The Hope Paradox Pt1: Good Riddance
Dec 20, 2021 13:13:40 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, bloodiedfox, and 1 more like this
Post by Spike Kane on Dec 20, 2021 13:13:40 GMT -5
Good Riddance.
Fitting, no?
See…..either way, win or lose? This will be my last match in FIRESIDE. You see…sometimes it actually pays to tailor a contract, rather than just blindly signing my life away like I’ve done so many times….so I’m one foot out the door, but there’s a big reason it’s only one foot. What is the reason?
Misha Constantine.
I’m not delusional, I know I’m incredibly fortunate to still be the reigning, defending X*Crown Champion. I know Vodka Fizz pushed me more than anyone else has in recent memory - besides the Deathmatch back in the GUNS Season Premier. I know Fizz came within reach of taking this X*Crown from me, but I also know that I am still your champion. I am still the top dog. I am still the best there is at what I do…..come on you should know the rest by now.
…and what I do ain’t nice.
Misha Constantine though? Well, if I’m honest? The likes of Misha, MYOJIN, Bloodied Fox? They’re the kind of performers I’ve been itching to share the ring with. I fought MYO for the X*Crown, but it wasn’t exactly one on one and I’ve been wanting that one on one ever since. See….everyone looks at me, they look at what I’ve been through, and they judge me. They look down their noses at me, they look at my clothes and judge. They hear about my sex life, and they judge. They hear about the trauma I’ve been through, and they fucking judge. I’m not like that, I don’t feel in my line of work, in my small slice of the larger industry that is professional wrestling? I’m not like that. I don’t judge people on those kind of things, but you know what I have a track record in?
Being a good fucking judge of talent.
I have an eye for it, and there’s still a few wrestlers floating around after TWENTY FIVE YEARS that can attest to it. That prick Price is a good example.
I look at you Misha, and I see talent. Anyone who denies that is either blissfully unaware of your abilities and skill, or ignorant as fuck. Sometimes both, why not? You’ve had a great year, in the time I’ve been here anyway. You’ve had some absolutely stand out matches, and I’m not going to pretend that isn’t true. I’m not going to try and downplay what you’ve done, because I’m not that kind of person - Well, I mean I am, but usually that’s because the person across the ring is talking a big game without any fucking credibility to back them up. When I saw that Anthony Caffrey had booked me to defend the X*Crown Championship against you at Good Riddance? It made me happy, honestly.
I want my last match in FIRESIDE to steal the show, to blow everyone away and show the entire world what a real fucking match looks like…..that’s why I’m happy it’s you Misha. That’s why it made me smile. I respect your work, I respect your ability, hell I respect your legacy….
….and the fact that you will become a part of MY X*Crown Legacy.
Fitting, no?
See…..either way, win or lose? This will be my last match in FIRESIDE. You see…sometimes it actually pays to tailor a contract, rather than just blindly signing my life away like I’ve done so many times….so I’m one foot out the door, but there’s a big reason it’s only one foot. What is the reason?
Misha Constantine.
I’m not delusional, I know I’m incredibly fortunate to still be the reigning, defending X*Crown Champion. I know Vodka Fizz pushed me more than anyone else has in recent memory - besides the Deathmatch back in the GUNS Season Premier. I know Fizz came within reach of taking this X*Crown from me, but I also know that I am still your champion. I am still the top dog. I am still the best there is at what I do…..come on you should know the rest by now.
…and what I do ain’t nice.
Misha Constantine though? Well, if I’m honest? The likes of Misha, MYOJIN, Bloodied Fox? They’re the kind of performers I’ve been itching to share the ring with. I fought MYO for the X*Crown, but it wasn’t exactly one on one and I’ve been wanting that one on one ever since. See….everyone looks at me, they look at what I’ve been through, and they judge me. They look down their noses at me, they look at my clothes and judge. They hear about my sex life, and they judge. They hear about the trauma I’ve been through, and they fucking judge. I’m not like that, I don’t feel in my line of work, in my small slice of the larger industry that is professional wrestling? I’m not like that. I don’t judge people on those kind of things, but you know what I have a track record in?
Being a good fucking judge of talent.
I have an eye for it, and there’s still a few wrestlers floating around after TWENTY FIVE YEARS that can attest to it. That prick Price is a good example.
I look at you Misha, and I see talent. Anyone who denies that is either blissfully unaware of your abilities and skill, or ignorant as fuck. Sometimes both, why not? You’ve had a great year, in the time I’ve been here anyway. You’ve had some absolutely stand out matches, and I’m not going to pretend that isn’t true. I’m not going to try and downplay what you’ve done, because I’m not that kind of person - Well, I mean I am, but usually that’s because the person across the ring is talking a big game without any fucking credibility to back them up. When I saw that Anthony Caffrey had booked me to defend the X*Crown Championship against you at Good Riddance? It made me happy, honestly.
I want my last match in FIRESIDE to steal the show, to blow everyone away and show the entire world what a real fucking match looks like…..that’s why I’m happy it’s you Misha. That’s why it made me smile. I respect your work, I respect your ability, hell I respect your legacy….
….and the fact that you will become a part of MY X*Crown Legacy.
~~~
It had not been easy, far from it. Vodka Fizz put up one hell of a fight, and he nearly had me. It was close, too close, but now? Now was a time for resting and recuperating, heal as much as I can before I have to step into the Iron Hell triple-no…..fucking fatal fourway.
Spike: Fucking Price….
My body still hurt from the Swingers Party show, and that motherfucker did not hold back with those chair shots. Odd to feel proud about that, isn’t it? Taught him well.
Dax: The price of wot!?
Dax’s voice cut through my thought process, for a moment I’d forgotten the two of them were even here. Maybe I zoned out, maybe I need more time to just rest and recover. It’s going to be an insanely hectic schedule. Jesse, Dylan, Price and then a few days later Misha…fuck…
Spike: Sorry, I’ve been stuck in my head. Thinking about Price jumping me….again…
I sound like a dick, because I’m being a hypocrite. I’ve jumped people loads of times, fuck I jumped Dylan and when I couldn’t find Jesse, I jumped the younger Jamester. Torn between anger and pride once again. Heh…life story there,
Dax: You know if ya want I could, like, totally smash their heads in for ya?
Bless his cotton socks….does he wear socks? I reckon he would if I let him too, but that’s not really my style.
Spike: I appreciate that Dax, but I’m more of a hands on kind of guy. I like to deal with things myself.
Tomo: She should probably deal with those bruised ribs!
The sneaky little fucker appeared out of nowhere and scared the shit out of me, but the ice packs he brought were definitely welcome.
Spike: Thanks Tomo….
Tomo: Eh, don’t thank me. We need you to adapt to life in your world, so I guess I gotta keep you around.
Harsh. Not untrue, but harsh. Typical Tomo.
Dax: He don’t mean it like that. It’s like, kinda how he says he likes you.
Tomo: No it isn’t.
Harsh. I like this fur balls brutal honesty.
Dax: Yeah it is Tomo, stop being mean.
I swear for a moment he looked like he was going to tell Dax to “Fuck off” or something, but he stopped to turn to me, doing that puppy dog eyes look he does so well. Little bastard is “Puss in Boots”-ing me.
Tomo: ….but you could arrange for us to meet the bears, right?
The bears? For once it’s nice not to have my brain automatically filter to “American” and try to figure out what the actual fuck people are talking about - as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist….but yeah….bears?
Spike: …like, home? Your home?
I watched his tiny little head shake before he gestured for me to move closer, as if he was gonna tell me a secret. I’ve seen this psychopath levitate shit across the room so of course I lean in.
Tomo: No….the place with the “Gold” bears…
Gold bears? What the-oh….shit, he means Goldbear!
Spike: Aha…erm, well I suppose I could arrange something. Maybe take you guys there and show you around? I know a guy-
In the back of my head I swore I heard like a pop sound, but it didn’t really grab my attention until she spoke.
???: Are you fucking kidding me?
Oh fuck.
Dax: Woah, who da hell are you!
I looked up from Tomo, who was getting ready to some kind of magic shit with his hands while Dax was grabbing for her axe. There she stood, just as I remembered….
Spike: …hold up guys, that’s my daughter.
Tomo: Dawn?
Dax: Nah she don’t look like that.
Spike: ….give me a minute guys, she’s from the future….or a future anyway, I know, I know, fucking weird..... Hope….how are you even here?
The hatred in her eyes was burning into me, and I couldn’t understand why. She came back to see me before I died, and we made it count…..surely we made it count….
Right?
~~~
Despite laying in a heap after an absolute war, my music suddenly stopping made me think of a worst case scenario. Here was some motherfucker out to try and make their name by attacking me when I can barely walk….but, it didn’t happen. Instead? We got a bit of an announcement slash veiled threat, from none other than Misha Constantine.
The Self-made God.
There’s so many of those these days….
Well you see, if I’ve been called the God of Xtreme, the Blood God, and even the God of Steel during my Man of Steel record breaking reign - every defence was a Dragon’s Den match. The difference is there Misha, you call yourself a self-made God, I never had to name myself anything.
My violent in-ring style garnered me the name the God of Xtreme.
The utter wake of destruction I leave in my wake garnered me the name the Blood God.
My unstoppable, brutal reign as champion garnered me the name the God of Steel.
Look on my works ye mighty and despair.
A person's deeds live on in history forever, a person's legacy is all that remains when we return to dust. I’ve spent twenty five years building a legacy that nobody comes close to Misha. For all your bluster and bragging, you have to know….deep down, that you don’t fit on the same level as Spike Kane. I don’t care if you call yourself a God though, if I’m honest? You do you, it’s never bothered me if someone calls themself something, it’s only when they try to tell me I can’t, that I have an issue….see…I’ve fought demons, I’ve fought the wave of “ultra-violent” wrestlers that came after the XHF closed…
I ended the careers of three of them.
I beat the Devil himself.
I beat God himself.
…..why should I care about you?
I mean, wasn’t it only a few weeks ago you were claiming to have your sights set on the FIRESIDE world championship? I’m pretty sure you were busy being an edgelord and threatening MAJESTY and Burrows, because you were coming for your stolen property, no? Wasn’t that the whole shebang, or did things get “readjusted” at the last minute once again? I think I have a theory….I think you saw Apathy crush her competition and apparently choose to fight Natalie for the World Title….and you figured that would be too hard. However, on the other hand….
Well Spike Kane has just been put through the roof of the Dragons Den…
Spike Kane has a 14 Man Tag Team match at the Swingers Party.
Spike Kane has a Main Event Iron Hell fatal fucking fourway against the three other most violent people in all of the XHF at Oh Violent Night!
…..so whatever is left, will be easy pickings….right?
Wrong motherfucker.
You have never met anyone like me before, I can promise you that. As long as I’ve got blood in my veins, and air in my lungs, I’ll keep fucking going. It’s been my mantra since day one, that’s why I paid the ultimate price for this business, that’s why I died in the middle of the ring, before I promise you this Misha, no matter how big you think you are. No matter how amazing you think your FIRESIDE legacy is, no matter who has your back, and who wants to stab me in mine…
You’ll have to put me down to stop me walking out of Good Riddance and FIRESIDE as the X*Crown Champion.
For good.
~~~
Spike: I’ll never forget the first time I saw you….
The door clicked shut as Tomo and Dax left the room, I could hear Tomo muttering under his breath, but right now all I could do was focus on Hope.
Hope: Which me?
Heh. Funny kid,
Spike: I remember being in some absolutely trashed buildings, then on some hill your Mom appeared, with you in some kind of sling….
Hope: and a rocket launcher on her shoulder, right?
Scared the absolute shit out of me, Pandora, with a rocket launcher and our baby girl slung over her while she aimed that weapon at me.
Spike: Second time was better.
Hope: ….when I came back to see you?
I just nod, because this is hard enough.
Hope: Dad…I was raised on stories that Mom and Mom told me about you, about everything that happened before it all went to shit. Your death was the beginning, I wanted to see you, in the flesh…but you knew didn’t you?
What!?
Spike: What?
Hope: You knew….the entire time. No matter what happened that night, you knew your time was up.
Fuck. She’s right. Of course I knew, the Archangel Michael might be a prick but at least he reasoned with me.
Spike: ….yeah. I knew….
The tears in her eyes feel like fucking daggers in my heart. How can this be happening? What is going on? How did she even find me here?
Spike: I didn’t want to say anything….I couldn’t Hope….how could I tell your mothers? How could I have the strength to tell Astrid and Pandora I wouldn’t be coming home? I tried to fix everything, I tried to make amends. I knew I was going to leave Pandora alone….so I accepted, and understood that she needed Astrid…..she was going to need Astrid…
Hope: ….and what about me?
I…I never thought….I….fuck….
Spike: …I thought you’d go home?
Hope: To a post apocalyptic future?
What am I supposed to….
Spike: ….I’m sorry.
Hope: I can’t believe the hoops I had to jump through to find you, but I finally did Dad….and now, now we can spend the time together that we never got to,
It can’t be true, it just can’t.
Spike: ….really? You still want to?
Hope: Dad I jumped through time and crossed dimensions for you!
Spike: Oh kiddo….come here.
I grab her as if our lives depend on it. I’ve lost everything, lost everyone, but she found her way back to me and I’m not going to fuck this up, I’m not going to let her go…..
~~~
I guess, in a way, I owe a lot to you right now Misha because you opened my eyes in a way I didn’t even realise I needed. See, I’ve been so wrapped up in the fact that those I left behind, those I tried to make amends with, and those I love have all turned their backs on me since I died. Every single one of them has cursed my name, and after coming out of the absolutel mindfuck that is hell? ….it still hurt, but you’re right….the torture is over. The being forced to act a certain way, speak a certain way, jump when I’m fucking told to…..they’re over.
I’m fucking free.
You made me realise when you stood there and dismissed every piece of trauma that has effected me and created the fucking monster you see before you, while turning around and spouting the exact same thing back at me. We’re products of our environments. We’re not good people, no….no….far from it. See, I wasn’t surprised when I went to hell, because I’m a son of a bitch and I’ll kick the shit of your kid if it gives me an advantage in a match….but yeah, losing your kids Misha? It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever had to go through, and I genuinely hope that never happens to you…..cool deep dive though, because being born with a heart condition is a really dumb thing to do.
Right?
I looked at my life as merely another form of torture, it took me a long time to believe that I actually had escaped Hell and that this wasn’t some new fresh way to fuck with my head and my mind…..but you know what Misha? While you sat and licked your wounds every time you came up short, while you hid like a coward after you lost your tittle? Even though I thought I was still in Hell?
I went out there and showed the fucking world why I’m the best.
I announced myself at the Rumble. I took Anthony Caffrey’s little jab, and I joined his little company with only two things in mind: prove him wrong, and capture the X*Crown Champion. Oh look? ….I did it. I went through whoever was put in front of me, while as you put it being “headhunted” for A Call to Arms. The season premier of the Gun Show saw me go to absolute war with Dylan Black and Jese Jamester. I beat one of the most experienced and longest serving wrestlers I’ve ever known in Steve Awesome to earn my way to Night of Champions. I crushed Shane Locke and made the SPARK Championship one of the most prestigious championships in the XHF Network, before those same assholes you were so clear to point out screwed MYOJIN over, screwed me over.
But it’s about being in the right place at the right time, right?
Nobody handed me anything, nobody gifted me anything. I earned every step along the way, and I fucking earned everything I've ever achieved through bloody, sweat, and a fuck load more blood.
Nobody handed me anything, nobody gifted me anything. I earned every step along the way, and I fucking earned everything I've ever achieved through bloody, sweat, and a fuck load more blood.
Nice deep dive, can you actually read? Here’s a quick run down for you. I’ve been busting my ass, show after show, event after event, main event after main event. While you? You’ve been….
Er….
I don’t know actually, you’ve kinda been missing.
In the end though, I guess I owe you thanks, because I finally see things clearly. I came to XHF to do one thing; win the X*Crown Championship. I came to FIRESIDE to prove Caffrey wrong. I’ve left a bloody, violent, trail in my path that has spread across the XHF Network. I do the work, week after week. I learn. I adapt. I evolve. So I guess it’s time to do that now, right? Why else would I stay here in FIRESIDE? For the World Title? Please….I’m the fucking X*Crown Champion. I am the best. I’m at the top of the ladder, and now? Well….being the champion has its perks….you see, I am free. There’s just one little problem I need to deal with in GUNS and then I’m set.
Thank you Misha, for helping me understand that I got what I wanted. I did what I said I would do, and now? Now I get to go where I want, and do what I want. Man….
It’s good to be King.
See you in the ring “Self-made God” where I’ll give you an in person deep dive of how fucking violent and protective I can be. If you thought the glimpse you saw in the Rumble was enough? Just wait til I show you first hand.
All Bloody Hail.