Empress Ngozi's bombastic regal music plays, and the Apia faithful rise to their feet and scream. She walks briskly out of a tunnel connecting the soccer field to the football complex, no longer wearing her robe, still with the Jewells Championship around her waist and now with a mic in her hand. Sarah Esposito and Zadie Chen walk behind her.
Briar Lane: Please welcome, Zadie Chen, Sarah Esposito and the Bearer of the Jewell, Ngozi - Empress of the Squared Circle!
The crowd cheers, some even bow, but she is too annoyed to do her usual wave.
A.B.: Listen to this ovation for the incomparable Empress, though she is lacking her usual regal swagger.
The trio enters the ring with Ngozi in the centre, Chen to her right and Esposito on her left, arms folded.
Shamoon: Esposito still looks pissed.
Dominga: Please, she looks like a scolded child.
Ngozi: Apia!
The crowd pops at their city's name being mentioned.
Another pop.
Ngozi (looking down, tapping boot, then looking up): As much as I hate to admit it, I... am getting older.
The crowd is shocked.
Ngozi: And as each day... week... month... year passes, I lose patience fo' ce'tain t'ings (stops due to her Nigerian accent coming out and takes a moment to collect herself), like this ridiculous saga, which is why I am ending it, tonight.
Crowd cheers; she gestures for them to settle down.
Ngozi: But before I do that, I have a message for the Thundeweight Champion, El Demonio de las Heladas.
Shamoon: What?
The crowd boos.
Ngozi (looks into the camera in the ring): Let me make myself clear to you, "Demon". I will leave casting you into the lake of fire to the Heavenly Father. Instead, if you should ever put your hands on my Alf again, I will find you in whatever cold, dark dungeon you are hiding in; I will enter it with a can of gasoline and a cigarette lighter, and I will simply set you on fire.
The crowd pops.
A.B.: Heh heh.
Ngozi (turns away from the camera): Now, Cobra, I don't know if your husband was listening, but I know you are. I know what you want, and I know what you deserve. So I'm going to give you both. You and I are going to settle this in a submission match for the Jewells Championship. Not in Dunedin, not at the Valentine's Brawl -my apologies to Tony Garcia- but here, tonight!
Dominga & Shamoon: WHAT?!
The crowd cheers.
Shamoon: I'm not sure that's a wise decision.
A.B. (gives warning look): Aaz...
Shamoon (panics): With respect!
Dominga: I can't believe I'm saying this two weeks in a row, but Shamoon is right. At Ascension, she was barely able to get the victory, and in their last match, Queen Cobra got the better of her.
A.B. gives her an even more intense warning look. She moves her chair away in fear.
Dominga: With respect!
Cobra's music hits, and the lights go dark, putting the three women in the ring on high alert.
Cobra (walking on through the tunnel): Ladiesss... Ladiesss, relaxss. I'm over here. Glad to see you up and about, Empressss. (Pouts with hand on face) I hope you weren't too ill. I sssometimesss go a little overboard with my venom hehehehe.
Ngozi (walks to the ropes): I'm fine... You wide-mouthed demon.
Cobra (evil grin): Yesss, I'll make ssssure to correct that before I take that title from you.
Ngozi (smiles): Yes, about that. There will be no title match.
Everyone is shocked; Queen Cobra frowns and walks forward a little.
Cobra: What are you talking about? You jussst sssaid-
Ngozi (holds up finger): Unless you convince your cohorts to come out here, so I can give them what they deserve.
Cobra grits her teeth.
Ngozi (raises eyebrow): That's not a problem, is it? With your... ssssssssssilver tongue, I'm sure you have them wrapped around your finger.
A.B. (laughing): She's got the Cobra squirming now.
Shamoon: I imagine people with egos as big as Moore's and Maharaj's don't like being seen as lackeys.
Dominga: She can't do this!
A.B.: The world champions have booking authority, Dominga.
Dominga: And that rule sucks!
A.B.: Only when abused.
Dominga: And what do you call this?
A.B.: Justice.
Cobra (grits teeth): I'm not playing yo-
Ngozi: Make no mistake, you and I are going to meet in this ring, but unless your new besties come out here, you're not getting a title shot. My title, my rules and management won't be interfering. So, what's it going to be, Queen Cobra?
Cobra's cat-like pupils become slits as she glares; her twitching, reddening face is on full display on the jumbo-tron. And then she turns around and walks back into the tunnel. A cameraman follows close behind, capturing her path for the big screen.
Dominga: No, Cobra! You're smarter than this. It's a trap.
A.B.: It's a Jewell's title shot. The one thing she wants more than life itself.
Shamoon: I'm calling it now. Moore and Maharaj are going to flake. This doesn't benefit them in the slightest.
Backstage
Cobra finds Jessie Moore leaning against a wall within the complex. The Outlaw doesn't acknowledge her.
Cobra: Moore, I need-
Moore: Do Ah gawt ears, Cobra. Ah ain't nobody's lapdog.
Cobra: But I thought, you alwaysss look for opportunitiesss to knock Ngozssi down a peg.
Moore: An how would jumpin' whe-yn she calls do that? What's in it for me?
Cobra: If I win-
Moore (puts phone away and looks at her): Ifin'? Ah'm not goin' out thair for an ifin'. Whe-yn ah want thuh belt, ah'll tay-uk it myself.
Cobra: Can you absssolutely guarantee that you could beat her when it countsss?
Moore (gets in her face): Ca-yn you?
Cobra: Ssshe'sss rattled. Afraid. I could see it out there. Why elssse would ssshe be ssso challenge me tonight instead of waiting until the pay-per-view? I can beat her and beat her badly, becaussse ssshe'll make missstakes.
Moore: That beder be a praahmise.
Cobra (smiles): Of courssse.
Moore (leans on wall again): Daisy luck with Maharaj. After what Esposito done t' her last week, ah figyhaw she done won't be too eager t' git back in thuh rin' with her.
Shay Maharaj walks over to them. She still has some bruising on her face.
Maharaj: Well, you figured wrong. I want that neanderthal's head after what she did to me.
Moore (snorts): She done took ya apart. Ifin' it wudn for us, thay'd 'ave bee-yn scrapin' ya awk thuh mat. So much for bein' untouchable.
Maharaj (looks away with her nose): I have my reasons; for one, you will owe me.
Cobra: Thank you.
They follow her back into the tunnel.
Shamoon: Wait, they're actually going to help her?
Dominga: Looks like you underestimated their relationship.
A.B.: I would have thought Moore to be less easily influenced at this stage in her career. She never fails to disappoint me.
After a couple of minutes, the villainess trio emerges to loud boos. Cobra in the centre with Maharaj on her right and Moore on her left.
Cobra: Alright, Ngozssi. I did asss you asssked. Now give me what you promisssed.
Ngozi: In a moment. Shay Maharaj!
The boos get even louder. Maharaj, who was throwing thumbs down at the crowd, snaps to attention with wide eyes, before putting her hands on her hips, lifting her chin and puffing out her chest. Both Moore and Cobra look at her askance.
Ngozi: I heard what you said last week. Every. Last. Word.
Crowd: Ooooh.
Maharaj wilts slightly.
Shamoon: Did she just gulp?
Dominga: You're imagining things.
Ngozi: Including the part where you claimed to be a lifelong fan of me.
Maharaj averts her gaze slightly, which earns her a sharp glare from Cobra.
Ngozi: Well, I hope your inner child is doing jumping jacks, because I acknowledge you. You truly have it.
Shamoon: Huh?
Dominga: Wow.
Esposito does a double-take. Even Chen side-eyes the Empress. Maharaj blinks and then smiles, before quickly smirking. The crowd boos.
Ngozi: Sorry, I meant you're absolutely full of it.
Crowd: OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Esposito and Chen both nod, the former more from relief than anything else.
A.B.: Truer words.
Maharaj grits her teeth in anger. Moore chuckles. Cobra just glares at the ring impatiently.
Ngozi: But maybe you'll prove me wrong when you once again go one-on-one with Sarah Esposito.
The crowd roars in approval. Esposito stares daggers at the Untouchable one, who returns them in kind.
Cobra: Great, great. A ssslobber-knocker in the waiting. Now-
Ngozi: Wait, your turn, serpent. Jessie Moore!
Ngozi: Wait, your turn, serpent. Jessie Moore!
The Outlaw tilts her hand and slides her hands in her pockets.
Ngozi: The ever-present puss-filled boil on my buttocks.
Moore just shrugs.
Shamoon: Heh. She said-
A.B.: Finish that sentence, I dare you.
Ngozi: Two weeks ago, you attacked Zadie Chen, unprovoked and locked her in her broom closet like a common playground bully.
Moore just nods in apparent satisfaction. Chen narrows her eyes.
Ngozi: So I will leave you to her.
The crowd cheers as Chen takes a step forward, making an archer's motion in Moore's direction. The Outlaw responds with a pistol gesture.
Ngozi: After these bouts have concluded, the way will be clear for you Cobra to stand across from me in the main event with the Jewell on the line.
Cobra: ... Jussst ssso we're clear, I don't need thessse to actually win their matches, do I?
Dominga: That's a good question.
Both Maharaj and Moore scowl at her.
Ngozi: If there's any interference in either of those matches, the title stipulation goes away.
Cobra: That arrangement heavily favours you. What's to stop those two from running interferenssse?
Ngozi: A combination of respect for me, hunger for revenge and the opportunity to win the gold down the line. So what will it be?
Moore grabs the mic out of Cobra's hand.
Moore: Ah ain't gonna need help ta put Che-yn down in that rin'. So ya won't 'ave t' worry about me in any case (Gives it back).
Maharaj grabs it this time, to Cobra's annoyance and the amusement of the crowd.
Maharaj: Like I said last week, Esposit. I am not afraid of you, and I do NOT need help to beat you!
A.B.: I wonder who she's trying to convince.
Ngozi: Excellent! Then it's settled.
Cobra: Indeed. (Bares fangs)
A.B.: It seems that this feud might be ending.
Dominga: Three interesting matches coming up tonight, and did you hear what the Empress said?
A.B.: Zadie Chen and Sarah Esposito are in the running for a title shot down the line. Now that's something to look forward to.
Dominga: Well, that's if The Empress can put the Queen away.
Shamoon: Don't forget, we've got another title defence tonight. Roger Evans defends his Bloodbath Championship.
Dominga: Ugh, but I wanted to forget...
No comments:
Post a Comment