Little thank you to Adon for a review and the others who followed and faved my story. Cheers mates, hope you continue and enjoy reading.
I do not own Skullgirls. All rights go to the amazing team of Hidden Variable, The Composers and Cast: Alex Ahad, Michiru Yamane, Vincent Diamante, Cristina Vee, Kaiji Tang, Sarah Williams, Rich Brown, Laura Post, Kai Kennedy and all the other amazing people who make this game awesome! (I could say the other names but that would take too long)
Enjoy Chapter Two Not What He Expected (Part One)
Setting the Stage Chapter Two
New Meridian, Beowulf's Apartment, Summer 31/8/2008
"The hero that did the impossible: the man that defeated a monster. He rallied a nation at war. There was a time when everyone could say. "I know Beowulf." During the Grand War, the people of the Canopy Kingdom were gripped with a terrible fear of the race of savage giants known as the Gigans. They were unstoppable. Then. Came. Beowulf. He defeated the brutal warrior Grendel in a no-holds-barred exhibition match as the nation watched. Seeing her son defeated, Grendel's mother was consumed by rage and lashed out but our hero didn't flinch. The Hag went down! That day, Beowulf became a legend. It wasn't long before Wulfamania was running wild! Beowulf, the champion of a nation. A natural entertainer, remembered for his "Wulfpack "of fans and for action figures the Canopy kingdom's little boys couldn't live without. But when the war ended, the patriotic spirit that fueled that adoration for Beowulf began to fade. After he left the ring, he was stuck with bit parts in cheap action flicks, game shows and even infomercials. He didn't go out with a growl but with a whimper. As the Bad Wolf Man on the popular "kids" show Annie of the Stars. Beowulf disappeared from the public eye. How long has it been since anybody's heard that famous howl?" After the long winded monologue ended, Beowulf threw his remote at the TV, while it played commercials.
"Shaddup TV. I've still got the howl and I've got the noise complaints to prove it!" Beowulf lay slouched on his sofa in his white overall t-shirt, dressing gown, pink slippers and black and white boxers. All the while drooling on his pillow, with Hurting still behind him. He groaned, as he got up from his sofa and walked over to his partner's mantel.
He stopped to pick up some left over tea he made earlier and just stared at Grendel. "(They don't know what I had to deal with. But there were good times too)" He closed his eyes and smiled at Grendel as he reminisced. "Those were the good ol' days, right? High Five Buddy!" Nothing happened. He opened his eyes and frowned. "Come on don't leave me hangin'."
Suddenly, the TV switched to the news, which immediately got The Wulf's attention. "We Interrupt Canopy Kingdom Celebrity Crash Out for a breaking report! The Skullgirl has reappeared!"
"(Great and I was enjoying my life of doing nothing. At least something big happens now… Wish I could be out there… Making people happy)" Beowulf thought sadly.
The TV continued. "Sightings have been conformed in down town New Meridian and Maplecrest!" The Wulf just grunted and turned to leave.
However, something unexpected happened in the form of Grendel's arm hitting Beowulf from behind. "Ow!" He shouted, as he fell. "Little Late! Wait a sec… Did you slap me bro? Not cool!" The Champ tried to rise, however, his partner fell on top of him, trying to pull his face off. "Hey, hey! What's wrong bud? You haven't been like this for years!"
No reply. Hold on. He remembered when the previous Skullgirl attacked, they said something about her being able to control the dead or some crap... Oh, no... "He's possessed! Damn! Alright, where, where... Yeah! I need to get to the Divine Cathedral, maybe a priest, nun or someone can calm him down! I normally just go out to get beer but right now I'll make an exception!" Beowulf acted like he was talking to someone else.
Nothing… and Grendel just kept attacking him. "Ow, ow! OK! Time to go!" Beowulf grabbed the possessed arm, ran to the door and made his way down the main stairs. The flat he stayed in worked for what it was, didn't help that he had to get the stupid apartment room so far up though but with that, it did give him some exercise.
"Now where was it again?" Soon, after going through several running crowds and people fleeing, he made it to the Cathedral. It was kinda weird how The Skullgirl had appeared from near here, yet nothing had been touched. Beowulf didn't let it bother him and just kept on running into the confines.
Grendel was still trying to pull his skin off and it was annoying, the stupid guy would just not let go! He then spotted a sister tending to a lantern. He quickly ran up to her. The nun turned to see Beowulf running up to her. On the outside she was calm, on the inside she was shocked. "(Well, well. What a surprise. And he brought Grendel. Thank you for this deliverance Aeon)"
Beowulf continued to struggle with Grendel, who was trying to cover his mouth. "Sister, you gotta help me! This thing is possessed!"
The nun only tilted her head. "(Just to be sure) Is that the arm of a Gigan...?" She asked calmly with her soft voice.
"What does it look like? Quick, do an exorcism or something!" Beowulf pleaded.
The nun calmly inspected the arm more. "You should rid yourself of it child. The dead are under The Skullgirl's control now…"
Beowulf's eyes widened. "(Oh hell no!) Hey, I earned this trophy fair and square! She can't have it! (She's not taking my best bud, over my dead body!)" The nun then sighed but tapped the arm and it fell limp onto the ground.
"Finally! The stupid thing calmed down." Beowulf sighed in relief.
"(You're welcome… Fool) You've been given a second chance. Renounce it. Be not prideful." The nun told the Wulf seriously.
"Damn right I'm proud! I'm gonna kick some Skullgirl butt! (No one messes with my partner!)" Saying and thinking that confidently, Beowulf picked up Grendel's arm and sprinted out.
The nun merely scoffed and calmly went back to tending to the lantern. "(And off he goes again. Off to ruin whatever he sets his sights on unknowingly. I am glad to be done with him. Insolent idiot)" Saying that, despite the difficulties of the memories returning, she was about to forget about Beowulf entirely until an idea popped into her head and she gasped.
"Sister Agatha, I'm back!" She heard a voice with a humorous tone. The sister turned to see a nurse walking towards her.
"Lady Valentine, you have returned."
"Indeed. Also, was that the famous idiot Beowulf who just left?"
"Yes. The Gigan's arm had run amuck and attempted to kill him due to The Skullgirl's influence. I stopped it however."
"Aw, that was sweet of you. Never took you for the caring type."
"Don't talk nonsense. I only did that as to not arouse any suspicions. Besides it could prove fruitful for later events." She snapped.
Valentine gave a head tilted nod. "If you say so. Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong but was that a gasp I just heard from you? Wanna fill me in?"
"Follow me and I shall tell the both of you."
"Very well." Valentine nodded.
Both then went to the entrance of the catacombs, behind the confession booth and entered. Walking down the stairs, Double looked behind to address the nurse. "If I may ask Lady Valentine, where were you?"
"If you remember the scouting I was doing at the Lab?"
"Of course."
"Yeah, I was doing some double checking for the defences. Being as always, thorough. Just making sure we have every possible entrance down before we attack. We can't leave anything to chance. They've gotten a lot of experience over the years with this. Any advantage that we get, we must take. Marie's not giving them enough credit."
In response the nun gave a look of irony.
"Despite that," Valentine continued, "remember what I said about the Medicis though."
"Pray that lady Marie is in agreement with it too." Double then turned and the conversation went silent, save for the mutter Valentine gave as they both continued the journey downwards into the darkness.
With Valentine she always hated being down here. It felt tense all around and she could feel the aura of the corporeal being they were going to meet affect her slightly and they weren't even in direct contact yet. Not just that, she could feel eyes all around, staring. It felt like the dead were watching.
At last arriving in the ancient, dry chamber, Valentine called out, "Marie, if you would show yourself." Both then knelt and bowed their heads after feeling the presence of their lady.
"Speak."
Red eyes shot open and out floated a single young looking girl wearing a particular maid outfit, with a skeletal like vacuum curled behind her, accompanied by three giant skulls and many smaller ones that floated all around her being. With ominous aura and an almost Godlike vision the girl stood now: The Skullgirl.
The nurse first looked up. "Forgive our intrusion. Double?" The bluenette nodded to the nun.
"Fortune favours us. An unexpected opportunity has presented itself to us and it would be foolish not to grasp it." The nun spoke in an ominous but serious tone.
"This is curious. How would this benefit our plans?" Valentine asked with a raised eyebrow.
There was an awkward silence for a moment, until the ancient monster herself spoke, "Speak now Double. My patience wears thin with every waking hour and in those hours, it gives the ASG Labs and those Medici scum time to prepare."
Double gave her usual unemotional smirk. "This familiar puppet however, will make sure that nobody interferes with our operations. I'll elaborate further later. We must act with all speed and time as we know is against us. For now, you both focus on the attack planning, leave everything else to me."
"Very well but move swiftly."
After finishing and nodding in response, the shapeshifter abruptly left her "colleagues", took out a pair of gold shades and put them on while clearing her throat. "Get ready babe. Your good ol' pal is back." Changing form, as she walked up the stone staircase.
Beowulf walked in, threw Grendel onto the couch and fell atop his bed. "(Kick Skullgirl butt. Yeah, right. I'm way outta my league here. I could never take her on. Besides, I'd need my Wulfpack to give me the boost and they're all gone now. Forget it) Anyway, I'll hit the sack, go to the shops later, get beer and fall asleep again." Even if The Skullgirl attacked around his area or hell, even his apartment it didn't matter. At least something eventful would happen to him dead or alive.
The news came on again in the other room but Beowulf just shut the TV off by remote and went back to sleep.
New Meridian, NMO Arena, Summer 4/7/1995
Beowulf walked into to the backstage area and sat down on his chair: Hurting. He was sweating hard after an incredible match, where he had just retained his championship against Randy Damage. Backstage workers, fellow wrestlers and doctors were giving him praise, a pat on the back, the usual stuff for the Wulf, since every night he went out there and gave it 150%.
Soon after, Randy joined them in the back and opened for a hug. Beowulf returned the gesture and they both embraced, while the others clapped.
"Good match man."
"You too bro. Sorry again you couldn't get the belt. I really tried to get you pushed but eh, you know how it is. Hopefully you shut them up out there." Beowulf laughed as he detached from the hug.
Randy just gave him a pat. "Eh, don't sweat it. You know how it is with the creative team. Guys don't know how to push and book their wrestlers. The storylines are still good though. Just wish Zane would have time to come up with things as well. It was better when he came up with the ideas. Say isn't that something you were gonna talk to him about? I mean yous are close like bros." Randy spoke in a tired tone.
Beowulf sat back down, while also taking a bottle and pouring water onto his face. "I am but eh, leave him for now bud. You know how it is right now with the Grand War still going, Zane's got to handle the stuff outside the ring know what I'm sayin'? I don't really pay attention to the politics but besides, when it ends we'll have 'em back, no big deal." Beowulf encouraged his fellow co-worker.
"Same here and yeah, I guess." Randy gave a half hearted acknowledgment.
"Anyway, need to go see my kids. They'll be wanting to get on at me for not winning. Take care man." The brunette gave a laugh and wave.
"Yeah… Cool." Beowulf gave a hesitant little wave back, as he left the area as well. He then stayed silent for a minute before walking on.
"(Wife… Kids… I wonder what it's like to have 'em...?)" He mused but shook his head immediately after thinking that. "Get your head out the gutter man. You don't need a family, you got all you want right now, plus, you ain't good with people anyway." Beowulf spoke to himself as he walked. "(He is right about the guys in the Lockeroom though. Push or no. Maybe I should talk to Zane about it. I've been getting some of them coming up to me more and more recently...)" Thinking that, he was then unknowingly "attacked" by an interviewer, asking him how his match went, future plans and some crap like that.
He cut the promo, then decided to go see his best friend and mentor. Speaking of said promos, they were getting ridiculous at this point. More and more scripted as time went on and now he like the rest, was getting pissed at that. How's a wrestler supposed to find his character on his own, when they keep putting out this crud?!
Knocking on the door and opening it, he saw his Manager sitting down, feet kicked up cross legged on the table, while he whistled. As soon as his Boss saw who it was, he gave a cheeky grin and jumped out of his seat with a spring. "Hey, hey! How's my main, main, man doin'!?" He laughed as he gave a punch to Beowulf's shoulder.
Beowulf smiled and looked around the room, especially eyeing the table. "Hey bro. I'm good. That's a lot of stuff you got there. New money contracts, new blood or…?"
"Aw ha, don't you worry about that my friend. Just a couple of deals. You know, Grand War stuff. No offense to the people dyin' out there but if the war kept going, we'd be making millions, nay billions! But I ain't that savage, hope the guys out there clean up shop soon." Zane laughed.
Beowulf was a bit taken back by Zane's "Joke" but he let it slide. He did sometimes say stuff he didn't really mean. It was becoming more prominent as time went on though...
"Same here. So what's the plan when the war does die down, we losing views, merchandise sales?" Beowulf asked.
"Might lose a couple of views but we'll survive don't worry. Just leave it to me my little Wulf. I'll keep us going and maybe we'll get more of an audience, to get them to see how great wrestling is! I can see it now "Dynamite Zane MacDougal. Hosting: The New Era of Canopy World Wrestling!". Yeah I like that! Remind me to write that down bud." While Zane continued to rant about the future. Beowulf was trying to remember what he was going to ask in the first place but he was cut off by Zane.
"Oh yeah. Great match by the way. Nice sell by Randy after the Wulf Bottom. Got to give the guy props. You were the highlight though babe. Pretty soon, more will spread about your awesome undefeated streak! Defeating Grendel has made you a hero my friend, nay a legend, no… A God!"
Beowulf loved it when his best bro got so poetic like that or something. Made him feel more than what he was "Really? I'm a God?"
"Yeah! Beowulf: The Wrestling God! Think of all the sold out Paperview sales. All the lovely bone signs ha-ha-ha! But of course all for the Wulfpack right babe? Oh, and respect to the Trinity too. Gotta check with the big girls until we can break you into the God Club right?" Zane chuckled.
His best friend responded in kind. "Yeah! Yeah! For the Wulfpack! Goddess, I'm pumped! Can I go out and talk to them!?" Beowulf, now wasn't thinking straight and getting too caught up in his momentum.
Zane sat back down again. "Sure bud. I'll let you do some improvising victory speech or something like that. Now if you don't mind, I need to get back to the paperwork. I'll talk to you later 'kay?"
Beowulf gave a "Cool bro. See you." And left the room, closing the door.
The manger meanwhile, gave a sigh of relief. "How'd I get stuck doing this I'll never know. Still, it has its benefits. Keeping an eye on the current state of the economy is proving fruitful indeed. Thank you, Selene for providing this opportunity and you Lorenzo, you fool. The War should continue apace. By then, everything will be ready and it will also be the end for you... Beowulf."
Just then, Zane felt someone enter her thoughts. "Yes? Yes. Of course. Your plan is proceeding as expected. Being patient is all we can do now. Indeed, I shall not fail."
"And I can guarantee you, I will win my next match and the one after that, then the next one and the next and the next and the next! Nobodies taking this title from me! Not now, not ever and you can't teach that! Thank you, New Meridian! I will see you on Monday!" He ended his promo, the crowd cheered and chanted his name as he went to leave the ring but stopped after the cheers got louder. He didn't want to leave the ring now. They all loved him. He was their champ. Their Hero...
Beowulf's Apartment, Summer 31/8/2008
Beowulf smiled and drooled on his pillow as he dreamed. When everything was perfect. It ended however, when his telephone rang, which woke him up and him falling out of bed when he heard it. Rubbing his head, he quickly realised the situation. "Ow… Need to sleep ON the bed not just one side… Wait phonecall… I never get phonecall's… Better not be those damn kids again." He grumbled.
Scratching his butt, while getting another beer, he took his time to the phone. "Coming, coming. Hurting why can't you grab it? Good point. Hello." He answered. Nothing. He was already getting pissed. It had to be those kids again. "Listen, if it's you brats again I swear I'll!-" He was soon interrupted by a familiar over-the-top voice.
"Whoa, whoa babycakes! That any way to talk to an old friend? Jeez."
Beowulf was speechless. "I… Wait... HUH!?"
"Let me cut to the chase Babe. We're back in the game! Which means Wulfamania is back!"
Beowulf paused for a second. "Wait… Does that mean I'm still champ?"
Back in black? Probably not. Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading, review at your leisure and have a good one!