Note: Last chapter was a shocker, wasn't it? Not only did Katt win the match, but she also hurt her opponent badly. Then again, Claudia payed what she owed, probably. Anyway, it's time to carry on. Before we move on, I'd like to say something to two reviewers.
Big Bossk Man 92: Well, some athletes have done terrible things before. Unfortunately, not all of them have been arrested for what they have done. Maybe I'll reveal what happened to Claudia later. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Ron: I did not intend for Katt's victory over Claudia to be like that. In fact, the outcome of the match was supposed to be a reference to a scene from the manga/anime Tomorrow's Joe. I hope that you're ready for the next chapter.
Now that I've done that, it's time for chapter eight.
Chapter 8: Michael Hill
On Sunday, Katt was at the Corneria City Women's Boxing Gym. She had been called in for a meeting there, being told to come as fast as she could. The pink cat took the Cat's Paw there, finding it faster than jogging to the place. Parking on the roof of a nearby building, the feline wound up having to take its elevator down. Once that was out of the way, she walked over to the gym. She was so eager to get in there, she didn't pay attention to the warnings her telepathy was giving her.
Walking down a hallway, Katt looked for the office that she was told to go to. Upon finding the room, the pink cat turned the knob and opened the door. Inside the office were Mr. Simms, Bill, Steve and Art. However, there were three more people in the room, which made Katt nervous upon seeing them. The three men who were standing near were Officer Black, Charles Mauricio and Michael Hill. Knowing the former two, the feline began to think that they were here to arrest her. As for Hill, she was simply nervous to be around a former boxer.
"Ah, there you are, Katt!" Art spoke.
"Why are the cops here?" Katt asked.
"They're here because of what happened last night." Steve said. "Turns out that the cross you ended the match with didn't just put Claudia King down, it also shattered her jaw."
"Oh my!" The pink cat said. "Am I under arrest for grievously injuring my opponent?"
"Not quite." Charles spoke.
"But I injured someone." The feline said. "Isn't it a crime?"
"Injuries like that happen all the time in martial arts." Officer Black said. "Mauricio and I are actually here because King confessed to assault and kidnapping, said crimes being the reason you called for the match that went on last night."
"And when she gets out of the hospital, she's expected to stand trial for her crimes." Charles added.
After hearing that, Katt let out a sigh of relief. However, Hill then moved her. Worried about what he was going to do, the pink cat braced herself. The zebra tilted his head, being confused by the feline's reaction. Looking at her arm, the equine inspected it, as if something had caught his eye. Once he was done, Katt pulled her arm back.
"The amount of muscle on her arms doesn't look like it's enough to cause damage to her opponents." Hill spoke. "If you're asking me, I think that she should keep fighting, so that she can improve her skills as a boxer."
"Well," Mr. Simms spoke, "there's the thing: Some members of the gym are afraid of Katt, due to what she did to Claudia. Hell, there are even a few boxers that aren't on Corneria who are cautious about fighting her! I think that we'll have to postpone Katt's next match until we can find a new opponent."
Upon hearing that, Katt thought about what was being said about her. It was honestly somewhat shocking to hear that other boxers were afraid of her. While the pink cat did shatter Claudia King's jaw with a cross counter, she didn't think that it would shock everyone into avoiding her. However, the feline wasn't going to wait until next week to fight again. An idea then crossed her mind. It was a dangerous and stupid idea, but she felt that it could work.
"Maybe I could fight Michael Hill this weekend?" Katt suggested.
"What?!" Bill was shocked. "Have you lost your mind?!"
"Hold your horses," Mr. Simms yelled, "you want to fight a retired champion?!"
"That's right, I want to show everyone that I'm not too dangerous to fight!" Katt said, cracking her knuckles.
"You heard the little lady, set up a match for us!" Hill told Mr. Simms. "She wants a piece of me, so I'll show her what I am made of!"
Realizing that he wasn't going to get through to either Hill or Katt, Mr. Simms typed into his computer. After that, the tabby said that the match on Saturday will be between the two boxers standing in the room. He then dismissed everyone, getting up and opening the door for them. Once she was out, Katt cracked her knuckles, wanting to be ready for the match. She promised herself that, when she got home, she would start training for it. Before she could even leave the gym, the pink cat heard someone clearing their throat. Turning around, the feline saw Steve standing next to the door.
"Katt, can I have a word with you?" He asked.
"Sure, what do you need?" Katt asked.
"I just wanted to know why you thought it was a good idea to ask for a match between you and Michael Hill." Steve said.
"Well, you heard what Mr. Simms said: Most of the boxers in the gym are scared of me." The pink cat stated. "I figure that, in order to reassure everyone that I'm not dangerous, I will fight a retired boxing champ!"
"Retired or not, Hill is still a champion." The wolf said. "He's competed in a dozen boxing championships, winning all but two of them. If you went up against him, you'll get creamed!"
"Even if I lose, at least I got to get a taste of his strength." The feline said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go train for the fight."
"Alright," the wolf sighed, stepping away, "but I'm not hauling your ass to the hospital when you get a severe injury!"
Katt nodded her head before leaving the Corneria City Women's Boxing Gym, going back to her ship. Flying back to her house, the pink cat decided to practice her jabs and hooks, as she felt those weren't as strong as the other moves at her disposal. In addition to that, the feline thought about softening her cross punches, knowing what happened when she did a counter to Claudia King. She even tested the speed of her uppercuts, not finding them fast enough. Before going to bed, Katt promised herself that she would go easy on Hill. He might've been a champion, but he was still a retired athlete, and it would've made her feel bad if she gave him a severe injury.
Elsewhere, Hill was testing his speed, agility and strength. It had been five years since he raised his fists, so he wasn't sure if he still had it in him. The zebra even looked at himself in the mirror, checking to see if he was physically up to the challenge. Looking at his muscles, the equine thought about how different Katt was from him. While he was impressed by the victories the pink cat had gained, he knew that she was smaller and less muscular than he was. Looking at himself again, Hill got an idea.
"I might need to go on a diet to shed some of this weight." He said to himself. "Mercenary-turned-boxer or not, she's still a rookie, and I would feel bad about putting her six-feet-under."
Throughout the week, Katt trained for the upcoming match. She tested herself, even going so far as to spar with a few soldiers at the Cornerian Military Base. The pink cat would even go jogging in order to see how fast she could be. While doing so, the feline encountered Hill a few times. Every time she did, she noticed that the zebra looked like he was trying to lose weight. Deciding to not say anything about it, Katt didn't say a word about it, letting her opponent do his own thing.
On Friday, Katt heard someone knocking on her door. With the telepathy she gained, the pink cat could tell who was there. The person knocking at her door was Krystal. The cobalt vixen looked peeved, as if someone had done something to anger her. Katt initially thought that the vulpine was mad about something going on at the Great Fox. However, the feline put that thought aside and spoke up.
"Come on in!" Katt said.
The door was practically thrown open by Krystal, who looked just as angry as she did before opening it. Her expression startled Katt, causing her to gasp. While the pink cat knew that the cobalt vixen could get angry at times, she was never on the receiving end of her anger. The vulpine walked over to the feline, her green eyes looking like emeralds that looked pretty, but were forbidden from being touched.
"Hey, Krystal, how have you been?" Katt asked, trying to start up a friendly conversation.
"Katt Monroe," Krystal spoke, sounding like she was a second away from snapping, "of all the stupid and dangerous things you've done, challenging a retired boxing champion like Michael Hill takes the cake!"
"Gee, hon, I didn't think that you would be this angry!" The pink cat said. "If anything, I would've sensed what you were feeling with my telepathy!"
"Oh, yeah, the telepathy you gained from the blood that you stole from my body." The cobalt vixen said.
"Again, I'm sorry about that, but I just wanted a little help!" The feline said.
"You could've trained with someone, or even did a test at the gym." The vulpine said. "In fact, there are other activities that you could've done instead of boxing."
"I'm just trying to get my mind off of Falco until he's willing to talk with me. Besides, I might win against Hill."
"Well, I don't want to lose anyone else! I've lost my home planet, my mother, my sister, my brother and a friend, I don't want to lose you next!"
Katt watched as Krystal hung her head, looking like she was about to cry. Approaching her, the pink cat spoke to her friend.
"Hon," Katt said, "I'm not going to die in the ring. With the telepathy I got from you, I'm able to see what moves my opponent is about to make. You don't have to worry about this kitty! Even if I die, it won't be your fault!"
"I don't want you to die at all!" Krystal said. "I don't want your death to haunt anyone! I have already had nightmares about the destruction of my home planet and losing those without me, I don't want the ones where you die to become reality!"
"Hey, I'll keep myself from dying in the ring." Katt said. "Even if I get creamed in the fight, at least I managed to take on a former champion."
"Just promise me that you'll throw in the towel when the battle gets tough." The cobalt vixen said.
"I will." The pink cat said. "Now, head home, I have to train!"
Krystal nodded before leaving Katt's house, knowing that she wasn't going to convince her to surrender the upcoming match. The cobalt vixen got into her Arwing, deciding to fly back to her apartment. While doing so, she thought about everything that had happened in her life. From the abuse she had suffered from Opal Bodimead (the King of Cerinia who had stolen her from her father) to the death of her friend, Louise Palmer, the vulpine didn't want another scar. She knew that everyone would die at some point, but she didn't want anyone she knew to die young. Anyone with their whole lives ahead of them didn't deserve to have it cut short. As she landed on the apartment building she lived in, Krystal was ready to head in for the rest of the day, despite the fear that was plaguing her.
Maybe I should call Dr. Sutcliffe and see if he's willing to talk with me. Krystal thought to herself. We haven't done that in a while.
On Saturday, Katt was walking through the hallway to the arena. She had arrived at the Corneria City Women's Boxing Gym an hour before the match began, so that she would be ready for the match. In order to make sure, the pink cat practiced on a punching bag. The feline knew that Hill would be arriving in the back of the gym, so she didn't have to worry about him seeing her. When it was time, she got herself together. Upon stepping into the arena, Katt could see the Referee in the ring, along with someone who was sitting in the right corner. Knowing that the person was Hill, she figured that the match would begin once she stepped in the ring.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Announcer spoke, "welcome to the fourth match of the Corneria City Women's Boxing Tournament! Tonight, we have a guest challenger, having been requested by the newcomer herself: Katt Monroe! Standing in the right corner, we welcome a retired boxer who has won many tournaments in the past! Everyone, please welcome the guest fighter for the night: Michael Hill!"
Upon hearing his name being called, Hill stood up. The zebra was wearing a heavy jacket, complete with the hood over his head. The equine pulled the jacket off and threw it to the side. Once he did that, everyone in the arena, including Katt, gasped. Hill was much skinnier than how he was at the beginning of the week. His muscles were much smaller, to the point where it looked like he didn't have them anymore. The retired champion still held his fists up, essentially saying that he was still capable of fighting.
"It would appear that Hill had lost weight in time for the match." The Announcer said. "Let's just hope that he can still fight! And as for the fighter standing in the left corner, let's give a warm welcome for the newcomer: Katt Monroe!"
Katt stood up and approached Hill and the Referee, dusting herself off. Once she was looking Hill in the eyes, the pink cat spoke to him.
"I didn't expect you to lose a whole lot of weight!" Katt stated.
"I went to a doctor and told him to slim me down in time for the match." Hill spoke. "Impressive, isn't it?"
Katt didn't answer, only bumping her gloves with Hill. After that, the match began. To begin, Katt threw a right jab at Hill, hitting him in the face. The zebra obliged with a left jab, which hit the pink cat in her abdomen. The feline was quick to shake it off, delivering an uppercut to her opponent. The equine stumbled back from the attack, having been hit in the jaw.
"Gotta hand it to you, you're better than I thought!" Hill spoke.
"You're not too shabby yourself!" Katt said.
"Believe me, I've only just begun to fight!" The zebra said.
Before she could dodge, Katt received a left hook to her face. Despite that, the pink cat did a cross counter to Hill, hitting him in the cheek. The zebra broke free from it, throwing a jab towards his opponent. Katt blocked the attack and pushed it aside, her telepathy instructing her on when to attack next. She threw a right jab at her opponent, which hit him in the abdomen. The equine responded by delivering an uppercut to her face, causing her mouth to fill with blood.
After another minute, the bell rang. Knowing that the first round was over, Katt and Hill stopped and went back to their corners. Sitting down at hers, Katt saw that one of her gloves was coming loose. Readjusting it, the pink cat made sure that the glove wouldn't come off for the rest of the match. As for Hill, he was getting a drink from his water bottle. The zebra even wiped some blood of his face.
"The newcomer's strength is incredible, isn't it, folks?" The Announcer spoke. "But, don't go anywhere, because the next round is about to begin!"
When it was time for the second round, the bell rang. Now that they were up again, Katt and Hill went back to trading blows. The pink cat started it off by delivering a few jabs to her opponent, following it up with a hook. Hill didn't go down from the assault. Rather, the zebra delivered a right hook to Katt, hitting her in the side. The feline stumbled back, trying to stay on her feet.
Deciding to try a different approach, Katt used her telepathy in order to detect what moves Hill was going to make. Upon sensing that the zebra was going to throw a right jab, the pink cat moved out of the way. Before she could attack, however, she received an uppercut to her abdomen. The feline's stolen telepathy tried to scan for another attack, but was interrupted when she got a left jab to her abdomen. Now that she was dazed, Katt was unable to stop the retired champion from taking her down with a hook. She fell on her back, landing on the floor of the ring.
"Ten!" The Referee began his countdown. "Nine! Eight! Seven!"
Katt got up from the floor, stopping the Referee from continuing his countdown. She went back up to Hill, eager to deliver an uppercut. The zebra dodged the attack, hitting the pink cat in the chest with a jab. Before he could attack again, the equine found himself getting a left hook to the face. He did a cross counter, giving his opponent a punch in return. The two kept trading blows until the bell rang, signaling the end of the round.
"That wraps up the second round, ladies and gentlemen!" The Announcer spoke. "Things don't look too good for Monroe, given how Hill nearly took her down! Will the newcomer find a way to win, or will the former champion triumph over her?"
At her corner, Katt was getting a drink of water. While doing so, the pink cat could see that Hill was breathing heavily. The zebra looked exhausted, but he kept a brave face on. Before the feline could get up and signal that she was ready for the final round, she saw Fara and Krystal approaching her.
"Hey guys, how's it hanging?" Katt greeted.
"We just came to see you before the final round." Fara said.
"Do you think I'm doing well?" The pink cat asked.
"You're doing fine," Krystal spoke, "but it would be a good idea for you to forfeit."
"Forfeit?" The feline looked puzzled.
"He's a retired champion for a reason, Katt." The cobalt vixen said. "Even if you win the match, you'll have to go easy on the guy."
"And that's unless you get beaten in the final round." Fara added.
"Guys," Katt chuckled, "I'm not going to do anything bad! I'm just going to keep on fighting until one of us falls!"
The bell rang, which signaled that the final round had begun. Walking back up to each other, Katt and Hill threw punches at each other again. Hill threw a left hook at Katt, but she moved out of the way. The pink cat hit her opponent in the chest with a jab, being fast enough to prevent him from blocking it. In response, the zebra delivered an uppercut to her chin, which knocked her back a bit. The feline and the equine wound up looking at each other eye-to-eye.
"Never before have I seen a newcomer being able to take on a champion," Hill spoke, "let alone a retired one like me!"
"I trained extra hard for this fight, going so far as to test out my speed and strength!" Katt stated.
"You should be lucky that I had some weight removed!" The zebra said. "If we fought when I still had that extra muscle, you wouldn't have lasted a single round!"
"That doesn't change the fact that I wanted to fight you!" The pink cat said. "So, come at me with all your strength!"
Giving a confident smirk, Hill resumed the fight with Katt. To begin with, the zebra delivered a left jab to his opponent's abdomen. He followed it up with a right jab, hitting Katt in the face. The pink cat didn't go down, however, as she was quick to deliver an uppercut to her opponent's abdomen. Being quick to follow it up, the feline threw a few hooks, two jabs, and an uppercut, all of which hit Hill. He stumbled back, feeling the force of his opponent's attacks.
Now that Hill was disoriented, Katt moved in to throw a jab at him. Before she could do it, the pink cat saw the zebra get a hold of himself. Despite that, she didn't hesitate, attacking when she had the chance. The punch hit the equine in the temple, but he decided to return the favor. He did a cross counter, hitting Katt in the face. The force of the attack was enough to knock her down, where she landed on her chest.
Katt was unable to get up when the Referee did his countdown, even as he reached one. When that was out of the way, it was clear that the pink cat had lost the match. She felt someone lifting her up and carrying her somewhere. Opening her eyes, the feline saw Maria taking her back to her corner. The Lucky Rabbit had a bottle of water on hand, with it looking as cold as ice. Seeing that, Katt only smiled, despite being in pain.
"With the newcomer out, the match goes to Michael Hill!" The Announcer said. "Katt Monroe gave it her all, but the Striped Champ took her down!"
Back in her corner, Katt saw Fara and Krystal standing near.
"Well, Katt, you lost." Fara spoke.
"Yeah," Katt said, "but at least I didn't do anything underhanded!"
"Aside from using telepathy that you got from stealing some of my blood, that is." Krystal stated.
Looking over to Hill, Katt saw him speaking to the Referee and Mr. Simms. Nodding his head, Mr. Simms walked on over to Katt.
"C'mon, Monroe!" He spoke. "Hill wants to shake hands with you!"
Standing up, Katt dusted herself off and spoke to Fara and Krystal.
"I'll be back, guys." Katt said.
"Hold on a second, something's wrong!" Krystal warned.
"Don't worry, hon, it's just a handshake!" The pink cat chuckled.
Walking over to Hill, Katt held out her hand. Once she was near the Referee, the pink cat was ready to get the handshake out of the way. Looking at Hill, the feline saw that the zebra looked dazed. Somewhat startled by his expression, she decided to be careful with her approach. Slowly shaking the equine's hand, Katt decided to speak with him.
"I might have lost the match, but it was worth it!" She said. "It's not everyday that you get to fight a former champion, especially one as tough as you! Thank you, Mr. Hill!"
Hill, despite being dazed, slowly smiled at Katt. However, without warning, his eyes glazed over. Falling to the floor, the zebra started bleeding from his nose and his mouth. Katt gasped when she saw this, stepping back in horror. The Referee shouted for someone to call an ambulance, with Mr. Simms and Steve looking down at Hill. Maria shook her head, looking like she was in shock.
When an ambulance came and got Hill, Katt wound up staying in the locker room for a bit. The pink cat was mortified by what had happened. Once her opponent had collapsed at the handshake, the feline got a terrible feeling. It didn't take telepathy for her to see it, and she doubted that Krystal needed hers in order to tell what had really happened. The thought lingered in Katt's mind, refusing to leave until she accepted it. It was something that she couldn't ignore, nor was it an event that she would forget about anytime soon: the death of Michael Hill.
Note: As a sad truth, lots of people have died in the ring. Be it wrestling or boxing, athletes take risks every time they enter the ring, be it a career-ending injury or death. It's something that we have to swallow, knowing that an athlete can be critically injured or killed during a game. Until next time guys, this is Newcomer24, signing off. Peace!