The walk back home was long, but pleasant. A sense of euphoria she's never felt before, every time the words rang through right down to her heart. "Winner! And your new champion... Bailey!" That sentence made her smile so wide it started to hurt. Despite suffering a sprained ankle, Raven was equally jubilant for Bailey - if not more. The two were on top of the world.
"So when are you getting the belt?" Raven asked. It was uncommon for the winner of the championship to not have the belt compliment his or her coronation.
"The promoter said I'll get it tomorrow during the next show. I come out, make a speech and I'm given my opponent for my first title defense." Bailey explains.
"Geez, they're putting you to work already? You just won the Royale!" Raven feared Bailey's body would break down sooner rather than later if the workload didn't lighten up.
"I'm the champion. I want to be a fighting one." It annoyed her to no end Hearst was able to extend his championship reign by picking and choosing when he'll defend the title, often dodging more powerful opponents and taking long stretches before fighting again.
Well, Bailey wasn't going to do that. Bailey was going to defend her championship, and give all up and comers a shot at glory. She wanted her first opponent to be Raven. However, he injury suggests she'll be rehabbing for a while.
Bailey returned home too giddy to sleep. Looking in the mirror to analyze her scars and bruises, nothing particularly unfamiliar, except now they served a purpose for something greater. Badges of honor she compiled on her skin through her long journey to the top. Gazing up on the wall, at the photos of the greats who came before she knew she was one of them.
"Bailey!" A parental voice dragged her out of her euphoria. "You have to get up, you'll be late for school!"
"School?" Bailey's heart sank. But it's so early- "Oh." She saw the sun rise, having stayed the whole night up. Only realizing now she's tired, the price of chasing glory also means running on empty even at the start of a long day.
Showtime couldn't have come fast enough. She ignored the teachers and the hecklers, focusing on what she was going to say in front of the crowd. Taking time during class to write her speech and hastily stuff it in her jacket pocket when the teacher surveyed the class room.
Raven stole a couple of glances beforehand, noticing the spelling and grammatical errors. She showed up to class with her leg in a splint, walking with a cane. "What you tell your family?" Bailey was curious.
"I fell down the stairs at the library." Raven's parents were either gullible or put too much trust in Raven. Bailey leaned on the latter. Raven was always the favorite of her family, given the benefit of the doubt when she was the most mischievous of the group.
"You're nervous?"
"What?" Bailey scoffs, trying to play cool. "Me, nervous? Get out of here!"
"You're hands are practically water fountains, you haven't said a word in hours, and haven't eaten." Raven notices. "I think you're nervous. Trust me, you'll do fine."
"Thanks, Rae."
Before Bailey went out to the center of the ring to speak to the fans, she caught a glimpse of the championship belt that'll soon be fitted around her waist. For a promotion strapped for cash, they knew to invest in a quality looking belt. A brown leather strap in pristine condition, and a gold plate with four crystals placed on each side, the initials of the promotion right in the center of the belt.
"Are you ready?" Mr. Root asks, Bailey wasting no time affirmatively responding yes. Her theme music hits, communicating to the crowd the champ was here. In the pit of her stomach she worried they wouldn't receive her as the champion, merely as a placeholder. Although the initial response was delayed, a wave of cheers washed over Bailey as she made her way down the ring in her style of showmanship. Fighters must have a style, a character they portray to the people in order to generate interest for them to come back. Bailey portrayed a bubbly personality, high-fiving fans next to the guardrails
"It goes without saying... the champ... is... here!" Bailey proclaimed into the microphone. "She's here and she's ready to put her title on the line anyplace, anytime!" They seemed to like that. It's been a while since they've had a fighting champion.
"I wouldn't be here without my friends in the back. Edgar, Raven, this is your championship as much as it is mine. Rae's going to be out of commission for a brief time, but when she gets better I promise I'll give her a shot at glory."
Mr. Root walks out holding the championship belt, presenting it to Bailey in the middle of the ring. Right before she could touch it, a familiar guitar riff stole the show. Bailey knew who was coming out and that her moment was put on hold.
Out came the long, blond haired champion still wearing the championship belt he retired with. His gaze squared on Bailey, the pretender to his throne.
"Allow me to correct you, Bailey. It's not that I'm not happy for you it's- ah, who am I kidding? I could give a damn about you. The REAL champ is here!" His rugged, gravelly voice trouncing Bailey's feminine tone.
"And what I see before me is nothing more than a pretender. A sitter on my throne, to keep it warm until my return. Well, I'm here. So you can skedaddle." When Bailey remained in the center of the ring, Hearst grew red in the face. "I don't think you heard me. Your time in my spotlight is over. I'll give you one more chance to leave. One-" He attempts a cheap shot on Bailey, only to have her duck out of the way and bounce back with a flying elbow. She grabbed her belt and holds it over Hearst to show she is not pushover, before calmly exiting the ring, hoisting the belt up high for all to see.
Right as she was about to turn around to head backstage, a stiff kick to the face intervened and sent her tumbling backwards. Hicks picks up the belt and tosses it aside like a piece of tin. Having seen enough of this, Mr. Root reigns in the madness.
"All right, that's enough!" He screeches. "Hearst, Hicks, you want the title show bad, well I have good news for you. It'll hang from the rafters of this building tomorrow for yours, and Bailey's to get in a ladder match. Oh, and to make this more interesting, it'll be a last chance match as well. Now get out of my building, all of you!"