X*Crown Showdown (NOC RP 5)
Jul 28, 2023 1:58:26 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 2 more like this
Post by Sam Sawyer on Jul 28, 2023 1:58:26 GMT -5
Casey stares at the code on the screen and lets out a small groan. He's never going to finish this on time. His heart just isn't in it and it's starting to lose all sense to him. He swivels away from the screen, then starts reading the movie titles on the shelves. One of them brings him to a stop. It gives him an idea. He turns back and opens up WordPad.
. . .
X*Crown Showdown
There's no homework to do, so after dinner Milo can spend the rest of the day doing whatever he wants. He goes to his room and shuts the door. In the cool sunlight he stares vacantly at all of his games and toys. He doesn't really feel like doing anything today. Maybe if there was an XHF show on he would watch it, but what he really wants to do is go out and play soccer.
There's a group of kids from school he overhears talking about it at lunch. They're always nice to him in class but he's too shy to ask if he can play. It's the only sport he really likes but in gym they hardly ever play it. When they do the sporty kids always take over, but if he got a chance he knows he'd be good. It would be nice too not having to pretend to his parents he has friends. Not that he cares about having friends, he just wants to play soccer. He always tells himself he'll ask to play sometime soon when he gets braver, like next week, or next month, but he never does.
He sits down on the bed and stares at his wrestling action figures, standing upright on the desk across the room. Their faces are clear in the sunlight. After a few minutes, he starts to feel sleepy.
The next thing he knows he's standing in the middle of a road in a strange city. Large buildings tower over him, and there are wrestling rings dotted around as far as he can see. In the gaps between the buildings and the rings there are trees, flowers and bright blue lakes. The sun is high in the sky, radiating a strong but pleasant warmth. He must be so far from home. He turns and looks around him. The city is completely deserted.
Milo walks down the road, everything silent except for a light wind and some chirping birds. After a while his legs start to hurt, so he walks off onto the grass and finds a large tree he can sit under. He feels like going to sleep, but he takes one last look around. Far away, in one of the rings, he thinks he can see something inside. A person maybe. He gets up and starts running towards it. It's definitely a person. They're sitting in the corner.
Milo: Sam Sawyer!
Sam turns to look at Milo. They wave.
Sam: Hi!
Milo runs up to the ring as fast as he can. Sam stays in the same position.
Sam: Who are you?
Milo: Milo.
Sam: Hi, Milo. How did you get here?
Milo: I don't know. Where are we?
Sam: This is Tapout Island.
Milo: Tapout Island...?
Sam: Yeah. The best wrestlers in the world live here. I've been training for a big match, but I injured my leg. Hey... did you come to help me?
Milo: Uh...
Sam: You didn't? Oh...
Milo: But I want to help!
Sam: Great! Can you wrestle?
Milo: Uh... no...
Sam: Oh... well, maybe I can teach you.
Milo's eyes widen.
Sam: It won't be easy... but... yeah. We have to try. It's very important we win this match.
Milo: Why?
Sam: The winner gets the X*Crown. It's the biggest honor any wrestler can win. Tapout Island has been trying to win it since before I was born. It's very hard to even get a chance to fight for it. We might not get another chance for many years. The island was counting on me, but maybe you can win it for us.
Milo: Why can't one of the other wrestlers do it?
Sam: They've all been put in prison. Just after we earned the match for the X*Crown, the XHF made gambling and cage fighting illegal. I'm too young for that, so I'm the only one left. That's the only reason I was chosen. There's Poena too, he's not into that stuff either, but he's at war with the Diamond City.
Milo: Who are you wrestling? I mean... who am I wrestling?
Sam: You have four opponents. They're all very tough, but the most dangerous is Bloodied Fox. He has the X*Crown. He's from Gunstar Valley. They've dominated the wrestling world for years.
Milo: I thought the best wrestlers were from Tapout Island?
Sam: They are. Well... sort of. This island has always had the most technically gifted wrestlers in the world... the strongest wrestlers... the best athletes. But we fight with honor and respect, and... that's not the way the world works. Gunstar Valley always attracts massive audiences, and that's what counts. They do put on a great show. It's not that we want to dictate what wrestling should be, we just want to have a moment to shine, to share what we do, the way we do it, with the world for a while. But we haven't even been given a fair chance. And since Bloodied Fox took over, it's gotten much worse.
Milo: I thought he was good.
Sam: He was, but...
Sam looks at the sun.
Sam: Milo... we're running out of time. I need to start showing you how to wrestle.
Milo nods. He walks up the steps then climbs over the bottom rope.
Sam: Okay, first run up to the ropes and bounce off them. It'll hurt, but you'll get used to it. Keep doing it as long as you can. Now... Bloodied Fox is a great wrestler. He would have fit in well with us. But he lost his mind... he started thinking his fans didn't love him anymore. He's turned evil, and started hanging out with some really scary people. If we can't stop him I think he might take over the world. I think he might... make it so there are no more fans in wrestling. We can't let that happen. Fans are everything to us. They've been a part of wrestling for centuries. It's how we all started our paths to being wrestlers. We're still fans. Milo... whatever happens, don't stop being a fan. If you want to be the best wrestler, I think being a fan will help you win. And Milo... I really hate to tell you this... but you have to be... careful. Fox... he...
Milo starts to run out of breath and slows to a stop. He locks eyes with Sam. He thinks he understands what they're trying to say.
Sam: Okay... good. You'll have to work on that. But for now, you need to practice bumping. Try falling backwards.
Milo sits down really quickly.
Sam: No, you need to fall.
He gets back up.
Sam: Jump backwards... and fall.
He can't make himself do it.
Sam: You'll be okay. Trust me.
He pushes himself backwards and lands flat on his back.
Sam: Yes, good! Now keep doing that. I know it hurts, but you have to be able to take it and not let it stop you. Oh no...
Milo: What?
Sam: BEEF just won the Phoenix Championship.
Milo: Huh?
Sam: He's one of your opponents. He's just gotten a heap of power and experience in a matter of seconds. That's what happens when you win a title. BEEF was the least experienced of the five of us, but he's just caught up with me. And I'm not even fighting him, it's you... ...We need to move fast.
Milo: How did you know he won the title?
Sam: It doesn't matter. Keep bumping and I'll tell you about him. He's from the Diamond City. It's inside a huge mountain and goes miles underground. It's the richest city in the world. They're probably the ones who bribed the XHF to ruin Tapout Island, but it doesn't matter. BEEF is the strongest wrestler in the match. He's probably going to hit you really hard, and slam you on the mat hard... you need to be ready. He might look a lot... saner... than the others, but don't be fooled. I think he really, really wants this like we all do. He's still got a lot to learn about wrestling, but he has the best trainers in the world from the Diamond City helping him. Just one of those trainers could train you about a hundred times faster than I can, even if I wasn't injured. And I think he has a bunch of people from Gunstar Valley helping him too.
Milo: But... how can I beat him then?
Sam: You just have to try. Now... I'm going to teach you to flip. Climb up to the top rope.
Milo: I'm going to Sawyersault?
Sam: Yeah. You have to... well, you know.
Milo climbs up to the top rope.
Sam: Don't be afraid...
He lands a perfect Sawyersault.
Sam: Yes! Well done! How did you do that?
Milo: I don't know...
Sam: You must just be really good at this. Maybe you can do this, Milo! What else are you good at?
Milo: Uh... I don't know. Nothing.
Sam: But you watch wrestling, right?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: You've seen me use the Sawyer Lock? The Bicep Slicer?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: What about the Ankle Lock? The Figure 4? The Kimura?
Milo: Yep.
Sam: Okay, you can't practice them. Just try to remember them. You might be able to pick them up right away like the Sawyersault. Some of them might be hard at your size, but... I'll give you a list of good ones later. Now start running the ropes again. Your third opponent is Florida Man. He's from the Deathmatch Empire. They have the scariest, most brutal wrestling in the world there. We don't like that stuff here, but they are all really, really tough. Florida Man is the toughest of them all. You know who The Ultimate Warrior is?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: Florida Man uses him as a bike.
Milo gapes, stunned.
Sam: If it comes down to you and him, you're going to have to pull out your inner badass. I know you've got it in you. That's what I had to do. I fought him once before, and I burned him with his own cigarette then made him tap out. He'll probably want revenge, so watch out. Don't let your guard down if he starts joking around or looking like he doesn't care. He's an absolute savage.
Milo: Wait... if he's so good why haven't I heard of him?
Sam: Maybe Deathmatch Empire shows are banned in your country. Where do you live?
Milo: Uh... America.
Sam narrows their eyes.
Sam: America... ...Do you know how to get back?
Milo: No...
Sam: We'll worry about that later. The last opponent is Steve Awesome. He's from Hardkore World. It's a giant adult theme park. They say they have the best wrestlers in the world like we do. They wrestle differently from us... but they always seem to win more than we do. Everyone here says it's just luck. I'm not sure who I believe... but... anyway... Steve Awesome is definitely one of the best wrestlers of all time. Have you heard of him?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: Well, he's probably even better than you think he is. You'll never be able to catch up to his talent. But all that you can do is try as hard as you can. He'll make you think he wants it more than you. He'll make you seem small and insignificant, like you don't belong in the ring with him. He has an aura, like a movie star or something. Like a real movie star. Don't believe it. You want this just as much as him. You'll do whatever the hell it takes. Right?
Milo: Right.
Sam: Now let's start working on your strikes. You're not going to be able to lift anyone, so you need to make sure you hit them as hard as you freaking can.
Sam points to a set of punch bags outside.
One hour later, things are looking pretty good, until Sam calls on him from their seat on the ring apron.
Sam: Steve Awesome just won the Hardcore Championship! You'll need to go faster!
Milo hits the bag with another lariat, then another and another. The shots send the bag flying but he knows he's not strong enough. The match could start at any time, whenever Bloodied Fox wants it to. Milo only makes it ten minutes at this speed before he has to slow down.
Sam: Milo! Don't give up!
Milo: I just need a break...
Sam: There's no time! Bloodied Fox could strike at any second! And even if he doesn't, I think BEEF is going for the Tag Team Championship!
Milo: Can't I win a championship?
Sam: Nobody knows who you are! Just keep going... you've got this!
He starts kicking the bag.
Sam: No! Fire with Fire's your best shot!
He tries another lariat. The bag barely budges.
Sam: Harder!
Milo: I'm trying!
He hits a stronger lariat but now he really has to stop.
Sam: Milo... you can't give up. Just stop thinking... and do it.
Milo's face tightens in concentration, mind empty, then smashes the bag almost out of sight. It comes hurtling back down to them and he smashes it again.
Sam: Yes, Milo!
He's still going strong three hours later. Every so often Sam warns him Bloodied Fox is getting ready. To Sam he looks like he could keep hitting the bag forever, but all of a sudden he stops.
Sam: What's wrong?
Milo: ... I'm scared...
He looks at them. They understand.
Sam: Of Fox?
Milo: Yeah...
Sam: Milo... you don't have to do it.
Tears form in his eyes.
Milo: But... I've come so far...
Sam: I know, but... you can't risk your life for me. You have to want it for yourself.
Milo: I do want it!
Sam: Are you sure?
Milo: Yes!
Sam: Then do it. It doesn't matter if you're scared, just do it. Remember when I told you not to give up? Do that again.
He tries. He can still feel the fear but he doesn't let it stop him from giving the bag another lariat.
It's so good, baby, when you're at the wheel
Sam: Fox is getting closer!
I can't believe the way I feel
He hits the bag.
It's such a rush, just being with you
Sam: BEEF just won the Tag Title!
We're driving in the rush hour
He hits the bag.
Ooh you send me, you take me to the rush hour
Sam: I can see Fox!
Ooh you send me, you got me to the rush hour
He wakes up. It's still bright out. He looks at the action figures, and decides he's going to ask to play soccer tomorrow. The longer he waits, the stronger his fear will become. And why have one more sad day?
. . .
Casey looks at the clock. It only took half an hour to write. There's still time. He saves the file, closes WordPad and Spotify, then gets back to work. He'll post the story somewhere later.
. . .
X*Crown Showdown
There's no homework to do, so after dinner Milo can spend the rest of the day doing whatever he wants. He goes to his room and shuts the door. In the cool sunlight he stares vacantly at all of his games and toys. He doesn't really feel like doing anything today. Maybe if there was an XHF show on he would watch it, but what he really wants to do is go out and play soccer.
There's a group of kids from school he overhears talking about it at lunch. They're always nice to him in class but he's too shy to ask if he can play. It's the only sport he really likes but in gym they hardly ever play it. When they do the sporty kids always take over, but if he got a chance he knows he'd be good. It would be nice too not having to pretend to his parents he has friends. Not that he cares about having friends, he just wants to play soccer. He always tells himself he'll ask to play sometime soon when he gets braver, like next week, or next month, but he never does.
He sits down on the bed and stares at his wrestling action figures, standing upright on the desk across the room. Their faces are clear in the sunlight. After a few minutes, he starts to feel sleepy.
The next thing he knows he's standing in the middle of a road in a strange city. Large buildings tower over him, and there are wrestling rings dotted around as far as he can see. In the gaps between the buildings and the rings there are trees, flowers and bright blue lakes. The sun is high in the sky, radiating a strong but pleasant warmth. He must be so far from home. He turns and looks around him. The city is completely deserted.
Milo walks down the road, everything silent except for a light wind and some chirping birds. After a while his legs start to hurt, so he walks off onto the grass and finds a large tree he can sit under. He feels like going to sleep, but he takes one last look around. Far away, in one of the rings, he thinks he can see something inside. A person maybe. He gets up and starts running towards it. It's definitely a person. They're sitting in the corner.
Milo: Sam Sawyer!
Sam turns to look at Milo. They wave.
Sam: Hi!
Milo runs up to the ring as fast as he can. Sam stays in the same position.
Sam: Who are you?
Milo: Milo.
Sam: Hi, Milo. How did you get here?
Milo: I don't know. Where are we?
Sam: This is Tapout Island.
Milo: Tapout Island...?
Sam: Yeah. The best wrestlers in the world live here. I've been training for a big match, but I injured my leg. Hey... did you come to help me?
Milo: Uh...
Sam: You didn't? Oh...
Milo: But I want to help!
Sam: Great! Can you wrestle?
Milo: Uh... no...
Sam: Oh... well, maybe I can teach you.
Milo's eyes widen.
Sam: It won't be easy... but... yeah. We have to try. It's very important we win this match.
Milo: Why?
Sam: The winner gets the X*Crown. It's the biggest honor any wrestler can win. Tapout Island has been trying to win it since before I was born. It's very hard to even get a chance to fight for it. We might not get another chance for many years. The island was counting on me, but maybe you can win it for us.
Milo: Why can't one of the other wrestlers do it?
Sam: They've all been put in prison. Just after we earned the match for the X*Crown, the XHF made gambling and cage fighting illegal. I'm too young for that, so I'm the only one left. That's the only reason I was chosen. There's Poena too, he's not into that stuff either, but he's at war with the Diamond City.
Milo: Who are you wrestling? I mean... who am I wrestling?
Sam: You have four opponents. They're all very tough, but the most dangerous is Bloodied Fox. He has the X*Crown. He's from Gunstar Valley. They've dominated the wrestling world for years.
Milo: I thought the best wrestlers were from Tapout Island?
Sam: They are. Well... sort of. This island has always had the most technically gifted wrestlers in the world... the strongest wrestlers... the best athletes. But we fight with honor and respect, and... that's not the way the world works. Gunstar Valley always attracts massive audiences, and that's what counts. They do put on a great show. It's not that we want to dictate what wrestling should be, we just want to have a moment to shine, to share what we do, the way we do it, with the world for a while. But we haven't even been given a fair chance. And since Bloodied Fox took over, it's gotten much worse.
Milo: I thought he was good.
Sam: He was, but...
Sam looks at the sun.
Sam: Milo... we're running out of time. I need to start showing you how to wrestle.
Milo nods. He walks up the steps then climbs over the bottom rope.
Sam: Okay, first run up to the ropes and bounce off them. It'll hurt, but you'll get used to it. Keep doing it as long as you can. Now... Bloodied Fox is a great wrestler. He would have fit in well with us. But he lost his mind... he started thinking his fans didn't love him anymore. He's turned evil, and started hanging out with some really scary people. If we can't stop him I think he might take over the world. I think he might... make it so there are no more fans in wrestling. We can't let that happen. Fans are everything to us. They've been a part of wrestling for centuries. It's how we all started our paths to being wrestlers. We're still fans. Milo... whatever happens, don't stop being a fan. If you want to be the best wrestler, I think being a fan will help you win. And Milo... I really hate to tell you this... but you have to be... careful. Fox... he...
Milo starts to run out of breath and slows to a stop. He locks eyes with Sam. He thinks he understands what they're trying to say.
Sam: Okay... good. You'll have to work on that. But for now, you need to practice bumping. Try falling backwards.
Milo sits down really quickly.
Sam: No, you need to fall.
He gets back up.
Sam: Jump backwards... and fall.
He can't make himself do it.
Sam: You'll be okay. Trust me.
He pushes himself backwards and lands flat on his back.
Sam: Yes, good! Now keep doing that. I know it hurts, but you have to be able to take it and not let it stop you. Oh no...
Milo: What?
Sam: BEEF just won the Phoenix Championship.
Milo: Huh?
Sam: He's one of your opponents. He's just gotten a heap of power and experience in a matter of seconds. That's what happens when you win a title. BEEF was the least experienced of the five of us, but he's just caught up with me. And I'm not even fighting him, it's you... ...We need to move fast.
Milo: How did you know he won the title?
Sam: It doesn't matter. Keep bumping and I'll tell you about him. He's from the Diamond City. It's inside a huge mountain and goes miles underground. It's the richest city in the world. They're probably the ones who bribed the XHF to ruin Tapout Island, but it doesn't matter. BEEF is the strongest wrestler in the match. He's probably going to hit you really hard, and slam you on the mat hard... you need to be ready. He might look a lot... saner... than the others, but don't be fooled. I think he really, really wants this like we all do. He's still got a lot to learn about wrestling, but he has the best trainers in the world from the Diamond City helping him. Just one of those trainers could train you about a hundred times faster than I can, even if I wasn't injured. And I think he has a bunch of people from Gunstar Valley helping him too.
Milo: But... how can I beat him then?
Sam: You just have to try. Now... I'm going to teach you to flip. Climb up to the top rope.
Milo: I'm going to Sawyersault?
Sam: Yeah. You have to... well, you know.
Milo climbs up to the top rope.
Sam: Don't be afraid...
He lands a perfect Sawyersault.
Sam: Yes! Well done! How did you do that?
Milo: I don't know...
Sam: You must just be really good at this. Maybe you can do this, Milo! What else are you good at?
Milo: Uh... I don't know. Nothing.
Sam: But you watch wrestling, right?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: You've seen me use the Sawyer Lock? The Bicep Slicer?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: What about the Ankle Lock? The Figure 4? The Kimura?
Milo: Yep.
Sam: Okay, you can't practice them. Just try to remember them. You might be able to pick them up right away like the Sawyersault. Some of them might be hard at your size, but... I'll give you a list of good ones later. Now start running the ropes again. Your third opponent is Florida Man. He's from the Deathmatch Empire. They have the scariest, most brutal wrestling in the world there. We don't like that stuff here, but they are all really, really tough. Florida Man is the toughest of them all. You know who The Ultimate Warrior is?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: Florida Man uses him as a bike.
Milo gapes, stunned.
Sam: If it comes down to you and him, you're going to have to pull out your inner badass. I know you've got it in you. That's what I had to do. I fought him once before, and I burned him with his own cigarette then made him tap out. He'll probably want revenge, so watch out. Don't let your guard down if he starts joking around or looking like he doesn't care. He's an absolute savage.
Milo: Wait... if he's so good why haven't I heard of him?
Sam: Maybe Deathmatch Empire shows are banned in your country. Where do you live?
Milo: Uh... America.
Sam narrows their eyes.
Sam: America... ...Do you know how to get back?
Milo: No...
Sam: We'll worry about that later. The last opponent is Steve Awesome. He's from Hardkore World. It's a giant adult theme park. They say they have the best wrestlers in the world like we do. They wrestle differently from us... but they always seem to win more than we do. Everyone here says it's just luck. I'm not sure who I believe... but... anyway... Steve Awesome is definitely one of the best wrestlers of all time. Have you heard of him?
Milo: Yeah.
Sam: Well, he's probably even better than you think he is. You'll never be able to catch up to his talent. But all that you can do is try as hard as you can. He'll make you think he wants it more than you. He'll make you seem small and insignificant, like you don't belong in the ring with him. He has an aura, like a movie star or something. Like a real movie star. Don't believe it. You want this just as much as him. You'll do whatever the hell it takes. Right?
Milo: Right.
Sam: Now let's start working on your strikes. You're not going to be able to lift anyone, so you need to make sure you hit them as hard as you freaking can.
Sam points to a set of punch bags outside.
One hour later, things are looking pretty good, until Sam calls on him from their seat on the ring apron.
Sam: Steve Awesome just won the Hardcore Championship! You'll need to go faster!
Milo hits the bag with another lariat, then another and another. The shots send the bag flying but he knows he's not strong enough. The match could start at any time, whenever Bloodied Fox wants it to. Milo only makes it ten minutes at this speed before he has to slow down.
Sam: Milo! Don't give up!
Milo: I just need a break...
Sam: There's no time! Bloodied Fox could strike at any second! And even if he doesn't, I think BEEF is going for the Tag Team Championship!
Milo: Can't I win a championship?
Sam: Nobody knows who you are! Just keep going... you've got this!
He starts kicking the bag.
Sam: No! Fire with Fire's your best shot!
He tries another lariat. The bag barely budges.
Sam: Harder!
Milo: I'm trying!
He hits a stronger lariat but now he really has to stop.
Sam: Milo... you can't give up. Just stop thinking... and do it.
Milo's face tightens in concentration, mind empty, then smashes the bag almost out of sight. It comes hurtling back down to them and he smashes it again.
Sam: Yes, Milo!
He's still going strong three hours later. Every so often Sam warns him Bloodied Fox is getting ready. To Sam he looks like he could keep hitting the bag forever, but all of a sudden he stops.
Sam: What's wrong?
Milo: ... I'm scared...
He looks at them. They understand.
Sam: Of Fox?
Milo: Yeah...
Sam: Milo... you don't have to do it.
Tears form in his eyes.
Milo: But... I've come so far...
Sam: I know, but... you can't risk your life for me. You have to want it for yourself.
Milo: I do want it!
Sam: Are you sure?
Milo: Yes!
Sam: Then do it. It doesn't matter if you're scared, just do it. Remember when I told you not to give up? Do that again.
He tries. He can still feel the fear but he doesn't let it stop him from giving the bag another lariat.
It's so good, baby, when you're at the wheel
Sam: Fox is getting closer!
I can't believe the way I feel
He hits the bag.
It's such a rush, just being with you
Sam: BEEF just won the Tag Title!
We're driving in the rush hour
He hits the bag.
Ooh you send me, you take me to the rush hour
Sam: I can see Fox!
Ooh you send me, you got me to the rush hour
He wakes up. It's still bright out. He looks at the action figures, and decides he's going to ask to play soccer tomorrow. The longer he waits, the stronger his fear will become. And why have one more sad day?
. . .
Casey looks at the clock. It only took half an hour to write. There's still time. He saves the file, closes WordPad and Spotify, then gets back to work. He'll post the story somewhere later.