Kronin watched the match Rayven had with Sadie Graves with Lilly standing next to him.  Kronin watched the match with his arms crossed across his chest, pride evident on his face.  He had watched her entire career unfold thus far and couldn’t be more proud.  As he thought about the end of his career nearing, he had to admit he hadn’t viewed it in this way, him stepping aside for his first and thus far only child to take his place, but as he watched Rayven defeat Sadie, and largely use technical wrestling to do it, for the first time, he felt like he could be okay with it.

As if reading his thoughts, Lilly looked up at him.  “You do realize you haven’t retired yet, right?”  Kronin smirked and let out a small laugh.  “The last time I was in action was around the 4th of July when I fought Viktor Kriegson.  It’s October now.  I’m all but retired at this point.”

Lilly smiled and nodded.  “3 Months off.  That’s obviously like, forever, babe.”  Kronin rolled his eyes.  “In this business?  It absolutely is.  And you know that, Lil.  Look at the current title pictures.  Rayven is the Valor champ.  Akame is the Skirmish champion.  Nathan is the Elite Champion and Drago is still Conquest champion because it seems like not only was Abigail unable to stop him but Apathy also came up short against the son of a bitch.  Me?  No one’s even mentioning my name , certainly not in title pictures.  3 months is more than enough time for everything to change.  Abigail used to be the most dominant force in CWF.  Now, not only does she not have a title, she also doesn’t seem to be in the running for any at the moment.  I’m fine with it, Lil.  I’ve been there, done that in my career.  I’ve got nothing left to prove, Lil.”  Lilly, for her part, remained silent for the moment.

It was a few days later when Lilly’s plan came into focus.  She, Kronin, Kara and Rayven were all together waiting for the card announcement show.  Rayven had drawn Steve Murdock so Kronin figured she would have a successful second title defense, not out of any lack of respect for Steve Murdock but because Kronin honestly believed his daughter was the better fighter at the moment.  Kara’s name was drawn against Mick Brandon.  Kronin almost felt sorry for the poor bastard.  Almost. His sister was on the warpath and was seemingly unbeatable at the moment whereas Mick Brandon wasn’t even the top amongst the other enhancement talents on the roster.

The match that had surprised him was when his name came up against Viktor Kriegson.  Kronin let out an annoyed sigh.  “2nd match in a row against this guy and it seems like I fight the same 5 assholes all the time.  Retirement is beginning to sound more attractive.”  Kara glances over at him.  “I’ll trade you.  I could use a real opponent.”

Kronin grinned but shook his head.  “No, no.  I’ll be the team player and take the match.  Win, lose or draw, least I’ll have the satisfaction of punching Kriegson in the face again.”

The camera opens up to show Kronin standing in the middle of his trophy room.  He looks around.

“Huh.  This is weird.. Kinda getting a feeling of deja vu.”

He looks around again and then once more.

“Huh.  Yeah, definitely gettin’ the vibe that I’ve done this before.  Let’s see.  Trophy room?  Check.  Me?  Check.  Fighting a big dumbass douchebag that is a one trick pony who can only make jokes about honor?  Big check.”

Kronin turns and nods.  “Yeap Vikky boy, we’ve been here before ain’t we?  However, as you are the aforementioned big dumbass douchebag that is also a one trick pony.  I’m a little more versatile.”

Kronin takes a moment to stretch and nods.  “So, let’s start with the basics.  I don’t like you much.  Truth be told, I don’t particularly like any of you Eternal Grove douchebags, but you’re the unlucky douchebag that drew my number this week.  “Now, don’t go thinking you’ve won some kind of moral victory and convinced me to give up on honor.  No.  All you’ve done is put yourself in the same category Frank Windsor did before I ended him.  I’ll follow the rules of the match but there’s a whole host of things I can do to you that fall into the scope of perfectly legal within the bounds of the match.  That is a fact you would do well to remember, my man.”

As he leaves the trophy room, Kronin takes a glance at his watch and then looks back to the camera.  “See?  When you guys started off, no one took you seriously?  And why should we?  You had the woman who has held every god damn job known to man, the goth girl who can’t decide which halloween costume to use so she blends all of them and calls it a gimmick, and then you two.  Tweedle dumb and tweedle douchebag.  But then Drago won and took the title from Abigail and you guys decided you wanted to go from the misfit kids to cartoon supervillians.”

Kronin narrows his eyes.  “Well congratulations.  The fed is taking you seriously now and I’m definitely done playing around.  Your age of monsters is a threat.  Your kidnapping Apathy’s daughter, is a big threat.  Your drugging an entire crowd at the last pay per view is a major threat.”

Kronin shrugs.  “Well.  I have a daughter.  I’m a member of this fed.  You and your group of douchebags have gone way past just being a threat to my title chances or my ability to make a living.  You’re a threat to my friends and family.  So.  When we step into the ring on Vanguard.  I’m going to do my part to bring an end to this age of monsters.  I might also shorten or even end your career.  After all, the last person who got me this focused was never the same after I beat him bloody.  So, I hope for your sake that you can cash the checks your mouth is writing because if you can’t.. Well your partner is going to need a new pet,  See you in Baltimore,  I’m coming to make a bang and I’m coming to derail the cartoon supervillian fantasy you douchebags seem to be locked in.  You all are in serious need of a reality check and that is coming sooner than you all think.”