Chapter 6
*Team Spirit vs the Daughters of Darkness*
Starla and Isebella marched their way down the ramp toward the ring. They were like spirited kids in a high school parade. Every guy they passed by wished them luck and they greeted them back in return. They jumped over the ropes and posed to the crowd in opposite corners.
When they were done, the lights turned dark. Every few seconds, the lights would flicker on for a tiny moment, and in that moment, the Daughters of Darkness—Azraella Bloodstone and Midnight—would stand still on the ramp. The lights went dark, and when they flickered again, the Daughters stood closer to the ring. So on and so on until they lights came back on and the Daughters were found in the ring right in front of Team Spirit who jumped back in shock and fright. Azraella and Midnight gave their tag team belts to the referee and went to their corners.
"What do you think, Midnight?" Azraella asked. "Do any of those girls catch your eye?"
"I do admit, they are both potential brides for me," Midnight said, "But they seem a bit underage. I'll give them a couple of years before I can take them."
"Hey, don't look down on us!" Starla shouted. "We're not that young!"
"Yeah!" Isebella agreed. "And by the way, what makes you think we want any part of your creepy harem? You Twilight reject!"
That hit a nerve. If there was one thing that Midnight hated, it was being referenced to the only vampire franchise she hated. The whole reason she joined wrestling is to get vampires away from that stereotype. She was not happy.
"Azraella, I'd like to go first."
"Very well then." Azraella said as she went to the apron. "For our masters."
"For our masters."
Team Spirit looked at each other and nodded their heads at once. Isebella stayed in the ring while Starla went to her corner.
"It looks like things are heating up already, and the bell hasn't even rung yet! Will Team Spirit take both the belts or will the Daughters of Darkness reign hell over the ring!"
DING! DING!
Isebella and Midnight charged at each other and grabbed each other's hands. They were both trying to gain advantage over the other. Isebella was starting to twist Midnight's arms, but before she could, the vampire swung her head forward and collided with Isebella's. Isebella was dazed for a moment, and Midnight took advantage of that by lifting her knee to her stomach.
Isebella fell to her knees clutching her abdomen. Midnight gripped her hair and fiercely held her face to her own.
"Apologize for associating me with Twilight, you brat!" Midnight threatened.
Isebella refused. Midnight then slapped her and went to kick her in the face. Isebella saw the kick coming and grabbed her foot. Isebella stood back up while stil holding the foot. She dragged the vampire struggling for balance to the corner where the other half of Team Spirit waited. They made the tag and Starla climbed up the top rope. She jumped and hit Midnight down with a lariat. Isebella went to the corner while her partner continued the match for her.
Starla grabbed Midnight's leg and flipped her over for a single-leg Boston crab. The referee asked if she gave up, but she refused. Midnight used her two free arms and her free leg to turn to her left and get within arm's reach of the ropes. Starla released the hold and turned to her opponent who lifted herself to the ropes. Starla attempted to grab Midnight, but Midnight turned the tables on her. She grabbed Starla's wrists and threw her to the ropes, her neck making impact. While Starla was choking out the pain in her neck, Midnight went behind her. The vampire managed to grab her legs and roll her over for a school boy pin.
1… 2…
Starla kicked out. Midnight saw her opportunity and get to her corner and tag Azraella Bloodstone in. The devil woman went to Starla and lift her to her feet. Azraella raised her arm up and attacked the girl's chest with her elbow. She removed her arm and slammed it again. She did it one more time before throwing Starla to the ropes. She hit her with a clothesline and pinned her down.
1… 2…
Once again, Starla kicked out. Angry, Azraella stomped down on Starla until the girl grabbed the devil woman's foot. She tripped her and kicked back up. Starla grabbed Azraella's arm and stomped on it. She then lifted her on her knees to kick her down in a shining wizard. She hooked her legs.
1… 2…
Azraella managed to kick out. Starla went on over to tag Isebella in, who jumped to the top turnbuckle. Both girls grabbed each other by the wrists. Starla lifted her partner overhead and slammed her down on top of Azraella for the pin.
1… 2…
Isebella could have won, but Midnight ran into the ring anc kicked her off of Azraella. The referee argued against the vampire and slowly got her back to her corner. While that happened, Azraella slipped her hand into her own top pulling out a handful of red dust that felt warm in her hand. Isebella approached Azraella to pick her up again not knowing it was a trap… until Starla called out.
"Isebella, look out!"
Isebella trusted her friend enough to duck down away from Azraella who had blown the dust in her hand. It missed. Isebella countered with a kick to her gut. Azraella used the momentum from the kick to walk backwards toward her corner and tag Midnight in.
Midnight flipped over the rope and screamed like a banshee to the girl who insulted her. Isebella was a little bit intimidated, but she wasn't going to let Midnight have the satisfaction.
Isebella launched a flurry of strikes to Midnight, but the vampire blocked them with her arms. She countered by sending a kick to Isebella's legs making her fall to her knees. She then ran behind her and wrapped her arms around her neck tightly in a sleeperhold. Isebella grabbed Midnight's arms attempting to pry them off, but it was to no avail as the vampire tightened her hold.
"Just you wait." Midnight whispered into her opponent's ear. "Don't think the end of the match is going to save you. I'm still going to kick your ass until apologize for that Twilight comment. You know, I could make it painless now if you say you're sorry now. I'll even allow you to become a bride of mine in the future." She loosened the hold a bit allowing Isebella to speak, albeit barely.
"Go… sparkle… in the daylight." Isebella returned.
Midnight was more frustrated than ever. Not only did she tighten the sleeper harder than before, she opened up her mouth and bit Isebella on the shoulder making her scream in agony. The referee saw it and warned her to let go. Midnight released the bite, but it really left a mark.
Starla decided that she was done. She slipped through the ropes and ran to the vampire. She threw her fist and punched Midnight in the face. After helping her friend recover, they picked Midnight up and threw her to the ropes before landing their double dropkick on the rebound. Isebella landed on top of Midnight for the pin. Azraella tried to go on and stop them, but Starla tackled her landing them both outside of the ring.
1… 2… 3!
DING! DING!
"Team Spirit wins! Not only did they survive the Daughters of Darkness' brutal styles, but they managed to walk out of the ring as the new Xtrema Tag Team Champions!"
The referee handed Starla and Isebella their new belts. The two girls were happy to be crowned their new titles. They hugged each other and laughed. After they thanked the crowd with their waves, they returned backstage not just to celebrate, but to get Isebella's bite mark checked out.
*Queen Bee vs N-Bomb*
It was time for the Xtrema Championship match. First, it was N-Bomb to walk down the ramp and into the ring. She didn't make a pose; the only smiled confidently and leaned on her corner. Next, Queen Bee pumped herself up as she marched down. The crowd was clearly on her side. She saw Kaito Marx sitting in the front row of the crowd and flashed him a wink making him blush.
When Queen Bee finished her entrance, the steel cage above them lowered. It placed itself firmly on the ring apron just behind the ropes.
"In the blue corner, ready and proud to throw her weight around, it's N-Bomb! In the red corner, the ace of Xtrema, Queen Bee! This match will be for the Xtrema Championship and take place inside of a steel cage! The only way to win will be to either pin your opponent, make her submit, or escape the cage and plant both feet on the floor! Anything else goes! Let's get this match started!"
DING! DING!
Queen Bee and N-Bomb met for a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Both struggled, but in the end, N-Bomb's superior size and weight managed to push Bee to a corner post. N-Bomb punched Bee in the face and flipped her over making her face the corner post. N-Bomb then grabbed Queen Bee's head and slammed it to the top turnbuckle. She did it again. She did it three more times until Bee stopped the last slam by grabbing onto the ropes. She elbowed N-Bomb in the face and switched places with her.
Queen Bee grabbed N-Bomb's leg and put it through the middle and bottom ropes. She then grabbed the foot and pulled it back squeezing it around the bottom rope. N-Bomb got out of the hold and pushed Queen Bee backwards.
When Queen got back up, N-Bomb charged at her and pushed her down again with just her stomach. N-Bomb stood above her and gave a little smile. She jumped up and landed her butt on Queen Bee's stomach. She stood back up and dropped herself on her again. She did it once more. Queen Bee gasped each time she did that and everyone in the audience was worried, especially Kaito.
"Let's go, ref!" N-Bomb commanded as she nudged herself so her stomach would be covering Queen Bee's shoulders.
1… 2…
Surprisingly, Queen Bee powered from the pin and pushed her shoulder up. N-Bomb got back up and grabbed Queen Bee's legs. She flipped her over for a Boston crab. Bee yelled as N-Bomb's extra weight made the hold much worse.
"Queen Bee, do you give up?" the referee asked from outside of the cage.
"No!" Queen Bee responded.
"That's all right with me." N-Bomb said. "I can stay here all night!"
Queen Bee struggled with the hold while trying to find a way to escape. She then remembered the leg she twisted earlier. She found N-Bomb's foot and slammed her elbow on it. N-Bomb winced and loosened the hold. Queen Bee saw her opportunity and crawl out of the hold. She stood back up as N-Bomb turned around.
Queen Bee hit N-Bomb with a spin kick. Then, she hit her with a spinning backfist. Lastly, she bounced off the ropes and dropped N-Bomb with a clothesline.
"Count!"
1… 2…
N-Bomb kicked out flipping over. Queen Bee sent several kicks to N-Bomb's back. When she was done, she went to the top turnbuckle and jumped backwards hitting her with a moonsault.
Queen Bee thought to herself that this might be her opportunity. She grabbed the cage and started to climb up. She only got off the ropes when N-Bomb got back up on her feet. The overweight wrestler grabbed Queen Bee's ankle and pulled her back to the mat. Bee landed on her feet as N-Bomb went for a grab. Bee ducked and countered with a leg trip. Queen Bee grabbed N-Bomb by her legs and pulled her to the center of the ring.
"EVERYONE, READY?!" Queen Bee shouted.
Everyone cheered as she crossed N-Bomb's legs and turned her over for a sharpshooter. She bent backwards with her finishing move waiting for N-Bomb to strain in pain. But surprisingly, N-Bomb didn't scream or even wince. Instead, she chuckled. Suddenly, N-Bomb straightened her legs throwing Queen Bee off of her. By the time Bee got back on her feet, N-Bomb had grabbed her by the torso and squeezed her in a bearhug. She was having a hard time breathing
"Here's a little secret, false queen!" N-Bomb taunted. "Your little sharpshooter won't work against thunder thighs like mine! I'm much too big for that! And now, you're mine!"
N-Bomb released Queen Bee letting her fall to the mat. She clutched her sides while her opponent looked down on her with a smile. She lifted the ace to her feet and planted her face to the cage. N-Bomb pressed harder applying more pressure to Queen Bee's face.
N-Bomb then lifted Bee across her shoulders and stretched her with a torture rack. She kept it on for a few moments before tossing her to the cage to bounce off. N-Bomb jumped up and landed belly first on Queen Bee's body and called for the ref.
1… 2…
Queen Bee managed to bridge her stomach up to stop the count. N-Bomb grabbed Queen Bee's torso and repeatedly punched her in the ribs. The ace actually screamed during the barrage.
"DON'T! YOU! THINK! THAT! YOU! CAN! BEAT! ME!" N-Bomb shouted punching between each word.
After that, N-Bomb lifted Queen Bee up and prompted her to a corner. The ace was looking half-dead at the time. N-Bomb went to the opposite corner and rubbed her foot on the mat like a bull. It was time for N-Bomb's signature slam, Detonation. She charged herself toward Queen Bee while the crowd shouted in worry.
"QUEEN BEE, MOVE!" Kaito Marx shouted from the crowd.
Out of all the fans shouting from the crowd, it was Kaito's that Queen Bee heard over everyone else. Something inside of her awakened when she heard his cry. She focused her vision just in time to see N-Bomb charging toward her and jumping. Out of instinct, Queen Bee threw herself to the side letting N-Bomb collide with the post instead of the champion. N-Bomb was dizzy and unbalanced, she didn't even notice that she fell right on top of Queen Bee.
Technically, N-Bomb was still conscious, and Queen Bee isn't on her back with her shoulders pinned, so the match would still go on. Queen Bee struggled to escape, but she couldn't slip out of N-Bomb's massive weight. So she had another plan. She wasn't sure if she could do it, but it was her only chance.
Queen Bee placed one arm around N-Bomb's head and another around one of her legs. She strained her hardest to bend her knees and lift herself up first. She nearly slipped, but she kept going, especially with N-Bomb over her shoulders. The crowd fell silent at the display. Queen Bee managed to slip one of her knees forward into a kneeling position. She pushed herself upwards even though she felt like her knees were going to snap. Eventually, she managed to get both feet on the mat and she stood up straight roaring as she held N-Bomb over her shoulders. The crowd finally cheered as Queen Bee let go of her opponent letting her fall to the ground. It was a titanic display that they had witnessed. Queen Bee then went for the pin.
1… 2…
It wasn't enough. N-Bomb managed to regain her consciousness with enough time to kick out. Both girls were incredibly tired breathing heavily. Slowly, they both used the ropes to get back up on their feet, but while Queen Bee was still breathing heavily while leaning on her ropes, N-Bomb managed to stand straight up and growl loudly at her opponent.
N-Bomb went for one last charge straight at Queen Bee. This time, she did collide, but they both impacted the cell wall so hard, the hinges around it broke apart. The entire wall fell down in the direction of the ramp. Everyone gasped when Queen Bee and N-Bomb dropped right on top of the broken wall. N-Bomb went for another pin by planting her arm on top of Queen Bee's shoulders. Though it wasn't on the mat, the referee still counted it.
1… 2…
If it was a millisecond later, N-Bomb would have won, but right before the referee could make the last count, Queen Bee boosted her shoulder up. N-Bomb was incredibly frustrated.
Queen Bee looked and realized that the cell wall had broken. An idea formed in her head: if she could get off of the cage wall and onto the floor, she would win. She tried to get up, but N-Bomb prevented that by wrapping her fat arms around her neck. N-Bomb's headlock was seriously getting into her throat.
"I won't let you win!" N-Bomb shouted. "I'm taking that belt from you. No matter what!"
The hold was tighter around Queen Bee's neck keeping her from standing up. Queen Bee struggled to breathe, but at the same time, she realized that she didn't have to stand up and walk out. She just had to plant both feet on the floor. She clutched the cage wall with her fingers and heels and used them to slowly crawl toward the floor. N-Bomb realized what she was up to and tightened the hold hoping to knock her out before she could. It was a race between the two now. In the end, Queen Bee mustered up enough strength to get her legs out of the cage wall and land both feet on the floor.
DING! DING!
The referee forced N-Bomb to release Queen Bee's neck and helped the champion on her feet before giving her the belt. She embraced the belt and stood before all the fans who cheered their loudest. Kaito Marx jumped over the barricade to be by his girlfriend's side.
"Incredible! Despite all the crushing agony she's been through, Queen Bee emerged as the victor! I can't speak for the rest of the crowd, but this whole match was my favorite tonight! Can't wait to see how this mystery event tops this off!"
And right on cue, Sayuri Rogue appeared at the stage. She gestured her hand and invited Queen Bee, Kaito Marx, and N-Bomb over by her side. As they approached, they began to notice other people on the stage with Sayuri. It was the rest of the official Xtrema roster. Clementine Cirrus, Amazon Aqua, Liza Surkova, the Skunk, Diana Diaz, the Daughters of Darkness, Freya, Mantis, Madame Python, Carly X, Black Swan, Calypso, Eris, the Killer Kitties, Team Spirit, Kyoko Natsumi, La Calavera, Mercy, Cleopatra, Willow Powell, Thunder Mana, Scarlette, and Carly X awaited the three. When they all gathered up in the group, Sayuri spoke into her microphone.
"I have to say, so far, no one disappointed. We've had quite a few hard-fought battles tonight, but now, it's time for the main event. And for this event, it's going to involve all of you." The crowd oohed in anticipation. "I've been sitting on this idea for a while, and now, it's time to make it known. Somewhere in this building, I've hidden a brand new championship belt. But what kind of belt is it, you may ask. Well, it's Xtrema's very own… 24/7 Championship belt!"
The Titantron above them showed the image of a new belt. It had a black base with golden plates. The center plate had a red X on it. In front of the X were the numbers 24/7.
"I'll explain the purpose of the championship." Sayuri said. "Unlike most belts which can only be earned in an official match inside the ring, this very belt can be won anywhere by anyone. The only condition is that there has to be a certified referee present. And tonight, someone gets to talk out of here with that belt in the main event… the 24/7 Championship Scramble!
"I'll explain the rules. The belt is somewhere in this building. To win, you have to find it and strap it somewhere around any part of your body. And just for a special treat, whoever wins this event cannot be challenged for it until tomorrow at dawn. That's right. The new champion gets to celebrate their first night without anyone wanting to take it from them."
The wrestlers were loving that idea. The crowd was behind it too. Sayuri raised her hand preparing to start the event.
"All right, everyone! The 24/7 Championship Scramble starts…"
Author's Note: As you can tell, I'm splitting this night into three because of the Scramble. But at least the two here are enjoyable, right? Who do you predict will win the 24/7 Championship Scramble?
Any and all comments are welcome.