~Behind the Scenes

A Personal Pilgrimage

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania~

 

Fiona stood in front of the famous Rocky statue.  Having trained first as a boxer, she held a soft spot in her heart for the famous franchise that revolved around a boxer.  Akame and Abby were with her.  Abby looked over.  “You’ve seen the movies?”

 

Fiona nodded.  “All 5 originals.  The Rocky Balboa movie and the three Creed movies.  It’s funny, because Apollo was right about Rocky.  He’s a shite fighter.  No sense of defense, just stands there and takes a beating.  In real boxing, he’d get murdered.”

 

“Ali used that tactic sometimes.”  Akame chimes in.  

 

Fiona shakes her head.  “He would do that for short bursts usually and he had defense.  He dodged, he weaved, he would grab and move his opponent around.  Also, his career ended early and he contracted Parkinson’s as a direct result of the repeated blows to the head he took.”

 

Abby chimed in.  “His endurance and strength make up for a lot, though.”

 

Fiona shakes her head.  No one can last just standing there taking a beating.  Even your mother who can take an inhuman level of punishment never spent half a bloody fight getting her arse kicked before she decides to fight back at a cinematically climatic time.”

 

“So then why are we here?”  Abby says.

 

Fiona shrugged.  “Because of the story about it.  Much like movies like the wrestler, the Rocky movies peeled back the layers of pro boxing.  Showed it all gltz and glamour.  For the three of us at the top of our game, living easy lives, there’s 10 fighters you’ve never heard of, checkin’ the couch for money and getting ready to have american style ramen noodles for dinner again.  Besides, they literally had to move this statue because it gets so many visitors.. So bein’ here in Philly, I thought why not?”

 

Abby nods “You are aware you have a match.  Got an idea for it?”

 

Fiona nods.  “Alex Nelson.  Heard what Khalil said about him last week.  I’m sure this is seen as an easy match for me.  I see a man who runs into setback after setback.  Knocked on his arse repeatedly and he keeps getting up.  Like Rocky.  So I guess that makes me the Apollo Creed in this setup, only sans title.  I’m the trained professional.  Looking at a second gen wrestler who seems like he’s had to train himself.  Again, much like Rocky, as Mickey danae see him as worth training until Rock got the fight against Creed.”

 

Abby considers this and Akame nods.  “Let’s not forget the bits of training you’ve gotten from Abby’s mom and the more regular training we do at the Order’s school from time to time.  Speaking of which, have you done much other training?”

 

Fiona knew what Alame was referring to and nodded.  “A bit.  Still afraid to really see what I can do.  Firstly, dunnae want the wrong person to see it and secondly, I kinda dunnae wanna find out that it might similar to D&D or something.”

 

This got a small laugh from the pair and Akame nods.  “Well, then.  Let’s make today a ‘other’ training day.  We can head somewhere safe and test it out.”  She says, nudging Abby.  “Cause you really need to work on your ‘other’ skills.”

 

Abby blushed and nodded.  “Yeah.”

 

Fiona shrugs.  “Sounds good to me.”

 

The three girls ended their tour at the Rocky statue and, after lunch that consisted of authentic Philly Cheese Steaks which quickly made it into Abby’s top 5 foods ever. The trio made their way back to the hotel they were staying at and made their preparations to head out for their next bit of training

 

~Behind the Scenes

Magic Training pt 1

Fiona’s Hotel room

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania~

 

The three girls were watching reports of the strong tidal waves pounding both coasts of the U.S. and Abby turned to look at Fiona.  “Think you could help with that?”

 

Fiona shook her head.  “Nope.  I mean, I probably could, but the way it was explained to me, druids magic is all about keeping the balance of nature and I also have to be aware that if I change one thing here, something else somewhere else gets changed.  Example.  I decide to push a rainstorm away and give a sunny day here.  Well, the rainstormI pushed off has to go somewhere, it moves and effects weather patterns and chain reaction stats.  So, I’ve decided to try and avoid messing with weather and the like,as it’s too hard to anticipate the reactions.”

 

“So have you worked on anything else, then?”  Akame asks.

 

Fiona nods.  “Aye.  I’m getting better at talkin’ to animals, plants and the various nature spirits.  I can speed up growing plants and the like as well.  I’ve been trying to see if I can get something close to entangle from D&D but that might take some more work.”  Fiona looked to Abby and nodded.  “Alright, your turn.  How’s it goin’ for you?”

 

Abby shrugged.  “Still too afraid to really test what I can do.  One, I don’t wanna hurt anyone and two,I dunno, some of the abilities and powers of this mantle seem kinda.. Evil.  messing with people’s free will and such.”

 

Further discussion was cut off as all three of their phones beeped.  Checking their phones told them Alex Nelson had put up his promo, so the girls pulled it up on one of the laptops and watched it.  The reaction it got from the three was worse than scorn.  Worse than mockery.

 

It was pity.

 

Abby spoke first, shaking her head.  “Bless his heart.  The man’s conceding defeat before he even starts.”

 

Fiona and Akame both nodded in agreement and Fiona sighs.  “Lad’s never gonna win until he thinks he has a chance.  He’s just goin’ through the motions.  He keeps up like this, he’s gonna get hurt in that ring.”

 

Akame shakes her head.  “He’s talking about Japanese wrestling like it’s just something he can do.  Not a major change in his outlook, not to mention finding a teacher.  You can’t just watch video clips online and add it into your style.”

 

Fiona raises an eyebrow.  “I think that’s exactly what the poor bastard aims to do.”

 

Akame nods.  “Well, you gotta do your promo.  Any ideas?”

 

Fiona frowns.  “I’ll have to think of something.  For now, let’s stick to our plan.”

 

~On Camera Promo

Fiona’s Q&A Stream

Fiona’s Hotel room

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania~

 

As the camera turns on, we see Fiona, sitting on a chair, with her Tempest title resting on her lap as she picks up the belt and looks at it and sets it on the table  and nods.  “So.  No titles in CWF yet, but I have to say my career is going good.  I win more often than I lose and I have the honor of being the first holder of the 4 Winds Tempest title.”

 

She pauses and sighs.  “I’m going to take some questions, but just be aware that I have a few things to say too.  Hence the intro.  When things go against me, when the wee slumps or setbacks pop up, I have to remind myself that overall, things are goin’ pretty good for me.  After all, when my parents heard what I wanted to do for a living, they not only let me, but my da even trained me.  I also made friends with the rest of Upstarts and by training and working out with them, it helped me develop my own style.  So yeah.  No real point to that, just an observation to make.  Now let’s get to the first question.”

 

Fiona reads the question and smirks, shaking her head and laughing a bit.  “Did I see Karlie’s ‘interview’ aye.  And like all those other right wing snowflakes, she ran and hid the moment the reporter refused to kiss her arse.  Really interesting how all at once the Eternal Grove is this almighty team of immortal bad arses and at the same time victims who are so totally misunderstood and bullied by society.”

 

Fiona rolls her eyes, shaking her head.  “Sadie is gonna eat her for lunch and I say more power to her.  An’ before ya ask.  Aye I saw my dad’s appeal to her.  His religion calls him to be forgiving and give people a chance.  I dunnae have that problem.  So, if Karlie can steer clear of me, she’ll be okay.. She comes for me or any of my allies, I’ll kick her arse from one end of Philly to the other.  Same for the other Grove nutjobs but Karlie was especially whiny this cycle so she gets the singling out.”

 

Fiona pauses as she reads the chat and nods as she finds her next question.  “Alex Nelson being my opponent.  Is that easy mode?”

 

Despite herself, Fiona laughs a bit but soon composes herself and continues.  “First, off.  There is no such thing as an easy match in this business and the moment you think you have one is the moment you set yourself up to get hurt badly in the ring.  Alex Nelson is a second generation wrestler.  One who seems to be largely training himself.  All of us in the Upstarts have gotten training from our parents.  And have worked and trained with each other.  And gotten some training from wrestling schools that Akame’s father and Mr. Childress are associated with.  Bottom line is, we’ve all been lucky to get top notch training and without having to pay for it.  Advantage of having parents in the business.  Alex Nelson is having to figure all of this stuff out for himself and the fact that he’s still here, climbing in that ring show after show says a lot about the man’s dedication and heart.”

 

Fiona nods and then looks back at the screen.  “Consider yourself acknowledged.  Alex.  I know how this is gonna sound, but I cannae go easy on you.  It would be an insult to you to hold back so, I’m comin’ for you.  With Cyber Warfare gettin’ closer and title pictures.. The winner of this match could put themselves in position for a title shot and I really wanna get my first CWF title.”

 

Fiona pauses here and thinks for a moment.  “But, I am gonna channel a bit of Babylon 5 here and ask you the same questions The Shadows and the Vorlons ask.  Those questions are.  “What do you want?” And “Who are you?”  Let’s look at the first question.  What do you want?  Do you just wanna be able to say you’re a professional wrestler?  If so, mission accomplished.  If you want to win a match here and there and get into contendership for a title, you need to believe you can win.  If you doubt or get into that ring admitting you cannae beat me, then you cannae be surprised when you lose.  I’ll let you and my viewers in on a little secret.  These promos?  Aye, they’re entertaining.  They create hype for the match and that usually finds its way into our pays for the match, but smart wrestlers are also tryin’ to get into the heads of their opponents.  Convince your opponent they cannae win, and the battle is half over before the match has even started.”

 

Fiona shrugs.  “So.  What do you want, Alex?  Do you just wanna be here?  Do you wanna have a chance to win here and there?  Do you want a title?  If so, ya gotta focus.  Train.  And you gotta believe you can do this.  Now.  Shadow side taken care of, we move to the Vorlon.  Who are you?  This is a question that seems simple and yet when you try, we often find we have nothing to identify us that was not given to us by someone else.  But I’ll save the philosophy for another time, let’s just look at that.  Who are you, Alex Nelson?  What are your goals?  Fans dunnae know a thing about you.  You just come on like.  “Hi.  I’m Alex Nelson and I bet I’m gonna lose this next match.  But I want people to notice me.”  

 

Fiona says that part doing her best Alex impression which consists of her deepening her voice a bit and doing her best to sound depressed and monotone.  After a few seconds, she says.  “Bit of advice.  Talk about yourself.  Take a page from your father and find a weak point of your opponent to attack.  Hell do something, man!  There ya go, Alex.  I went and did ya a solid and gave you a free lesson on how to improve your chances and build your fanbase.  Give it some thought.”

 

She turns and reads the chat.  “What about me?”  Fiona shrugs.  “I want a CWF title and I'm gonna focus on gettin’ one.  Who am I?  Again, the deeper philosophical points will have to wait.  But I’m Fiona O’Connell.  I’m the daughter of Nathan and Tera O’Connell.  I’m a bad arse fighter from the Emerald Isle, I’m a member of the Upstarts, I’m an enemy of the Eternal Grove shites and I’m gonna win this week on Warzone.  Because I have a goal.  I have something to work towards.”

 

Fiona looks off to the side and nods.  “Speakin’ of the Upstarts, we’re late for dinner.  Stay tuned, I’m sure you’ll see us later!”

 

The stream ends as Fiona stands up.  “Alright, we’ve got some ‘special training’ to do and dinner."