Come Down Champion

Fancy carpet had been placed once more along the canvas of the ring. The ropes decorated with black sleeves and bunting hung around the rope apron. It was a special occasion and the ring needed to be presented. In the center of the ring was a small podium that looked like it had a metal case on it.

Once the atmosphere had been set, [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWiyKgeGWx0:cgu27274]music began to play.[/url:cgu27274] Out from the backstage area, strode Mercy Wrenn, the pink haired assistant to Aurelia "Rally" Fortuna, the Chief Manager of Talent Relations for Friction. She received tepid response, but she was glad. She didn't know how Lukretia could put up with having everyone in a building that contained thousands hating your guts.

Mercy stepped through the ropes and lifted up the microphone. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen." She said in a calm and serious tone. "Tonight we are here to make everything official. I know that it has been a long time since there has been a true champion but that ends tonight." Mercy's face brightened a bit as she looked at the entrance ramp. Please give get up and give a loud cheer for YOUR Friction World Champion!"

Mercy swung her arm out and held her palm out towards the entrance ramp waiting for the newly crowned Champion.

While the crowd was all hyped up to finally have a real champion the entrance ramp was surprisingly quiet. No music, no spotlights, no pyro... nothing, until the lights went out and the [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOUtdYKLYBg:2l1yokiz]music[/url:2l1yokiz] began to play. The crowd's excitement quickly turned to dismay as the lyrics heralded not Angel but the upstart claiming to be the real world champion: Adrian Kytes.

The lights switched back on, highlighting what was possibly the most smug expression in the entire universe as Adrian strutted down to the ring the ICW/ICWA Tri-State TV championship on one shoulder, her own personal AFW title on the other, and to top off the air of confidence: she had the Amazon Enforcer Rebecca Tomoko right behind her in case anyone objected to her arrival as she jumped into the ring, mugging for the crowd. "Awww, you shouldn't have..." she said to Mercy, leaning on the podium while Rebecca put her sizable arm around the poor pink-haired assistant. "But it's nice to know that the right people finally got their fingers out of their ass and acknowledge what they should have done 5 months ago. That the only person able to carry this company on her shoulders is yours truly."

Mercy's eye raised when music that shouldn't be playing was. When Adrian walked out, her head drooped. She wasn't int he mood to deal with these kinds of shenanigans. She wasn't sure what she could do though when the girl had brought along her big gorilla. Mercy kept her distance away from Adrian and Rebecca when they trotted tot he middle of the ring. After thinking it over, she decided to speak.

"It doesn't matter how many fake belts you strut down here with." Mercy said. "You aren't the champion." She said and lifted up her nose. "I mean... if that's all it takes, then maybe I should just declare myself the champion and take the belt." Mercy regretted that as soon as she said it. She didn't want a belt or a title or anything that involved actually having to fight these roided out freaks.

Angel was elated, she was ecstatic, as she strode through the AFW's halls, her belt slung proudly over one shoulder. Why shouldn't she be? She had finally achieved her dream of becoming the AFW's champion, and tonight she was to be officially, formally recognized as such! She was in an amazing mood, and couldn't wait to get to the ring for the ceremony to begin!

As she approached the arena's entrance though, she stopped, tilting her head to the side as she listened to the music floating in from the ring. Did she get here too early? Was someone else supposed to be doing a promo or something first? She started to walk again, slowly approaching the entrance, and just barely peeking around the edge of it, looking down towards the ring.

As soon as she saw Adrian, Angel's happiness, her joy completely faded, only to be replaced by pure, seething rage.

This was her night! This was her big moment! Just what the hell did that brat think she was doing?! All these thoughts and more raced through Angel's mind as she stared towards the ring in disbelief, and after hearing Adrian speak, she finally exploded, realizing just what was going on.

Snatching a microphone from a nearby official, the Latina burst into the arena, heading straight down the ramp towards the ring. There was no way she was going to let Adrian ruin this night for her. She didn't even give her music time to start playing as she lifted the microphone to her lips, practically screaming at Adrian through it.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, chica? You and your shitty fake belt need to get the hell out of my ring right now!"

Adrian didn't exactly expect Mercy to just roll with what she was saying, but as the pink haired assistant ducked away from the big amazon she could at least see that she could be potentially convinced with the age old debate strategy of having anyone who disagrees with you beaten to a pulp. "Why don't you do just that?" She asked. "You've probably got a claim to it as much as anyone else has. Except me, who obviously deserves it a lot more. But still! Don't let that get you down Mercy. Complain enough, whine about not being champion enough and you too might get a chance to show that the only legitimate belt in AFW is on my shoulder." the former cosplayer said in a sardonic tone of voice before she switched back to boasting. This was probably the biggest dick move anyone had really pulled in AFW history, and Adrian wasn't about to pull out now. Not even when the actual AFW champion showed her face.

"Well look who finally decided to show her face, it's the perma-number one contender herself, Angel! Sorry that I don't achknowledge that obvious forgery, that little 'you tried' trophy slung over your shoulder that was given to you because well you failing every single time to win something was just getting depressing. And heck I heard you almost struck out again against the softball they threw your way." Adrian said, turning around to face the obviously enraged Latina. It was taking all her willpower to not just simply go "You mad?" and laugh. The crowd was getting desperate for Angel to shut the American's mouth but with Rebecca in the wings, it was hard to see a direct attack going too well.

"And for those of you that still doubt the legitimacy of my claim to be the true world champion since my return. Why don't we turn the clocks back one year ago, the Temple Games. By the rules, it should have been you and I, Angel, fighting over who gets the first shot at the championship, and considering when we faced of I WON. I don't really see how that match no matter what dumb match type we got put in, the result would have been any different," she ranted, casually forgetting that this time last year Natasha had put her in the hospital with the ligaments in her leg shredded. "In fact the only reason you got a title shot then against the Queen of Creafpuffs was because our then champion, Sarah Gatt, 'lost her smile' and vanished. And you STILL couldn't get the job done then." the cosplayer added with extra venom at having to explain the previous champion to the audience. "And what did the two of us do afterward? You were content to bitch, and whine, and moan until someone gave you what you wanted like a mother, giving in to her child's stupid wants. I? I got pro-active, I saw that there was no-one to carry this company on their back, no-one was reliable, no-one wanted it hard enough. Except me."

"It's been 10 months since I first declared myself the real world champion, and no-one has been able to prove me wrong yet. So Chica, whadda you got that makes you half the champion I am?"

Angel slipped into the ring, her knuckles turning white as she squeezed her microphone tight. She was growing more and more angry with each word that came out of Adrian's mouth. At that moment, there was nothing she wanted more than to rush at Adrian and kick her freaking head into orbit, but even she wasn't reckless enough to try something like that with Rebecca around. So, she waited, listening to Adrian's rambling and raving, growing more annoyed and angry and hateful towards the girl with each passing second. It was taking every ounce of self-control that Angel had to not just say screw it and charge towards Adrian anyway.

But she waited, and when Adrian finally finished talking, she raised her microphone to her lips. Her words were short and to the point.

"What do I have? I have this," she stated plainly, glaring hate-filled daggers at Adrian as her other hand grabbed for her belt, thrusting it proudly into the air above her. An eruption of cheers came from the crowd, and even some of Angel's biggest naysayers couldn't help but join in the applause as the Latina held the real title up for everyone to see, the shining symbol of her status as the real champion. She basked in those cheers, letting them fill the arena around her, standing tall and proud before Adrian, almost as if she was daring the girl to deny the crowd's acceptance of her.

Adrian smiled as she leaned over the ropes, drinking in Angel's frustrated expression, it was probably taking every iota of self control the Latina had to not just try to rush the loudmouth former cosplayer. If there was one talent she had, it was that she was good at getting people angry really easily, but when Angel rose the title to a roar of the crowd her smug smile quickly turned to a scowl.

"Shut up!" She yelled at the crowd, pacing around the ring. "I thought the crowds in Japan were supposed to be respectful! So show the REAL world champion some respect and SHUT THE HELL UP!" the former cosplayer snapped, completely losing any sense of composure she had before she turned back to Angel, "So you got a bunch of ignorant sheep to all Baa in unison? Well I always knew you were a bitch, but thank you for narrowing it down to sheepdog for me." She said, trying to get something back at the Latina no matter how lame it sounded as Rebecca stepped up behind Adrian.

[size=85:29jgzrhv]"Want me to take care of her?" The Amazon whispered[size=85:29jgzrhv] "she can't grandstand if she can't stand."

[size=85:29jgzrhv]"I got this, I got this." Adrian hushed back, the gears turning in her head, trying to think of what she had to use as ammunition. She had kinda blown her load already with the first speech, and now was scrambling for ideas. Until one clicked.

"Look, we can trade insults all day if we have to, but for a brief moment, let's pretend that waste of electroplating on your shoulder was actually somewhat legitimate, but my obviously genuine article andifanyonedisagreeswiththattheyareWRONG, also is legitimate. There's two champions but this is like Highlander: there can be only one. So! At Avalanche, you and me, one on one. But it's not going to be just any old match, oh no. What if the despicable, deceitful, facetious Latina right in front of me gets herself disqualified because she knows she's going to lose?" Adrian asked to a chorus of boos. "The title can't change hands on a DQ or a count out, so what happens then? We're back where we started. We need something suitable for the main event, that guarantees that we will have an Undisputed champion walking out, with both belts. "

"So Angel, at Avalanche, title for title, IN A LADDER MATCH!"

Angel clutched her microphone even tighter, as she lowered her belt back onto her shoulder, her gaze never once leaving Adrian's face. Once more she was forced to listen as Adrian ranted and raved on and on and on. Did the annoying girl ever shut her damn mouth? It was like listening to someone like Reika or Ise, someone who just blabbed on and on and on and didn't even say much with her words. Once more the Latina found herself desperately wishing she could just rush Adrian and take her out, but again the thoughts of Rebecca nearby kept her from acting on that.

When Adrian finally stopped yapping, challenging Angel to the match, she rolled her eyes, lifting up her microphone to reply back to her. "Why the hell should I even accept that, chica? Everyone knows that your title is just a fake. You're the only damn person in the this company that thinks it's real. The rest of us? We're all backstage laughing at you." She waved a hand dismissively towards Adrian, forcing herself to smile at the woman. "I know your game. I really do, chica. You think you can goad me into accepting your stupid match, trying to get yourself a shot at a title that you've never done anything to deserve. And it's not like I'm worried about you beating me either. I, as well as this entire damn audience, knows that one-on-one, I would kick your sorry ass all over the ring!"

She took a moment after that, pausing before she uttered her next words. She had to choose what she said carefully, knowing that she was about to tread on thing ice. She had to admit, she wanted to accept the match, she wanted to show Adrian just how pathetic she really was, but there was still one little wrench in the works.

"The problem is, chica," she eventually continued, stepping forward as if to move closer towards Adrian. "You're a coward. A chicken. A scared little girl. You can't fight someone fairly." She took another step forward, then another, but suddenly moved past Adrian, suddenly turning her gaze entirely towards Rebecca, bravely stepping towards the Amazon. "If I was to accept your stupid match, the moment I started to kick your ass, you'd have your big chica here jump me or something, and try to beat the shit out of me to save you." She tilted her head back, looking Rebecca right in the eyes, trying not to waver as she realized just how huge the Amazon was this close up. She had come this far, though. She may as well keep going.

She shifted her words and the very tone of her voice, suddenly ignoring Adrian (she had a feeling that would piss the girl off!), and addressing Rebecca directly. "Come on, chica, be straight with me. Why are you bothering to protect this piece of shit, huh? A big girl like you shouldn't be wasting your time like that. Hell, shouldn't you be the one demanding the title shot and not the little wannabe standing over here?" She glanced back at Adrian, flashing her a grin, then back up to Rebecca. "Or maybe that's your plan, huh? Let Adrian here win and then crush her and take her title? It'd be an easy damn win, that's for sure!"

Adrian was livid. In fact, she was way more than livid, she was ready to explode and jump Angel there and then, regardless of whether or not the Amazon was with her at the time, she wanted to punt Angel's skull into the second row from the top! She wanted to tear off the Latina's limbs and beat her to death with them or at the very least something to get back at Angel for... pretty much hammering the nail on the head there. Adrian knew that despite her record she was still considered a joke by many, a coward by a significant few and the general feeling that she was holding Rebecca back by using her best friend from middle school as her bodyguard. "For all your talk about me being a coward you-" She began, voice barely steady before Rebecca grabbed her mic, slowly but firmly pulling it out of the cosplayer's grasp. and raising it to her own mouth.

"I don't need titles," the big woman began, surprising the crowd who expected her to just stay silent and only move when the punches started flying "One look will tell you who the strongest is." She said with a degree of certainty, before a smile cracked. "But... if I did... you'd duck me the same way you duck everyone else you know can beat you." she said simply, Adrian's shocked expression turning back into a smug smile. She wanted to hug the amazon there and then.

Angel raised her hands up innocently, smiling back at Rebecca, answering her with a laugh. "Oh, I know you're the strongest, chica. If I had to fight you, I'd be placing bets against myself, just so I could get rich off my loss!"

She turned back to Adrian, giving the cosplayer a smug smile in return. She stared daggers at the woman again, still speaking to Rebecca despite her gaze being focused on Adrian. "Which is my whole point. Why should I bother accepting any kind of match from Adrian here, when I know you'll be waiting in the wings, huh? I would accept her stupid match, because trust me, there's nothing more I want than to beat the living shit out of her, but what's the point? You'd just run out before I tried to pin her and beat the shit out of me in a heartbeat."

But then finally the Latina started to address Adrian again, taking a single, small step in her direction. "But maybe I should go ahead and accept, huh? Everyone in here knows that you wouldn't be able to beat me otherwise, chica. Maybe it would be worth losing the title, just to see you completely humiliated. After all, no one is going to take a champion seriously that's too scared to do anything without her bodyguard by her side. Hell! You couldn't even come out here tonight without her tagging along!"

She shook her head, tsking and turning away from Adrian, taking several steps away from the cosplayer and her bodyguard. "I'm sure everyone would love to see another champion that can't do anything on her own, though. It'd be just like when Sarah Gatt and her flunkies had the title! A bitch who's too scared to do anything on her own without her precious little bodyguards by her side!"