysteries marched their heroine into the middle of the ring, but their tone changed noticeably when she flipped Dufresne over onto her back in what was essentially a Torture Rack.



Cipher kept one hand cupped over the younger brunette’s chin and another looped around her left thigh, but she wasn’t working the hold in anticipation of a submission, she simply wanted to keep Daphne off balance until -- West moved her left hand from the brunette’s thigh to her buttock, then crouched down and rose onto her toes to toss Dufresne clear with a powerful shove! Daphne went up fast and came down that much faster, her descent guided by Cipher, who kept a hand on the nape of her neck even as she dropped to one knee to THWHUMP her prey’s spine with an emphatic Backbreaker. Daphne bounced clear and landed hard on one side, her mouth open in a scream that rose well above the startled clamor of her fans.



ARGENTINE BACKBREAKER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9S2UQ5xHik



Hurting though she was, Dufresne retained all of her ring awareness, as she managed to roll onto her belly, thus thwarting any chance of an immediate pin. Emily noted this and filed it away for future reference. Clearly this young woman was a skilled grappler, but the Amazing Academic had encountered dozens of those simply looking through the FAWN scouting reports. She was on this trip in search of women who’d make the locker room a more interesting place. Or barring that, at least hold her attention for a twenty-minute wrestling match. To do that she needed to know what sort of person Dufresne was, so she dropped to her knees on the other brunette’s left side and quickly laid claim to her ankles. Crossing Daphne’s left leg across the pit of her right knee to create the Figure Four, West pulled the other brunette’s right ankle close to keep it secure.



Daphne, who’s ring sense was even more honed than Emily knew, understood Cipher’s plan at once and immediately tucked her head to prevent the masked bytch from hooking her chin. In the same instant she propped her elbows against the mat and began inching toward the ropes.



Emily smirked and planted her knees on Dufresne’s back, slowing her momentum to a crawl. “No fair starting to answer so quickly.” Cipher ran a hand through Daphne’s hair but didn’t pull. “I haven’t even asked the question yet.”



Daphne turned her head just enough to speak clearly. “That’s what you get for being so predictable, jerkKEERRRRGGGHHH! HAIR! C’MON RANDALL, SHE’S ON MY HAIR!”



No false accusation this time, Emily had indeed buried a hand in Dufresne’s hair and pulled it back far enough to expose her chin. Ending the grip before the official even had a chance to warn her, West slid that hand under Dufresne’s chin and rolled over onto her back, which in turn pulled the limber battler up onto her knees in a Bow & Arrow. Using this particular hold was more a test for the audience and damned if several of them didn’t shout ‘LONDON’S BRIDGE!’ shortly after the hold was secured. Emily sighed, jostled the hold and murmured, “Well, that answers my question about market saturation.”



Neither the referee or Daphne bothered to respond, the former was too busy checking on the latter to see if she’d surrendered. Dufresne didn’t of course, she only shook her head ‘no’ and pawed at her attacker’s wrist. West didn’t begrudge her the resistance at all, indeed she would’ve been terribly disappointed if Dufresne had yowled a submission. Yet the cheers for a certain Briton irritated her to no end, so she jerked up on both ends of the Bow & Arrow and bounced her knees.



Daphne wailed again, but when the ref asked for her submission she barked, “No I don’t give! Check her shoulders, Randall. They could’ve been down all this time!”



They weren’t of course, there was a whole portion of West’s regular training regimen devoted to keeping herself clear of pins while executing certain holds. Randall didn’t know this though, so he dropped to one knee and dutifully slid his hand into the narrow space between the canvas and Emily’s shoulders. West was about to congratulate him on his thoroughness when Dufresne grabbed hold of her thumb and bent it backward at a savage angle!



Emily yelped and immediately released the Bow & Arrow, kicking her legs forward so suddenly the younger wrestler tumbled over in mid-air and landed atop her chest in a Crossbody! Daphne grabbed Cipher’s wrist in both hands and simultaneously trapped her other leg between both thighs, effectively gluing her to the mat for Randal’s count of…



ONE…

TWO…



West planted her feet and bridged up, rolling her adversary clear with a full second to spare. Still wincing over the bright pain in her thumb, Cipher rolled to one knee just as Dufresne rolled to hers. “Do you always attempt to break bones when fighting your way free of a submission?” Cipher asked as she powered to verticality. “Or am I a special case?”



Daphne joined her, smoothed back her hair and ‘flicked’ her trunks back into place. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, freak. And if you try to besmirch my good name I’ll make you sorry you ever stepped through these ropes.”



The Insidious Intellectual smiled wickedly. “It’s not your name I’ll ruin, you two-faced little poseur.”



Dufresne smiled right back, her classic babyface grin taking on a decidedly ominous aspect under the florescent lights. “We’ll see who gets ruined tonight.” she beckoned the masked woman forward. “Bring it on, puzzlehead.”



Emily did, meeting the green-clad lass in another stern Collar & Elbow Lock-Up. The incognito royal half-expected her opponent to pull hair or some other chicanery, but Daphne kept it clean save for a few muttered curses when she couldn’t muscle her foe into the ropes. Sensing a hole in the other woman’s defenses after about ten seconds, West quickly moved both hands to Dufresne’s right wrist, stepped back and twisted the exposed limb in a wide circle. Another Arm Wringer had Daphne almost doubled over with the torque, so Em drilled a few hard Elbow Strikes into her bicep, then stepped back and slung the local favorite at the ropes with an Irish--



Daphne dug in her heels and yanked Cipher forward, not into another Irish Whip, but a Toe Kick that gouged deep into her belly. Emily ‘guuuughhhhed’ and doubled over, meaning she was short on defenses when Dufresne grabbed her left wrist. Stepping off to the other brunette’s left, Daphne put her other hand on Cipher’s left shoulder and sprang into the air. Knees raised high, she braced them against the Enigma’s elbow and forearm and dropped flat on her back.



DOUBLE KNEE ARMBREAKER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0sb_LqXrQ



Emily hissed and tumbled onto her back, holding the wounded limb tight to her chest. She was in the midst of sitting up when Dufresne grabbed her by the left shoulder and slammed her against the mat. “What’s the matter, Cipher? Hand hurt? Maybe I should take a look at it.” West had no intention of offering her hand to the other brunette, alas Daphne jabbed a short Kneelift into her ribs and snatched her rival’s wrist immediately thereafter. “Oh, these are just a few kinks!” Dufresne told the audience after a cursory examination. “Nothing a little ironing out won’t fix!”



Happy to help in this regard, she flattened Cipher’s arm against the canvas, then swung around and planted one knee on her wrist and the other on her bicep. Emily kicked her feet and rolled her shoulders in hopes of disrupting Dufresne’s perch, but the green-clad grappler only bore down until a groan escaped her opponent’s lips. “Not so smart now are you, freak?” Daphne swatted Cipher’s cheek in very un-babyface like fashion, though Em noted it still got a raucous reaction from the crowd.



Willing to keep the younger woman talking while she designed an escape hatch, West grunted, “Smart enough to see through your fake smile and brittle laugh. I know a sadist when I see one, little NNNNNGGHHHH!” Still gripping Cipher’s arm at wrist and shoulder, Dufresne pushed herself up into a flawless handstand, then swung back down and THWHUMPED both knees into the exposed expanse of bicep and forearm. Emily cursed quite loudly, rolled to one side, then cursed again when Daphne returned her arm to the canvas.



“Keep your mouth shut, Cipher, no one here will believe a word you say.” Dufresne shifted just enough to put her feet on the other brunette’s hurting limb, which in turn allowed her to stand up. Hands on her hips, she locked eyes with the masked woman. “And if I am playing a little rougher than usual, it’s only because you’re not the only one who knows a sadist on sight!” Emily didn’t get a chance to answer before Dufresne sprang into the air, scrunched herself practically in half and stretched out again just before gravity THWHAPPED her down across Cipher’s arm!



SPLASH TO ARM:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_85_5lwWig



The Amazing Academic jolted upright with the wounded limb held tight against her chest. Daphne didn’t try to force her back to horizontal this time around, but that was probably because she’d already taken off for the ropes directly on the seated woman’s six. Hurtling toward Cipher with the roar of the crowd close behind, Dufresne hopped up, planted a foot between Emily’s shoulders and drove her forehead into the mat with a low thud! Cipher bounced to a seat almost immediately but stayed mostly upright, making her a much easier target for the Low Dropkick she PWAAAKED into her right shoulder. That put West on the mat again, the incognito FAWN star beating her heels against the canvas and vigorously rubbing the hurt out of her sore arm.



The very worst of the pain was starting to fade when Dufresne scooted in on left side and slid her left leg beneath Cipher’s head. Emily had enough time to grunt in irritation, then Daphne’s right leg was cinched across her throat and the limber lovely was squeezing for all she was worth. “Didn’t think I was going to let that pretty head of yours go unnoticed, did you?” Daphne teased as she sent a strong constriction through her stems. “Someone as smart as you claim to be had to see this coming, right?”



Emily swatted and squeezed the other brunette’s encroaching thigh with her right hand, searching for a weakness to exploit. “Neerrrr….nothing about you surprises me, little girl.” she huffed. “Though I will admit to some mild interest in how such an obvious narcissist has fooled a whole promotion for this GUUUUUHHHHRRRK!”



Daphne rolled from her hip to her tummy, planted both hands against the mat and boosted herself into a stalled push-up. Doing so forced West to sit up and allowed the local competitor to squeeeeeeeeeeeeze Em’s head between the vise of her thigh and calf. “Ask her!” Daphne demanded after a few showy push ups got the crowd cheering that much louder. “Ask her if she quits, Randall!”



PUSH-UP HEADSCISSORS @ 00:33

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSA83lXCiw



Randall did so, sinking to one knee just far enough to keep clear of the action, a small detail that West appreciated even in the depths of her discomfort. “What do you say, Cipher? Can you continue?”



Cipher didn’t shake her head or even waggle a finger. Instead she coughed a derisive laugh and replied, “I refuse to waste both our times answering such a pointless riddle. I will however offer you one of my own. What has two legs and screams?”



The ref was still mulling the answer when Emily worked three fingers beneath Dufresne’s right kneepad and gouged them into the soft pit of her attacker’s knee! Daphne shrieked, broke the Scissors and rolled away to a safe distance to rub away the sudden numbness creeping down her leg. Teeth bared in an ugly mixture of pain, surprise and anger, Dufresne pulled the pad down and massaged the tingling flesh until she felt steady enough to reclaim her feet. “You dirty bytch,” she murmured to no one in particular, “I’m going to tie you in knots for that shyt.”



Emily heard none of this, she was too busy tending to her own aches, specifically her throbbing left arm. Daphne was thorough in her attention, there was no denying that. Still, West wasn’t a former World Champion for nothing and she had clambered to her feet by the time Randall reached ‘SEVEN’ on his count.



Dufresne was vertical as well and she wasted no time putting her hands together. “C’MON!” she bellowed to those assembled. “TELL THIS PUNK WHAT SHE’S IN FOR!”



‘DAPHNE’S GONNA STRETCH YOU! DAPHNE’S GONNA STRETCH YOU!’



The answering chant was so sudden and emphatic that Emily couldn’t help but nod in appreciation. Had she thought Dufresne a crowd favorite? The woman damn near controlled the whole building!



“Am I supposed to be impressed?” Cipher sniffed. “Because I am not. Pavlov had his dogs, you clearly have a pack of trained monkeys at your comm--”



Daphne pounced, looped around behind on the shorter brunette’s left and neatly slung her left leg over West’s left thigh. Emily let it get that far, but when Dufresne leaned in to complete the Abdominal Stretch she snapped her head back and caught her opponent flush on the chin. Eyes watering in the wake of the Headbutt, Daphne staggered backward in hopes of reaching the ropes to catch a moment’s re--



“NO!” the younger woman cried out in dismay when Cipher clamped down on her right wrist with both hands. Just like that the Maiden of Mysteries jerked her forward and slammed her good shoulder into the other brunette’s sternum. Daphne stumbled away, was reeled in again, three more times in fact, each ending with a Shoulderblock that seemed to hit a bit harder than its predecessor. Grimacing as she strained to drag the both of them toward the ropes, Dufresne growled, “Nice try, freak. You might’ve actually had a shot if you still had two armWHOOOANNNNNNGGHHH!”



The Insidious Intellectual yanked Daphne forward, and spun around behind to draw the captured arm across Dufresne’s neck, cut-throat style. Daphne’s eyes went wide a heartbeat before Emily hopped up and laid out on her side to yank Dufresne down onto the back of her head and shoulders with an ring-shivering THAWHAM!



CUT-THROAT NECKBREAKER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RirsQIL0PKg



Slopped onto hip and shoulder in the wake of that thunderous Neckbreaker, Daphne only moaned softly when Em shoved her onto her back and slid into place for a Crossbody. Hooking the far leg tight enough to put Dufresne’s knee within six inches of her chin, Cipher flashed the fans a predatory smirk while Randall counted…



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



Daphne pulled her leg free and sat up to get her shoulders off the mat. Emily shot the ref a poisonous look that was mostly for show. Indeed, she’d slithered into place behind Dufresne by the time Randal stammered an explanation. “Your Scissors are impressive, little girl.” Cipher cooed even as she worked her own gams around the taller woman’s waist. “But mine are unforgettable, as you’ll soon see.”



“Yuuuhhhh…. your stubby little legs don’t impress me at UUUUUGGGGGGGHHHH!” Daphne gasped in sudden hurt as West poured power into her slender midsection. Certain that the initial shock would wear off in seconds, Emily slipped her right arm under Dufresne’s right bicep and cupped the back of her head to secure a Half Nelson. In the next breath she reached over with her left hand, gripped Daphne’s fluttering wrist and jerked it snug across her neck in a Cobra Clutch.



“Impressing you was never my aim, my alliteration loving foe.” Cipher whispered in her prey’s ear. “You’re simply a diversion to pass the time while I wait for a REAL challenge to appear.”



GROUNDED COBRA CLUTCH:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E22tiqQ67Cg



Daphne’s face went pink, a flush that had (almost) nothing to do with the arm snugged under her chin. “You no name bytch!” she pounded her right elbow into Cipher’s ribs and thigh trying to at least loosen the legs around her waist. “I’m one of the five best independent workers in the country today, you’re not gonna find anybody better than meEERERRGGGGHHHHHHH!”



Cipher squeeeeeeezed the Scissors and wrenched the Clutch back n’ forth, drawing a pained wail / gurgle from her opponent! “I think your heroine is fading!” the Maiden of Mysteries chuckled to the murmuring crowd. “Perhaps a little encouragement will see her through… or show her the inevitability of her situation!” She jerked up on the Clutch and pushed out with her legs, adding an unpleasant strain to the limber beauty’s torso. The good folks of Hobbs End promptly rallied to Dufresne’s aid with claps, then stomps, then a resounding cry of ‘PLEASE DON’T TAP! PLEASE DON’T TAP!’



Daphne pounded one heel into the canvas to show she was listening, but the garrote across her neck was only getting tighter, as was the vise around her waist. Forced to concede the Cipher wasn’t going to get tired of working the hold, the lithesome brunette stopped worrying at the masked woman’s wrist and resumed pounding away with her right elbow, albeit quite a bit more forcefully than before. Cipher grunted and shifted slightly to better absorb the blows, but Dufresne kept digging until-- Em gasped in surprise when Daphne grabbed hold of her right kneepad, planted both feet flat and bridged up as high as she could. That proved to be quite high indeed, as Cipher was suddenly stacked on her shoulders. Seeing the pin, Randal dove to one knee and counted off…



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



West bucked her hips and rolled onto her belly, which meant she mounted Daphne’s lower back, as the younger battler was now sandwiched between the canvas and her tormentor. Adjusting to better fit the curve of her butt into the hollow of Dufresne’s back, Emily leaned forward and cranked backward to add the agony of a Camel Clutch to the persistent pain of the Cobra! Daphne groaned and reaaaaaaaached for the ropes that were still much too far away. “Go on pretty girl, don’t let them down.” Cipher pulled up on the Cobra, putting more and more torque on Dufresne’s spine. “Either get to the ropes or tap out so I can move on to the next question. Hopefully she’ll provide a real--”



Emily would’ve said ‘challenge’ if Dufresne hadn’t smacked a hand against the mat and draaaaaagged them both forward a good six inches. Quite respectful of the indy star’s game despite the taunts of the last minute, West went quiet and watched to see if Daphne could reach her goal. Well it took another fifteen seconds or so, but sheer tenacity and the ever increasing support from her fans eventually wrapped Dufresne’s free hand around the bottom rope. “BREAK!” she demanded at once. “GET YOUR FAT, NO TALENT ASS OFFA ME!”



Cipher made like she was about to comply, then sat down again. “Bad move, little girl. I was going to let you up before you impugned my ass. Now you’re going to suffer a little while longer.”



“F*CK YOU I’M IN THE ROPES!”



Dufresne’s fury got a startled ‘OOOOOOHHHH!’ from the crowd, who’d never witnessed her lose her temper even in the most dire of straits. West took it all in stride, just nodding agreement with the ref when he told her to break the hold. She did, or rather she slid off the other brunette’s back. The Cobra Clutch was still intact however, leading to much consternation when the masked woman got to one knee and violently pried her opponent off the saving strands.



“CHEATING B*ITCH, LET ME GOOOOEEERRRGGGHHHH!”



Cipher rolled Dufresne to a seat, then craaaaaaaanked her backward over the post of her right knee. Openly wailing as her back was put through even more punishment, reached for the ropes with her right hand and when they proved to be out of reach she fashioned it into a claw and sank it deep into Cipher’s ribs! Emily smiled in spite of the pain, she thought she was finally uncovering the real Daphne Dufresne.



“Bytch, please.” she taunted. “If you’re too lazy to hook a foot over the bottom rope the least you could do is apply that claw with some convict-eerrrggghhh, yeah, something like that!”



Dufresne did indeed stretch one of those long legs and lay it over the bottom rope. But rather than ask for a break she sent her clawin’ hand north, grabbed a huge hank of Cipher’s hair and pulled as hard as she could. Randall’s call for a double break netted no response (not a surprise from Cipher, very much so in regards to Daph, who was always so quick about these things) so he started in on the five count. “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR--”



‘FIVE!’ was on his lips when the entangled brunettes broke apart with a mutual shove and scrambled away from one another, Cipher into the middle of the ring, Daphne to the nearest corner. One hand pressed to her burning throat, Dufresne kept her eyes locked on Cipher as she drew in several ragged breaths. Em saw the fire burning in her foe’s dark eyes and decided to stoke it a little more. “Something on your mind, pretty girl?”



“One warning, you hateful bytch.” Dufresne growled in a tone Randall had never heard before. “Next time you don’t honor a rope break I’ll snap your arm the first chance I get.”



“Hey Daphne, there’s no call for--” the ref’s attempt at peacemaking was met with a withering stare that silenced him on the spot.



“Don’t be alarmed, Randall.” West noted amiably. “They say adversity reveals our true selves, which means you’re seeing the real Daphne Dufresne for the first time. As you can see, underneath that gleaming smile is an insecure little narcissist who absolutely HATES the prospect of anyone challenging her--”



“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” The Green Queen exploded off the buckles and would’ve undoubtedly put a boot through Cipher’s gut if the shorter woman hadn’t seized her encroaching ankle at the last second.



“You need to master that anger, Dufresne.” Cipher told the hopping lovely. “Before it masters NNNGGGHHH!”



Daphne sprang off her plant foot and THWHACKED it against the side of Cipher’s skull in a cringe-inducing Enzugiri. The blow knocked Cipher for a loop but didn’t knock her down, so Dufresne followed up with a Toe Kick and cupped the other woman’s chin in both hands when she doubled over. Twisting around so they were back to back with Cipher’s neck bent awkwardly against the point of her right shoulder, Daphne pushed onto her toes and dropped to one knee to jar Cipher’s noggin with a truncated Neckbreaker. Pushing to verticality without releasing control on the masked woman’s head, Dufresne twisted back to start so that her prey was caught in a Front Facelock. In the same breath she slipped her right arm under Cipher’s left bicep in a Single Underhook, then dipped her knees and popped her hips to take Cipher up, over and down with a BOOMING Half Hatch Suplex!



SHORT NECKBREAKER & HALF HATCH SUPLEX:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqLtWwTp-HI



Emily hit flat, sat up and rolled to one knee before struggling back to boot-leather. Already on her feet, Daphne noted her opponent’s position and immediately charged the corner off of Cipher’s left shoulder. The fans, who’d been a little worried by their heroine’s uncharacteristic outburst earlier in the match, cheered in pleasure and relief when Dufresne leapt onto the middle turnbuckle and sprang off, pivoting her limber frame on the fly to THWHACK her right foot off the back of Cipher’s head.



SPRINGBOARD ENZUGIRI @ 5:50

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSA83lXCiw



The Springboard Enzugiri hit true and Cipher dropped to her knees, one hand gingerly cradling her aching skull. Patently uninterested in her rival’s pain, Daphne shoved the penitent beauty onto her belly, shot a Half Nelson and rolled her over to secure a heavy Crossbody…



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



Lips pursed in anger, Dufresne shot Randal an angry look, but saved the brunt of her wrath for Cipher. “Get up, loser.” the brunette demanded of the masked woman. “It’s time you learned who’s in charge here.”



Unable to deny Daphne her demands, Emily clambered to boot leather, then groaned when Dufresne wrenched her arms behind her back in a Double Chickenwing. Fingers locked to keep the loop right, Daphne dropped her hips and arched backward in a gorgeous bridge that THWHUMPED West on the back of her head and shoulders with a Tiger Suplex. The locals cheered loudly, leaping to their feet to lend their voices to Randall’s count of…



TIGER SUPLEX HOLD:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrs8xLbqD_U



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



Emily jerked her shoulder off the canvas and tumbled over to her stomach with half a second to spare. “Defiant bytch.” Dufresne hissed under her breath. “Just stay down!”



Of course to make the other brunette comply with this demand she had to haul her up yet again, which is exactly what Daphne did. Snuggling in against Cipher’s back, Dufresne trapped the smaller woman’s right arm in a Half Nelson and curled her left arm around Cipher’s midsection. With her right hand cupped against the base of the masked battler’s neck, Daphne peeled off another bridge, this one even higher and tighter than previous. Emily THWHUNKED down on the back of her head, both legs tossed up over her head in an impromptu matchbook. T’was a perfect example of a Bridging Half Nelson Suplex and quite worthy of the cheers heaped upon it by the locals…



BRIDGING HALF NELSON SUPLEX @ 2:58

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSA83lXCiw



ONE…

TWO…

THRENOOOOOOOO!



Cipher kicked free and landed on her side, both arms cradled tight against the back of her noggin. Very much aware that Cipher’s resilience had garnered a smattering of applause from HER fans, Daphne shoved the masked woman onto her back, dropped onto her chest and hooked the far leg for another…



ONE…

TWO…

THRENOOOOOOOO!



Emily shoved the green-clad woman away and swiped a hard slap across her face. “Try harder, little girl.” she grunted. “You’re not gonna beat me with NNNGGGGGHHH!”



Dufresne drilled her between the eyes with a short Headbutt, snatched a double handful of hair and dragged her to her knees. Swinging around behind the masked woman, Daphne leaned in under Cipher’s right arm, hooked her left arm around opposing bicep and craaaaaaaaaaanked to the left, stretching her opponent’s abs while jamming her torso against the post of her right knee. Abdominal Stretch secure, Dufresne crooked her right hand into a claw and applied it to Cipher’s ribs. “Give it up right now, Cipher!” she ordered loudly enough for the crowd to hear. “Or else I’ll make your cheating butt pay!”



ABDOMINAL STRETCH:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E9oxU_P0aM



Emily shook her head ‘no’, keeping Randal quiet for the moment. “Empty words, you pathetic fraud! Everyone here can see that you’re not strong enough to AAAAAAAHHHHH DAAAAAAHHHMMM!” Daph removed the claw from Em’s ribs and applied it to her crotch!



“Hey, Daphne, knock it! It’s not that kind of fight!” Randall shouted almost at once.



Daphne grinned and squeezed a little harder. “Oh, it’s exactly that sort of fight now! And Cipher’s tough enough to take it, aren’t you, princess?” She raaaaaaaaaaaked the undercarriage of her opponent’s one-piece, then squeezed all the tighter. Dragging Cipher to her feet without relinquishing the Abdominal Stretch, Daphne put her left hand against the side of the masked lovely’s head and pushed down repeatedly, exacerbating the pain of the hold while continuing with the trunk punishment. “TAP OUT!” Dufresne was practically screaming now. “YOU’RE DONE! TELL HIM YOU’RE DOOOOFFFHHH!”



West squatted down as low as she could and slung the taller battler over onto her back with a quick Hip Toss! Daphne hit flat, rolled onto her stomach and scrambled to her feet just as Cipher got to herTHWHACK! The local star hit her rival with a stiff European Uppercut that would’ve dropped her on her ass if Dufresne hadn’t taken hold of her wrist. Pulling back from the reeling wrestler, Daphne dropped a shoulder and slung her burden into a corner on the other side of the squared circle. Woozy though she was, West saw the buckles rushing up to meet her and she forced herself to spin around before she BWUUUNGED against the roughly-padded steel.



Jaw clenched in the wake of the spine-jarring impact, Emily staggered out of the corner and walked right into Daphne, who THWHAPPED her across the jaw with a European Uppercut delivered on the run. Cipher’s head snapped back, her arms flew out and she slumped into the corner. Her head was still ringing with the impact when Dufresne grabbed her head and pulled it down in a Front Facelock. Drawing the decimated lovely off the buckles, Daphne spun around to take her foe’s place and quickly hopped into a seat on the top turnbuckles. Grip cinched tight, the Green Queen braced a free hand against Cipher’s shoulder and looked out at the crowd. “First I’m gonna put her head through the mat!” she told the redlining locals. “Then I’m gonna make her tap out!”



The fans cheered in anticipation, then got even louder when Daphne pushed off the corner and spun around in a smooth circ-a surprised roar supplanted the cheers as Cipher put her hands on the other brunette’s midsection and held her in place long enough to swing her back to her original perch. Jerking her head free of Dufresne’s clutches, Emily reared back and slammed a straight right hand into her attacker’s groin! Daphne sobbed and slumped forward, leaving her an easy target for the retaliatory Facelock West applied immediately thereafter.



Randall and the locals didn’t much care for the Low Blow, but Em was in no mood to justify her actions after the cheeky brat had worked over her trunks. Pulling the bigger brunette forward and down without actually yanking her from the buckles, she climbed to the second rope and tossed Dufresne’s near arm over her shoulders. Then she grabbed a handful of waistband and tugged until Daphne was almost standing.



“Question: Where’s your head going to land?” Cipher taunted. “Answer: Not the canvas.”



Daphne smacked her in the ribs a few times but the low blow had robbed her of most of her strength she couldn’t stop the masked woman from muscling her up overhead! A surprised buzz exploded into shocked roars when West dropped to the mat and BWUUUUNGED the crown of her opponent’s skull directly into the top turnbuckle! Daphne seemed to collapse in on herself for a moment, her neck violently compressed in the half-second before she unfolded and dropped to the canvas like a puppet with cut strings.



TURNBUCKLE BRAINBUSTER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ldEOrxlAE



In much better shape despite her own collection of aches and pains, Emily seized hold of her rival’s ankles and draaaaaaaaaaagged her out into the middle of the ring. Once there she rolled Daphne onto her stomach, planted a foot beside either hip and crossed the prone brunette’s ankles in a short ‘X’. “Last question, Daphne Dufresne.” Cipher purred. “How long can you hold out?” With that she leaned back on her heels and sank into a bridge so deep the crown of her head was only inches above the canvas. Of more interest to Dufresne and the rest of those assembled was the murderous torque put on the former’s lower back by this clever blending of Sharpshooter and Boston Crab.



MYSTERIOUS CLUTCH @ 00:02

www.youtube.com/watch?v=545g1Mv1vnM



“AAAAUUUGGGHHHH AAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHH!” The fog in Daphne’s head burned away real quick beneath the searing heat of this Mysterious Clutch. “OOOOOOWWWWW!”



“What do you say, Daph?” Randall was on one knee beside the action, dutifully checking on his charges. “Can you make it to the ropes?”



Dufresne reached out with one hand, snarled when she realized the ropes were much too far away. “Guuuuhhhhh…. get out of my way, idiot! I’ve gotta get to AAARRRRRHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO!”



Another round of pained wailing as Emily adjusting her footing and applied even more pressure. “I’ll make your feet touch the back of your head, little girl!” Cipher threatened. She was practically sitting on Dufresne’s shoulders and could probably make the threat a reality without too much more effort. “Want to know what that feels like before you tap out?”



“SCREW YOU!” Daphne sobbed. Almost out of options, she gouged her hands into the mat, squeezed as tight as she could and slid forward a few agonizing inch--”AAAAAWWWWWWWWW FAAAAAAAAAAAHK!” Cipher planted the full weight of her rump on the back of Daphne’s head and kept right on tugging. Dufresne smacked the mat five seconds later. “I GIVE! GET HER OFF BEFORE SHE BREAKS MY BACK! I GIVE!”



Emily flung her foe’s legs down and raised both hands overhead while the startled Announcer proclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner by submission… CIPHER!”



“This is something of a new sensation for you, isn’t it, Dufresne?” Cipher asked without relinquishing her seat. “I suggest you familiarize yourself with it quickly, especially if you’re sharing a ring with me. And if you did insist on testing my mettle again, here’s another experience to harden yourself against.”



“Uuuuuggghhhh… you goddamned bytch.” Daphne’s voice was hollow with aches and incredulity, she still couldn’t believe this nobody had stormed HER turf and claimed a victory. Had made her tap out, in fact. “You’re gonna regret the day you decided to march your fat ass in NNNGGHHHHHAARRRRRHHHHHHHHHH!”



Her patience sorely tested by the woman muttering threats beneath her, West was oh so tempted to go full FAWN on the brash upstart, but those tactics were frowned upon in other venues and perhaps more importantly, they could attract unwanted attention. Even so, she wasn’t about to let Daphne walk away unscathed (and still running her mouth) which was why she braced her boots against the sides of Dufresne’s skull and slid back to sit firmly on the base of her opponent’s skull! In the same motion she hooked both hands into the other brunette’s waistband and elevated it by a good eight inches thanks to an extremely spiteful wedgie.



The crowd gasped, Daphne shrieked and Cipher smirked, tugging and jouncing her makeshift handle for a good five seconds before she let loose and got to her feet. She’d expected Dufresne to roll under the bottom rope or writhe on the mat, but damned if the house favorite didn’t spring up with murder in her eyes. “YOU’RE DEAD, TRAMP!” Daphne lunged for Emily only for Randal to intercept with an arm around her waist. “THIS ISN’T OVER, YOU HEAR!? THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU I’M GOING TO RIP YOU APART!”



A great deal of those assembled cheered this promise, as they thought it was exactly what Cipher deserved. But there was another group that buzzed in startled dismay, unpleasantly surprised to witness this burst of violent temper from a young woman who’d always touted fair play and the spirit of competition. Sensing their unease, Dufresne took a deep breath, raised her hands and stepped back from the official. “My apologies, Randall. I just didn’t appreciate her taking liberties with me after the bell.”



Cipher smiled and didn’t say anything as she made for the ropes on the other side of the ring. She was through and standing on the apron when she spared a look back. “Come and find me if you’re really interested in a rematch, my dear, sweet Daphne. Might I suggest you check your mask, first? I believe the edges are starting to slip a little.”



A look of poisonous anger crossed the younger woman’s face but she made no move to follow as Cipher strode up the ramp. Once her antagonist was gone, Dufresne slipped through the ropes herself and made a circuit of the squared circle to pose for pictures and sign autographs for everyone who asked. Daphne didn’t miss a single one, it simply wasn’t in her to leave a fan hanging. But those in attendance that night later noted that their heroine, who usually nailed any photo op on the very first try, had to take each picture multiple times. She simply couldn’t take her eyes off the curtains leading to backstage.



Later that night…



Buddy Repperton, better known on the Washington Indy scene as ‘Master Blaster’ stood outside the locker room door, a position he’d occupied for almost the last ten minutes. Known for an ability to improvise his way out of any dangerous situation in the ring, Buddy was the very model of indecisiveness as he tried to figure out just what the hell was happening on the other side of the door. Ok, that wasn’t entirely true. Buddy almost certainly knew what was happening, (he’d heard a room getting destroyed on more than one occasion during his decade in the business) the real question vexing him was rather or not he wanted to stick his hand into this particularly volatile blender. His thoughts were interrupted by a particularly loud ‘KER-ASH!’ and some not to muffled cursing. Just then a hand fell on Repperton’s shoulder, startling him from his thoughts.



“Holy crap, is she still at it?”



The man asking had to be six foot five and three hundred pounds, dressed as a pro-wrestling’s idea of a Renaissance Fair executioner. Most fans would’ve been terrified to encounter the dreaded Headhunter up close and personal, but Buddy only nodded and said, “Oh, hey Mitch. What do you mean, still at it? I’ve been here for ten minutes as it is.”



“Daaaaaaaaaaayum.” Mitch muttered. “I walked by half an hour ago and it sounded like she was pounding a sledgehammer against the walls. Can’t believe she hasn’t tired herself out yet. Girl doesn’t take too well to losing, does she?”



“Well, the first loss is always rough, especially in front of a crowd that loves you. And the chick in the mask did treat her to a pretty nasty wedgie there after the bell.”



The Headhunter nodded acknowledgement, if not exactly agreement. “Yeah, that might’ve crossed a line, but c’mon Blaster, we all knew it was gonna happen sooner or later. Not that Randall’s been feeding her cupcakes by any means, but he hasn’t gone out of his way to really challenge her, either. This Cipher chick, whoever she was, was clearly a step up in competition and either Daph wasn’t expecting someone with that kind of game or she just presumed that anyone Randal brought in would roll over for her. Either way, eating a hard loss isn’t the end of the day, especially when she’s the whole of our Women’s Division. This’ll make sure she ups her game the next time out and that’s good news all around. Needs to get her temper under control though. Something tells me the fans would be a little less enamored with our Green Queen if they saw, ok, HEARD, her like this. Which reminds me, are you going to talk her down, or should I?”



Buddy looked at the door, as if hoping he could will himself to see through it. “I’m thinking we might need to tag up on this one, Headhunter.”



Mitch grinned, raised his hand to the door and Buddy did the same thing. Master Blaster mouthed ‘One, two, three.’ then they knocked simultaneously. “Daph?” he called as questioningly. “Everything ok in there?”



The Headhunter cleared his throat and added, “It’s Mitch, Daph. Need us to have Randal; call maintenance? Sounds like things are falling apart in there.”



Silence greeted their questions. It spun out for ten, fifteen, thirty seconds. Buddy was about to knock again when he heard steps crunching through what was almost undoubtedly broken glass. Shortly thereafter the deadbolt clicked back and the door swung open just wide enough for an exhausted, vaguely embarrassed Daphne Dufresne to poke her head through.



“Hi guys.” she said softly. “No need to call maintenance just yet, I can clean most of this up myself. The mirror’s going to be a problem, but I’ll sweep it up before I call anyone.”



Repperton nodded, secretly relieved to find himself excused from the brunette’s wrath. “All right, we’ll leave you be. Is there anything else we can do?”



Daphne looked like she was about to say no when she caught herself. “Yes. Find Randall and tell him to put his ear to the ground. I want to know when and where this Cipher slut pops up next. That bytch has been studying me for months, I just know it.”



“So you want a chance to study her back, is that it?” the Headhunter asked.



Daphne shook her head ‘no’. “Study? No, I’ve learned all I need to know about that sneaking cheat. What I want is the chance to embarrass her the same way she embarrassed me. I already know how I’m going to do it. The only thing I need now is the where and the when.”