As the circuit went along, Theo and Winnie had put Ray and Fang through several kinds of environmental fields.
"Remind me again why we're wrestling in an area bathed in flames?", Fang asked as Ray and him practiced one day.
"The next bout is in the Extreme Arena in California.", Theo answered, "They love to make a show even in the sport so they added this feature to amp it up."
Ray rolled his eyes as he flipped Fang only for the wolf monster to turn in the air and land on his feet though he wasn't looking too thrilled.
"I don't do heat remember?"
Winnie didn't look worried.
"That's why we do this session."
Fang sighed heavily.
"I am going to be so relieved when this whole thing is over and we just go back to wrestling the old fashioned way."
"And I'll feel better when we make it to the final round and have the final say.", Theo put in.
Fang and Ray paused from practice to reevaluate their strategy as the hologram of the fake environment vanished from the ring.
"What are you doing?", he asked.
"I'm trying to rap.", Theo answered, "That way we communicate better."
Fang chuckled.
"You think you can rap like I can? You think you can be the man?"
Ray and Winnie looked each other's way smiling warmly as they recalled the thing that made their relationship kick off as Theo and Fang got into a rap off.
"Some have fins, some have claws, but I'm new and I'm not crying. I'm doing my best and it seems hard, but I'm still standing and not sighing."
Fang looked impressed.
"You got the rhyme, but have you got the game? Old, young or in between it's all to me that same."
After a few more rhymes, Fang and Ray went out for fro-yo with their coaches.
"So, you think we got a shot in this bout in a few days?", Fang asked before he suck his whole muzzle into his huge container of the frozen goodness and started eating noisily.
Winnie looked a bit appalled.
"Fang, that's...gross."
Ray just smiled as he recalled when Fang had his first taste of the stuff back when they were kids. They were outside the fro-yo stand and Ray had given him a cup of the stuff.
"What is this again?", Fang asked.
"Just eat it.", Ray told him as he started on his.
Fang tasted his and then his small eyes lit up.
"That's so tasty!", he exclaimed before he scarfing it down pretty noisily.
Back to reality, Fang finished his fro-yo and gave a huge belch.
"Excuse me."
/
Apparently Theo had described the event in less detail than he should have. Fang was in the ring with a lion like wrestler clearly looked burly as he was vain. Light purple scales decorated his frame and blonde highlights decorated his mane with an annoyed look on his face.
"This is supposed to be Isla de Fang's heart and soul? You got to be kidding."
Fang frowned.
"Hey, nobody bad talks about my hometown buster."
The ref came between the two when things started getting heated.
"Hey, into the corners."
Fang and his opponent went into the corners just as the ring shifted into what looked like a city in flames. Theo saw Fang's expression turn to one of nervousness, but he knew what to say.
"So they toss us in the flame, they say we got no game, but do we listen to babble? Heck no it's all trash and rabble."
Fang felt better and then looked firm and confident.
"So they think I'm out of water? They try and make me falter. But I'm still standing and still fighting and my tale I'm still writing."
Once the bell rang, Fang jumped into the flames as he noticed a water pipe spurting water and he knew his goal, but his opponent seemed to know that too and got Fang into a reverse twist and about to toss him to the ground, but Fang recalled back to training when Ray did a similar roll.
"Okay, you're doing good Fang, the best way to beat the hold, is to use the twist in reverse."
Fang then looked to Theo who gave a nod signaling that he knew what had to be done. Fang used his tail to turn himself the moment his opponent let go so he could land on his feet and trip his foe onto his back and lift.
"And it looks like Frostfang has got Vanity by the cross hairs."
Unfortunately the bell rang signaling the round was over. The lights dimmed as the wrestlers returned to their corners.
"This is it Marc. Sudden Death. Whoever gets a hold will be the winner."
Fang felt more stressed, but then looked more determined.
"Okay Fang, you got this?", Theo asked.
Fang gave a smile.
"It's just like my fourth, seventh, twelfth, and nineteenth bouts back home in the little leagues."
Theo looked surprised and shocked.
"Little leagues?!"
Fang didn't seem to notice as the bell rang and Fang made a dive for the water pipe and Vanity clearly trying to keep him from doing so.
/
Vanity managed to grab Fang's shark tail and dragged him towards the center.
"Oh, Vanity looks like he's going to finish this."
Theo felt tense. Fang could lose and be out before he faced Ray. Fortunately Fang looked Vanity's way smiling.
"Smiling at defeat?", Vanity asked callously, "How sweet."
"Oh I'm not smiling at my defeat you big cat with scales.", Fang said raising an arm, "I'm smiling at yours."
Vanity raised an eyebrow then looked shocked as Fang tossed what looked like a handful of water and drenched Vanity's mane making the wrestler let go of Fang's tail allowing him to turn himself and tackle the guy straight to the floor and the bell rang.
"And it's all over! Frostfang wins!"
Vanity looked annoyed as he got to his feet and Fang backed off.
"No fair! You cheated!"
Theo looked unsure, but Fang didn't.
"Hey, if you is accusing me of cheating, than you'd be mistaken. I'm not the one who's freaking out about my mane out of place."
That only fueled Vanity's anger.
"Well, I want a rematch!"
"Just name the time and place.", Fang answered.
"Fang!", Theo snapped.
/
As Theo and Fang left the stadium, Theo had not calmed down.
"I can't believe you made us wrestle the guy all because you used a handful of water to distract him."
Fang rolled his eyes.
"I can't believe you actually agree that I used a cheap shot to win."
"Well you did.", Theo said firmly, "Now Vanity is going to train twice as hard just so he can take us down in a single round instead of the three we just did."
Fang looked Theo's way and thought maybe he did go outside the rules that time and Theo thought he was being a little too hard.
"Look, I know you want to win Fang, but if we use cheap shots, it will make us look bad and get us disqualified."
Fang looked apologetic.
"Sorry coach, I just could get away with it back in my little leagues and I shot my mouth off back there."
Theo and Fang got to a hotel near the seaside where arrangements had been made for Theo to stay and Fang could take a swim as the sun was setting on the horizon. After Theo got his room, he went with Fang to the beach where Fang set him down on the sand and took a running leap into the open ocean with the grace and elegance of an Olympic diver. As Theo stood on the sand watching, he felt like he should call Winnie and Ray to let them know that Fang and him wouldn't be coming back to Stoker. Luckily he found a phone nearby and was able to make a call.
"Hey Theo. How was the bout?", Winnie asked when she picked up.
Theo took a breath.
"The audience and Vanity both think that Fang cheated so there's a rematch being held the day after tomorrow to make it official or else Fang gets kicked out of the event."
"Ouch.", Winnie stated, "Well, Ray's bout got cancelled due to his opponent being under the weather, but he'll recover tomorrow and make the match. Don't let Fang get too ahead of himself okay? You got this."
Theo felt better.
"Thanks Winnie. Best of luck to ya."
He hung up just as Fang came out of the water looking refreshed and ran a hand over his head before looking down at his coach.
"Oh, I think I'm making you-"
"Fang!", Theo said firmly, "Not in front of the kids."
Fang looked shy.
"Sorry.", he said before regaining his stance, "Do I look good after a swim? Oh yes."
Theo had to admit that Fang did look good as he stooped down and held out his hand.
"Fang, I'm not diving into that ocean at this hour. Sharks you know."
Fang smiled.
"Hey, I'll be there to drive them off if needed."
Theo climbed into Fang's hand and Fang's smile got bigger.
"Now take a deep breath and hold on tightly."
Theo did so and before he knew what was happening, Fang did a backflip and freezing seawater splashed over them both though Theo almost lost his breath before Fang let him go to swim deeper. Theo opened his eyes to see a set of glowing stripes and fins that showed that Fang was nearby. Fang turned to show his face was lit up like he had a mask on and gave a smile before he displayed an underwater bodybuilder routine proudly. Unfortunately Theo couldn't hold his breath as long as Fang could and started swimming towards the surface. Fang was right behind him and then used his hand to have Theo burst into the evening air to the shinning full moon as Fang's head came up.
"Beautiful moon.", Theo commented.
Fang then gave a long and loud wolf howl before seeing Theo yawn signaling him that it was time to swim back to shore.
"Thanks for the dip.", Theo shivered, "But I think it's time for bed."
/
Fang carried Theo back to the hotel under the dark skies and full view of the full moon. As he made his way there, some monster civilians were in awe.
"No way, Fang really does look better when he comes in after a swim."
"And the way the water glistens off his skin. Oh, he's something else."
"And those stripes? They are so foreboding yet so cool."
Fang then was facing what would be described as a fan with a huge notebook and pen while giving him a look of eagerness.
"Mr. Frostfang, could I get your autograph?"
Fang put Theo on his shoulder as he did so and the fan fainted right then and there before a set of cameramen started flashing with reporters.
"Mr. Frostfang, did you really use a cheap shot in the match earlier?"
"What do you hope to do for the rematch the day after tomorrow?"
"Any comment from your coach?"
Fang finally looked firm.
"I have no comment and I have to get my coach back so he can sleep, but hopefully we'll pull through on our rematch good night."
Ignoring the group he continued and had made it to the hotel just as Theo had started to drift off. Smiling, Fang lifted him off his shoulder so Theo could enter his hotel room through its balcony.
"Thanks Fang.", Theo managed to say before he yawned again.
Fang looked complimented.
"No problem. I'm going to do some more late-night laps before hitting the hay myself at the room they arranged for me at the stadium, but I'll be back tomorrow morning so we can do our routine."
Theo didn't bother to say anything as Fang took off and he got into his hotel room. It was really nice considering that it was already paid for, but Theo managed to get his teeth brushed using the toothbrush and toothpaste he had packed before he and Fang left Stoker. After turning out the light, Theo settled into bed and felt comfortable though the thought of Fang being out that late had him a bit worried. Pushing the thought aside, Theo figured that Fang could handle himself and was soon asleep. As Theo drifted into his mindscape, he found himself in a dark place like a wrestling ring but no lights on or anyone else around.
"Where am I?", he asked himself.
Then the strong aroma of sea salt and charred ash met his nose and he turned to see ghostly images of Ray and Fang wrestling something that Theo could have sworn he saw before, but didn't recall where. Whatever it was, it was clearly holding its own against two.
"You thought you could keep me down?! I'm the best! And I will not let a couple of nobodies keep me away from what is mine!"
Once Theo heard the voice, his jaw dropped as the third image materialized to reveal it as a version of Tentacular only something was off. The former champion was using powerful moves that had Ray and Fang at bay.
"When I'm done with you two, there will be nothing left of that stadium, that island or either of your legacies!"
The moment Tentacular said that, the area around Theo started to crumble like it was sinking into the largest sinkhole. Terrified, Theo tried to run to the edge, but he also saw Fang's island home buckle and then get bathed in a coat of molten lava before sinking beneath the waves.
"That Theo may be a good support, but he is not a coach!"
Theo felt as if Tentacular's tentacles were tightening around his heart as he painfully looked over his shoulder to see Fang and Ray on the ground and Tentacular above them looking vain and snide.
"Oh yeah! I won!"
Theo woke up instantly overwhelmed by dread.
"This is bad.", he said to himself, "If that guy is in this whole event too, then I'm afraid something horrible is about to unfold."
As he tried contemplating what he had just witnessed, the words the former champion had used rang in his ears again making him feel worse.
"Fang, I hope we don't have to get in too deep or we could be facing off against evil in its most cold and relentless form."
Theo put his head back on his pillow and pondered what could be done about the situation. But it was late so he'd look it up in the morning. As he drifted off again, a breeze came through the open door as the full moon bathed the balcony in moonlight.