Post by Aurora Knight on Jul 27, 2016 21:32:23 GMT -5
Huey’s Downtown
Memphis, TN
Monday, July 25, 2016
Aurora sat by herself in the corner of the restaurant, perusing the menu beneath the glow of a neon Budweiser sign, taking periodic sips from a glass of water. The wall beside her was covered with an amusing amount of graffiti from previous patrons, including what appeared to be a very tiny note that read “She said yes!” in the bottom corner. Or at least that was what it looked like. She couldn’t really tell for sure under all of those layers of scribbles.
She chuckled at the mostly-illegible scrawls as a waitress approached her table. She was a tad on the short side, couldn’t have been more than 5’4”, with dark blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. She smiled warmly at Aurora as she got ready to take her order.
Waitress: Hi there; my name’s Leslie… what can I get for ya?
Aurora: I don’t know… everything looks so good. Um, I think I’ll start with the nachos; can I get those without the jalapeños?
Waitress: You certainly can!
Aurora: Excellent. Then yeah, I’ll have the nachos…
Both: No jalapeños!
Aurora laughed as the waitress winked.
Waitress: And what can I get you to drink?
Aurora: I’ll have a Dr. Pepper… no ice, please.
Waitress: “No ice…” got it! Coming right up!
She smiled and walked away, her ponytail swishing side to side as she walked. Once she was out of sight, Aurora resumed trying to make sense of the scribbles on the wall. Birthday messages… a couple of “for a good time, call…” notes… various random scribbles that had to have come from a toddler that went a little crazy with their crayons.
Voice: Aurora? Aurora Quinn, is that you?
She hadn’t heard anyone call her by her maiden name in years, so hearing it out of the blue like that caught her by surprise. Aurora looked up to see a woman roughly her age, but with long, curly brown hair that fell past her shoulders. A pair of deep brown eyes peeked out at her from behind a pair of black-coated wire-rimmed glasses over a smile that was one of joy, mixed with surprise. Aurora stared at the woman, certain that she knew her from somewhere, but she couldn’t remember where.
Aurora: I’m sorry… you look so familiar, but I can’t remember where I know you from.
Woman: No surprise. I moved out here from Long Beach when I was about 10 years old. We were in the same class in 3rd Grade… Whittier Elementary?
A flash of realization hit Aurora as she smiled at the brunette woman.
Aurora: Yeah… Mrs. Simms’ class! You know, she’s not there anymore; she retired about five years ago. At least, that’s what they said when I stopped by a couple months ago. Jessica, right?
She gestured toward the seat across from her as the brunette nodded her head. Jessica was one of the few girls Aurora had grown up around that didn’t make her want to slap the taste out of her mouth on a regular basis. She was also the last true female friend Aurora had.
Jessica: So you DO remember!
Aurora: Yeah, it just took me a minute to place a name to the face. You know how it is.
Jessica: How long has it been? 12 years? So what have you been up to?
Aurora sighed as she thought about everything that had happened in the past 12 years. There was no way she’d have enough time to fill Jessica in on every little detail.
Aurora: I don’t even know where to begin… except the last name is Knight now…
Jessica: Really? When did you get married?
Aurora: It’s a long, complicated story. Suffice to say, he’s no longer in the picture. Best to leave it at that. In fact, I’m actually considering reverting back to my maiden name. Or… I may just hold off until….
She stopped herself. Already, she was starting to reveal too much too soon. She looked at the bare spot on her left hand, and quickly folded her hands as she leaned back in her seat.
Jessica: Until what?
Aurora shook her head rapidly, then took a sip from her water.
Aurora: It’s nothing. Forget I even said anything. But there IS a guy in my life…
Jessica leaned forward, eager to hear about whoever it was that made Aurora’s cheeks turn as red as a pair of stop signs.
Aurora: Well, the first time I talked to him was on Twitter, a couple of months ago. He posted a reply to a Tweet I posted about my new job that made me want to turn his nuts into butter.
Her old friend cringed at the mental image being presented to her.
Jessica: And yet you still agreed to meet with this guy?
Aurora blushed again.
Aurora: It was unavoidable. We both work for the same company. Started on the same night, even. Realized he wasn’t a complete bag of shit, and hell if he didn’t grow on me from that point on. Now we’re the NGW Tag Team Champions…
Jessica: Hold up! You mean you decided to follow in your brothers’ footsteps and became a wrestler?
She nodded her head.
Aurora: Only difference is I went pro. Leo and Ri didn’t. Last I heard, Leo was being groomed to take over the family business, while Ri… last I saw him he was working at IKEA.
Jessica: Wait… you don’t talk to them?
Aurora’s head tilted downward, a brief twitch wrinkling the corner of her mouth as she shook her head.
Aurora: Yet another long, complicated story that I’d rather not bring up. Which oddly enough, is related to the FIRST long story.
Jessica: Ah… I think I get it. Say no more. So I take it you’re in town on business?
Again, Aurora nodded, returning her gaze to her old friend. Her face seemed far more relaxed, now that the conversation had turned away from her interaction with her family – or lack thereof.
Aurora: Yeah… I’ve got a match this Saturday at the FedEx Forum. Some guy that keeps popping up every so often, then goes away again. Except now he wants to go after our company’s top guy…
Jessica: Ugh… sounds like a guy I work with… just started working there, and he’s already bitching about being passed over for a promotion – by someone that’s been there for years!
Aurora: You get those types in every industry, I guess.
Jessica: So tell me about this guy you’re seeing… is he cute?
A deep, dreamy sigh whooshed out of Aurora’s throat.
Aurora: So gorgeous, you don’t even know! Killer green eyes, and tattoos that could tell more stories than the walls in here!
Jessica: Sounds… colorful.
Aurora laughed at her friend’s attempt at word play as Jessica looked around the room.
Aurora: He actually IS a tattoo artist. He’s done one on me so far, and I’m already talking to him about my next piece.
Jessica: I can’t picture myself getting a tattoo… needles scare me. But hey, at least you two have something to bond over.
Aurora: That, and to know that I’ve got a little piece of his artwork that I can carry with me everywhere I go… I like it. Anyway, enough about me. What have you been up to?
Jessica: Well… just finished college, but I’m looking into going after my Master’s degree in…
Aurora: I swear… if you say “political science” I’m gonna scream!
Jessica: Actually, I was gonna say Early Childhood Education. I’m looking to open up my own child care facility.
Aurora nodded, impressed at her friend’s ambition.
Aurora: Wow! Good luck with that. I don’t think I’d be able to handle all those kids. Hey, not to change the subject, but what are you gonna be doing after this?
Jessica: Gonna go home and veg, to be honest. Why?
Aurora’s eyes took on a mischievous glimmer as she smiled at her friend. Meanwhile, the waitress returned with a massive plate covered with a mountain of nachos. Aurora stared at the pile of food and raised an eyebrow at the waitress, who merely winked as she walked away.
Aurora: Well, my normal workout partner is tied up at the moment… you want to fill in for him?
Jessica thought about it, then nodded.
Jessica: Sure… not like I have anything else planned. We can catch up on old times.
Jessica eyeballed the plate of nachos in front of Aurora.
Jessica: By the way… you gonna eat all that?
Aurora gestured for Jessica to dig in, and the two old friends went to work on the cheesy pile between them.
**ON CAMERA**
Undisclosed Location
Memphis, TN
Later that day
Aurora and Jessica stood in a simple white room with thick gray padding on the floor. No windows… just a single door that led into a narrow hallway. A single standing heavy bag was placed in the middle of the room, with Aurora standing in front of it, facing a mirror that took up nearly half of a wall. The ladies had changed into workout gear, with Aurora clad in a black sports bra and black leggings. Jessica, who stood behind the bag, was clad in white.
A snarl twisted the features of Aurora’s face as she sent a brutal jab into the bag, causing Jessica to wince as she gripped the bag. Another punch, and Aurora’s snarl deepened as her eyes took on a wild, predatory gleam. A knee strike… a spinning back elbow that nearly knocked Jessica down, and then a roundhouse kick, the impact echoing throughout the cavernous space. Aurora stopped, prompting Jessica to take a step back, shaking her hands and giving Aurora a look that was a combination of awe and intimidation.
Aurora: I’m not standing here, throwing punches into this hulking bag of fake leather and sand, in the middle of this empty gym, hoping to strike fear into the heart of my opponent. And granted, this isn’t how I normally train, but I can’t expect a girl that’s never set one foot between the ropes to do the job of those that I normally have with me, so I have to improvise. The camera is just along for the ride. But since it’s here, let me tell you a quick story.
March 7, 1994. For most of the world, it was just an ordinary day… the sun came up, the sun went down, and life went on as it always did. But in my hometown, a storm was raging, ripping the sky open like a worn-out shirt that’s been stretched a little bit too far. It was on that very day that, amidst thunder and lightning streaking across the sky, and rain pouring down in buckets, that I took my first breath. Why am I bringing this up? Because ever since that day, the threat of a coming storm never once conjured fear in my heart. In fact, it filled me with anticipation like you wouldn’t believe.
Until now.
The calm before the storm….
She flashed a wicked smile as she got ready to lay into the bag again, signaling for Jessica to resume holding the bag. As Jessica reluctantly took her position, Aurora drilled into the bag with a vicious flurry of punches as a hint of foam gathered in the corner of her mouth. She stopped, walking across the room to where her gym bag sat on a single wooden crate. She reached inside, first for a towel, and again for a bottle of water. She took a quick drink of water before wiping the sweat from her brow. She turned to the camera, her nostrils flaring with each breath.
Aurora: Look into these eyes, Mark Storm. Your name may scare the piss out of some people, but NOT me. True… I’ve only seen just a small portion of what you can do in the ring. I can only trust that you bring far more to the table than that. You want to talk about potential; I know I’ve yet to reach the pinnacle of what I can do in this business as well. Just as you claim I haven’t seen all of you, the reverse is true of me. That’s what makes the anticipation all the more fun for me.
Aurora took another swig from her bottle, then closed the cap and tossed it back into her bag.
Aurora: So now, the great Mark Storm has come back to NGW to save us all from the tyranny of King Gavin… wow. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but while you say your goal is to be the one to knock him off of his throne as Unified Champion, you’re not the only one. Hell, we BOTH have people standing in between us and holding the top strap. This match? It’s just two of the many contenders chasing that top prize, jockeying for position at the top of the ladder. Everyone wants to knock everybody else off.
The problem is… only one of us is going to get to take that chance, and the rest of us will only be able to watch. Watch, and hope against hope that they won’t be able to get the job done. You’re no different than the rest of us. You’ll watch Ashleigh Grimes step into the ring against her husband, knowing that regardless of who wins the match, we’ll be faced with the same thing – more of the status quo, just with the possibility of a smaller package.
I’m not even going to bother getting into a discussion of the numbers game with you, because none of it matters. Wins and losses, past accomplishments, none of it means a damn once that bell rings. Sure, it’s good for bragging rights, but over the years, I’ve seen wrestlers that were absolute SHIT in the ring brag about their mile-long lists of achievements. All it shows is how good you WERE. It’s only a mere glimpse as to how good you ARE. You want to prove how good you ARE, Storm? By all means, be my guest. Step through those ropes and face me; make sure to come at me with everything you’ve got. I guess we’ll find out who’s the better wrestler when the referee calls us to the center of the ring for the first time, and if you’re to prove true to your word, it may not be the last.
She draped the towel around the back of her neck, letting the ends fall over her shoulders as she once again sent a series of punches into the bag. Jessica did her best to keep up, but the force of Aurora’s blows nearly sent her falling back onto the floor.
Aurora: You say I’m not used to losing… and you dared to accuse me of having you all figured out? Honey, you don’t have the slightest clue as to what I’ve been through in my life, or what I’ve experienced over the last four years. Yeah, I’ve had a couple of lucky breaks in my life… a well-connected manager, my contract with NGW… hell, I even met the man of my dreams, all in the span of a couple of months! But if you think for one second that everything that’s gone in my favor has left me with a sense of entitlement, you’re sadly mistaken. I’ve dealt with my fair share of beasts and demons, all of whom I’ve conquered and moved past. I’ve still got my issues, and I’ve still got a hell of a long way to go before all of the old wounds of my past are fully healed, but I’m getting there.
Slowly, but surely, I’ll get there.
She backed away from the bag, a visible look of relief gripping Jessica’s face as she took a seat beside it. Aurora smirked at her friend, then extended a hand to help her to her feet.
Aurora: That’ll be it for now, Jess. Maybe next time, we can get Damon to join us.
Jessica’s eyes went wide as a look of dread washed over her. Aurora merely chuckled.
Jessica: Um… I don’t know about that. How long will you be in town again?
Aurora’s chuckle turned into full laughter as she clapped a hand on Jessica’s shoulder.
Aurora: Relax! What I meant was maybe we can meet up again next time our paths cross. I still live in Long Beach, by the way. Down by the ocean. Look me up if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
Aurora smiled as Jessica breathed a sigh of relief.
Aurora: Go on ahead and hit the showers. I’ve got some loose ends to tie up here, then I won’t be far behind.
She watched as Jessica headed off into the locker room, then turned her attention back to the camera.
Aurora: You’re right about one thing, Storm. I don’t like losing – no one does. Which is why I do my damnedest to avoid it at all costs. But the fact remains, losing is as much a part of the game as winning is, as I’m sure you know. I took my loss last week like the champion that I am, with my head held high, knowing that even though I gave my all, it was someone else’s turn to take center stage. This Saturday, win or lose, I can guarantee one thing. We will BOTH learn a lot about each other when we lock horns inside the squared circle, for good or for ill. And we’ll both move on from this match, taking what we’ve learned from each other and applying it to future matches. But the future is still unwritten, Storm. Whether our own stories will ever converge after this point in time remains to be seen, but for now, you and I are on a collision course. Who will be the one left standing after the smoke clears? Which one of us will be standing in the spotlight, hand raised in victory as the crowd cheers so loudly that they shake the building to its foundation? And who will be the one that walks back up that entrance ramp with another loss to add to the collection? More importantly, which one of us will learn the bigger lesson?
We all have our own reasons for carrying on in this fucked up world, Mark. You have your daughter, just as I have someone dear to me. Am I a tag team wrestler? You’re damn right I am, but that’s not why I came to NGW. I’m not going to let my status as one half of the NGW Tag Team Champions define my career. It’s simply a highlight; the first of many. I came to compete on my own as well, and as you can see, I’ve done pretty damn well for myself. And after this Saturday at Vendetta, I will continue to do precisely what I came here to do, and that’s fight. Singles… tag teams… whatever comes my way, I will face everything head on. You’re not stepping into the ring with “Aurora Knight, the other half of ‘Aurora and Damon’.” You’re facing Aurora Knight… the girl that spit in the face of everyone that told me I couldn’t wrestle… the woman that fought in middle school gymnasiums for maybe just enough cash to cover gas money… The woman that saw to it that the biggest threat to my existence woke up behind bars after the last time he tried to fuck with me.
I know there’s a storm coming, and I may very well be coming into this match with a lightning rod strapped to each hand, but I welcome everything that’s to come, so by all means… bring the thunder, bring the lightning, bring a fucking HURRICANE while you’re at it, because believe me… I’ll be ready!
You can call yourself the victor of your own story all you want, but this Saturday, I plan on helping you write the chapter where you DON’T come out on top. But don’t worry… you can pick yourself up and start over again with the next chapter.
Aurora stepped back, bouncing on the balls of her feet before kicking the camera down to the ground. It landed sideways, a thin layer of static covering the screen as Aurora grabbed her bag and walked off toward the locker room, turning off the light as she left.
Memphis, TN
Monday, July 25, 2016
Aurora sat by herself in the corner of the restaurant, perusing the menu beneath the glow of a neon Budweiser sign, taking periodic sips from a glass of water. The wall beside her was covered with an amusing amount of graffiti from previous patrons, including what appeared to be a very tiny note that read “She said yes!” in the bottom corner. Or at least that was what it looked like. She couldn’t really tell for sure under all of those layers of scribbles.
She chuckled at the mostly-illegible scrawls as a waitress approached her table. She was a tad on the short side, couldn’t have been more than 5’4”, with dark blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. She smiled warmly at Aurora as she got ready to take her order.
Waitress: Hi there; my name’s Leslie… what can I get for ya?
Aurora: I don’t know… everything looks so good. Um, I think I’ll start with the nachos; can I get those without the jalapeños?
Waitress: You certainly can!
Aurora: Excellent. Then yeah, I’ll have the nachos…
Both: No jalapeños!
Aurora laughed as the waitress winked.
Waitress: And what can I get you to drink?
Aurora: I’ll have a Dr. Pepper… no ice, please.
Waitress: “No ice…” got it! Coming right up!
She smiled and walked away, her ponytail swishing side to side as she walked. Once she was out of sight, Aurora resumed trying to make sense of the scribbles on the wall. Birthday messages… a couple of “for a good time, call…” notes… various random scribbles that had to have come from a toddler that went a little crazy with their crayons.
Voice: Aurora? Aurora Quinn, is that you?
She hadn’t heard anyone call her by her maiden name in years, so hearing it out of the blue like that caught her by surprise. Aurora looked up to see a woman roughly her age, but with long, curly brown hair that fell past her shoulders. A pair of deep brown eyes peeked out at her from behind a pair of black-coated wire-rimmed glasses over a smile that was one of joy, mixed with surprise. Aurora stared at the woman, certain that she knew her from somewhere, but she couldn’t remember where.
Aurora: I’m sorry… you look so familiar, but I can’t remember where I know you from.
Woman: No surprise. I moved out here from Long Beach when I was about 10 years old. We were in the same class in 3rd Grade… Whittier Elementary?
A flash of realization hit Aurora as she smiled at the brunette woman.
Aurora: Yeah… Mrs. Simms’ class! You know, she’s not there anymore; she retired about five years ago. At least, that’s what they said when I stopped by a couple months ago. Jessica, right?
She gestured toward the seat across from her as the brunette nodded her head. Jessica was one of the few girls Aurora had grown up around that didn’t make her want to slap the taste out of her mouth on a regular basis. She was also the last true female friend Aurora had.
Jessica: So you DO remember!
Aurora: Yeah, it just took me a minute to place a name to the face. You know how it is.
Jessica: How long has it been? 12 years? So what have you been up to?
Aurora sighed as she thought about everything that had happened in the past 12 years. There was no way she’d have enough time to fill Jessica in on every little detail.
Aurora: I don’t even know where to begin… except the last name is Knight now…
Jessica: Really? When did you get married?
Aurora: It’s a long, complicated story. Suffice to say, he’s no longer in the picture. Best to leave it at that. In fact, I’m actually considering reverting back to my maiden name. Or… I may just hold off until….
She stopped herself. Already, she was starting to reveal too much too soon. She looked at the bare spot on her left hand, and quickly folded her hands as she leaned back in her seat.
Jessica: Until what?
Aurora shook her head rapidly, then took a sip from her water.
Aurora: It’s nothing. Forget I even said anything. But there IS a guy in my life…
Jessica leaned forward, eager to hear about whoever it was that made Aurora’s cheeks turn as red as a pair of stop signs.
Aurora: Well, the first time I talked to him was on Twitter, a couple of months ago. He posted a reply to a Tweet I posted about my new job that made me want to turn his nuts into butter.
Her old friend cringed at the mental image being presented to her.
Jessica: And yet you still agreed to meet with this guy?
Aurora blushed again.
Aurora: It was unavoidable. We both work for the same company. Started on the same night, even. Realized he wasn’t a complete bag of shit, and hell if he didn’t grow on me from that point on. Now we’re the NGW Tag Team Champions…
Jessica: Hold up! You mean you decided to follow in your brothers’ footsteps and became a wrestler?
She nodded her head.
Aurora: Only difference is I went pro. Leo and Ri didn’t. Last I heard, Leo was being groomed to take over the family business, while Ri… last I saw him he was working at IKEA.
Jessica: Wait… you don’t talk to them?
Aurora’s head tilted downward, a brief twitch wrinkling the corner of her mouth as she shook her head.
Aurora: Yet another long, complicated story that I’d rather not bring up. Which oddly enough, is related to the FIRST long story.
Jessica: Ah… I think I get it. Say no more. So I take it you’re in town on business?
Again, Aurora nodded, returning her gaze to her old friend. Her face seemed far more relaxed, now that the conversation had turned away from her interaction with her family – or lack thereof.
Aurora: Yeah… I’ve got a match this Saturday at the FedEx Forum. Some guy that keeps popping up every so often, then goes away again. Except now he wants to go after our company’s top guy…
Jessica: Ugh… sounds like a guy I work with… just started working there, and he’s already bitching about being passed over for a promotion – by someone that’s been there for years!
Aurora: You get those types in every industry, I guess.
Jessica: So tell me about this guy you’re seeing… is he cute?
A deep, dreamy sigh whooshed out of Aurora’s throat.
Aurora: So gorgeous, you don’t even know! Killer green eyes, and tattoos that could tell more stories than the walls in here!
Jessica: Sounds… colorful.
Aurora laughed at her friend’s attempt at word play as Jessica looked around the room.
Aurora: He actually IS a tattoo artist. He’s done one on me so far, and I’m already talking to him about my next piece.
Jessica: I can’t picture myself getting a tattoo… needles scare me. But hey, at least you two have something to bond over.
Aurora: That, and to know that I’ve got a little piece of his artwork that I can carry with me everywhere I go… I like it. Anyway, enough about me. What have you been up to?
Jessica: Well… just finished college, but I’m looking into going after my Master’s degree in…
Aurora: I swear… if you say “political science” I’m gonna scream!
Jessica: Actually, I was gonna say Early Childhood Education. I’m looking to open up my own child care facility.
Aurora nodded, impressed at her friend’s ambition.
Aurora: Wow! Good luck with that. I don’t think I’d be able to handle all those kids. Hey, not to change the subject, but what are you gonna be doing after this?
Jessica: Gonna go home and veg, to be honest. Why?
Aurora’s eyes took on a mischievous glimmer as she smiled at her friend. Meanwhile, the waitress returned with a massive plate covered with a mountain of nachos. Aurora stared at the pile of food and raised an eyebrow at the waitress, who merely winked as she walked away.
Aurora: Well, my normal workout partner is tied up at the moment… you want to fill in for him?
Jessica thought about it, then nodded.
Jessica: Sure… not like I have anything else planned. We can catch up on old times.
Jessica eyeballed the plate of nachos in front of Aurora.
Jessica: By the way… you gonna eat all that?
Aurora gestured for Jessica to dig in, and the two old friends went to work on the cheesy pile between them.
**ON CAMERA**
Undisclosed Location
Memphis, TN
Later that day
Aurora and Jessica stood in a simple white room with thick gray padding on the floor. No windows… just a single door that led into a narrow hallway. A single standing heavy bag was placed in the middle of the room, with Aurora standing in front of it, facing a mirror that took up nearly half of a wall. The ladies had changed into workout gear, with Aurora clad in a black sports bra and black leggings. Jessica, who stood behind the bag, was clad in white.
A snarl twisted the features of Aurora’s face as she sent a brutal jab into the bag, causing Jessica to wince as she gripped the bag. Another punch, and Aurora’s snarl deepened as her eyes took on a wild, predatory gleam. A knee strike… a spinning back elbow that nearly knocked Jessica down, and then a roundhouse kick, the impact echoing throughout the cavernous space. Aurora stopped, prompting Jessica to take a step back, shaking her hands and giving Aurora a look that was a combination of awe and intimidation.
Aurora: I’m not standing here, throwing punches into this hulking bag of fake leather and sand, in the middle of this empty gym, hoping to strike fear into the heart of my opponent. And granted, this isn’t how I normally train, but I can’t expect a girl that’s never set one foot between the ropes to do the job of those that I normally have with me, so I have to improvise. The camera is just along for the ride. But since it’s here, let me tell you a quick story.
March 7, 1994. For most of the world, it was just an ordinary day… the sun came up, the sun went down, and life went on as it always did. But in my hometown, a storm was raging, ripping the sky open like a worn-out shirt that’s been stretched a little bit too far. It was on that very day that, amidst thunder and lightning streaking across the sky, and rain pouring down in buckets, that I took my first breath. Why am I bringing this up? Because ever since that day, the threat of a coming storm never once conjured fear in my heart. In fact, it filled me with anticipation like you wouldn’t believe.
Until now.
The calm before the storm….
She flashed a wicked smile as she got ready to lay into the bag again, signaling for Jessica to resume holding the bag. As Jessica reluctantly took her position, Aurora drilled into the bag with a vicious flurry of punches as a hint of foam gathered in the corner of her mouth. She stopped, walking across the room to where her gym bag sat on a single wooden crate. She reached inside, first for a towel, and again for a bottle of water. She took a quick drink of water before wiping the sweat from her brow. She turned to the camera, her nostrils flaring with each breath.
Aurora: Look into these eyes, Mark Storm. Your name may scare the piss out of some people, but NOT me. True… I’ve only seen just a small portion of what you can do in the ring. I can only trust that you bring far more to the table than that. You want to talk about potential; I know I’ve yet to reach the pinnacle of what I can do in this business as well. Just as you claim I haven’t seen all of you, the reverse is true of me. That’s what makes the anticipation all the more fun for me.
Aurora took another swig from her bottle, then closed the cap and tossed it back into her bag.
Aurora: So now, the great Mark Storm has come back to NGW to save us all from the tyranny of King Gavin… wow. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but while you say your goal is to be the one to knock him off of his throne as Unified Champion, you’re not the only one. Hell, we BOTH have people standing in between us and holding the top strap. This match? It’s just two of the many contenders chasing that top prize, jockeying for position at the top of the ladder. Everyone wants to knock everybody else off.
The problem is… only one of us is going to get to take that chance, and the rest of us will only be able to watch. Watch, and hope against hope that they won’t be able to get the job done. You’re no different than the rest of us. You’ll watch Ashleigh Grimes step into the ring against her husband, knowing that regardless of who wins the match, we’ll be faced with the same thing – more of the status quo, just with the possibility of a smaller package.
I’m not even going to bother getting into a discussion of the numbers game with you, because none of it matters. Wins and losses, past accomplishments, none of it means a damn once that bell rings. Sure, it’s good for bragging rights, but over the years, I’ve seen wrestlers that were absolute SHIT in the ring brag about their mile-long lists of achievements. All it shows is how good you WERE. It’s only a mere glimpse as to how good you ARE. You want to prove how good you ARE, Storm? By all means, be my guest. Step through those ropes and face me; make sure to come at me with everything you’ve got. I guess we’ll find out who’s the better wrestler when the referee calls us to the center of the ring for the first time, and if you’re to prove true to your word, it may not be the last.
She draped the towel around the back of her neck, letting the ends fall over her shoulders as she once again sent a series of punches into the bag. Jessica did her best to keep up, but the force of Aurora’s blows nearly sent her falling back onto the floor.
Aurora: You say I’m not used to losing… and you dared to accuse me of having you all figured out? Honey, you don’t have the slightest clue as to what I’ve been through in my life, or what I’ve experienced over the last four years. Yeah, I’ve had a couple of lucky breaks in my life… a well-connected manager, my contract with NGW… hell, I even met the man of my dreams, all in the span of a couple of months! But if you think for one second that everything that’s gone in my favor has left me with a sense of entitlement, you’re sadly mistaken. I’ve dealt with my fair share of beasts and demons, all of whom I’ve conquered and moved past. I’ve still got my issues, and I’ve still got a hell of a long way to go before all of the old wounds of my past are fully healed, but I’m getting there.
Slowly, but surely, I’ll get there.
She backed away from the bag, a visible look of relief gripping Jessica’s face as she took a seat beside it. Aurora smirked at her friend, then extended a hand to help her to her feet.
Aurora: That’ll be it for now, Jess. Maybe next time, we can get Damon to join us.
Jessica’s eyes went wide as a look of dread washed over her. Aurora merely chuckled.
Jessica: Um… I don’t know about that. How long will you be in town again?
Aurora’s chuckle turned into full laughter as she clapped a hand on Jessica’s shoulder.
Aurora: Relax! What I meant was maybe we can meet up again next time our paths cross. I still live in Long Beach, by the way. Down by the ocean. Look me up if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
Aurora smiled as Jessica breathed a sigh of relief.
Aurora: Go on ahead and hit the showers. I’ve got some loose ends to tie up here, then I won’t be far behind.
She watched as Jessica headed off into the locker room, then turned her attention back to the camera.
Aurora: You’re right about one thing, Storm. I don’t like losing – no one does. Which is why I do my damnedest to avoid it at all costs. But the fact remains, losing is as much a part of the game as winning is, as I’m sure you know. I took my loss last week like the champion that I am, with my head held high, knowing that even though I gave my all, it was someone else’s turn to take center stage. This Saturday, win or lose, I can guarantee one thing. We will BOTH learn a lot about each other when we lock horns inside the squared circle, for good or for ill. And we’ll both move on from this match, taking what we’ve learned from each other and applying it to future matches. But the future is still unwritten, Storm. Whether our own stories will ever converge after this point in time remains to be seen, but for now, you and I are on a collision course. Who will be the one left standing after the smoke clears? Which one of us will be standing in the spotlight, hand raised in victory as the crowd cheers so loudly that they shake the building to its foundation? And who will be the one that walks back up that entrance ramp with another loss to add to the collection? More importantly, which one of us will learn the bigger lesson?
We all have our own reasons for carrying on in this fucked up world, Mark. You have your daughter, just as I have someone dear to me. Am I a tag team wrestler? You’re damn right I am, but that’s not why I came to NGW. I’m not going to let my status as one half of the NGW Tag Team Champions define my career. It’s simply a highlight; the first of many. I came to compete on my own as well, and as you can see, I’ve done pretty damn well for myself. And after this Saturday at Vendetta, I will continue to do precisely what I came here to do, and that’s fight. Singles… tag teams… whatever comes my way, I will face everything head on. You’re not stepping into the ring with “Aurora Knight, the other half of ‘Aurora and Damon’.” You’re facing Aurora Knight… the girl that spit in the face of everyone that told me I couldn’t wrestle… the woman that fought in middle school gymnasiums for maybe just enough cash to cover gas money… The woman that saw to it that the biggest threat to my existence woke up behind bars after the last time he tried to fuck with me.
I know there’s a storm coming, and I may very well be coming into this match with a lightning rod strapped to each hand, but I welcome everything that’s to come, so by all means… bring the thunder, bring the lightning, bring a fucking HURRICANE while you’re at it, because believe me… I’ll be ready!
You can call yourself the victor of your own story all you want, but this Saturday, I plan on helping you write the chapter where you DON’T come out on top. But don’t worry… you can pick yourself up and start over again with the next chapter.
Aurora stepped back, bouncing on the balls of her feet before kicking the camera down to the ground. It landed sideways, a thin layer of static covering the screen as Aurora grabbed her bag and walked off toward the locker room, turning off the light as she left.