June 21^st, 2019. A local Toronto Shopping Center, Patience Hoyt is standing near the entrance of the building looking more than a little impatience. She was dressed casually some dark blue skinny jeans, a blue and white floral shirt, baby blue Nike Cross Trainers, her white purse hanging off her left shoulder, and her hair while mostly straightened out from the waviness from her SCW Debut with the exception of a single side braid falling off to the left side of her face.  She isn’t alone by a long shot, because wrestling fans that notice her all come over to say ‘hi’ to her before asking for her autograph.

She’s in middle of signing one of those very autograph for a fan of SCW in general that doesn’t really know anything about the returning superstar, because most of her career was spent within rings for other companies. The closest she came to having any interaction with the SCW before then was while she was out of action pregnant getting into twitter wars with one, Cameron Chase. However, as she was signing that fan’s autograph another fan came up to them, but this one was different. Patience didn’t have to look at the fan very long to know that she had been a fan of hers for a long time. The reason was because she was wearing a faded, but still in pretty good shape t-shirt that the GDW released for her during her tenure in their developmental leagues as it bore her likeness, but had her name plastered on it as her real name at the time.

Many wrestling fans of SCW won’t realize that she didn’t always go by the name of Ember Young. That’s a name that she adopted after GDW’s closure for the few handful of appearances that she made before she found out that she was pregnant.

“Oh my god, Patience Young! I can’t believe that you came back to wrestling!” The fan was having more than little trouble containing herself in front of Patience. Which was more often a common site for when she met fans that were her personally and not just a casual fan that just loved wrestling in general.

“Never say never, right?” Patience smiled at the fan she had just finishing signing her autograph for. The casual fan took the autograph with a kind smile towards Patience, but looked at the fan girl as if she was crazy before walking away.

“Right, but with her injury… I for sure thought I’d never get a chance to see you wrestle again.” The fan girl started to dig around in her backpack for something and Patience could only assume that it would something for her to sign as well. However, the fan girl surprises her a little bit when she pulls out a hand made bracelet. “I made this just for you.”

Patience didn’t know what to say to the fan, because she’s never really got gifts like this before. She’s seen Samantha get them from time to time and god did she ever see her dad get them back when he was more a public figure, but they have slowly started to taper off now that he is fully retired and a bit of a recluse when it comes to the public. The last time anyone really saw him out in public was when he teamed up with Patience’s uncle Rick Young, one last time as the Young Guns against Twisted and Sadistic at CJ Osbourne’s wrestling event that he held. Which saw the ‘legendary’ team of her uncle and father defeat Glory Braddock who is one third of the Rise to Greatness main event and Brittany Lohan one of Patience’s upcoming opponents.

“I know it’s not the best quality, but I really tried my best.” The young girl was on the verge of tears at the thought that Patience didn’t like her gift.

“It’s great sweetie.” Patience put the bracelet on her left wrist before giving the young girl a hug to comfort her. “It’s the thought that counts.”

“You like it? You mean it?” The young girl asked, and Patience nodded her head yes, because she did like the thought behind it. She knew she probably wouldn’t wear it again after this encounter, because bracelets aren’t really her thing to wear, but the young fan didn’t need know that little detail though.

“I do. Do you have something you want me to sign?” Patience just watched as the young girl started digging through her bag again. It took her a little longer this time even though the item was considerably bigger than the bracelet. It was a binder that had a bunch of photographs in it. As the young girl flipped through the pages she saw a lot of familiar faces and the fact that they had signed their photograph for the fan already. Patience saw her other cousins Erick and Jesse, Ms. Liberty, Stacy Singer, Sydney Christensen, Josie Burns, her husband Woody who has yet to sign, and then Dakota Dark…

Her ex-boyfriend, the father of her son, Charlie Quinn, and the man that cheated on her several times had already signed the book. Seeing him in the book almost made her hesitate in signing her own photograph, but she couldn’t punish the fan for his actions. Besides, there was no telling when in time that he signed the photograph and if the fan knew of the shit that happened between them. When Patience looked at the collected photograph for her to sign she has to frown a little bit at it. It’s from one on of the worst photo sessions she had ever done for her now former talent manager Avery T. Matthews where she was forced in dressing up as Alice from Wonderland. Which could only make her laugh a little bit thinking of Giovanni Aries who is preaching about saving Wonderland from the Lizard King. Patience signs the photograph finally.

“They still not here?” Came the voice of husband as he walked up to Patience and the fan. He was of course referring to Sam, Minka, and Ashlynn that were supposed to meet her at ten am to go shopping for some new ring gear. He was dressed in a flannel shirt that was left unbutton exposing a white t-shirt underneath, jeans, and also a pair of Nike Cross Trainers. Patience knew he was a little pissed that they were late, because hell she was too, but at the same time she knew that Minka probably waited till the last minute to start her near seven hour drive from South Bend, Ashlynn who probably started driving sooner, but even she had nearly an eight hour drive. Now Sam, other than Patience she had the shortest drive, but she had forewarned Patience that she might be late, because she had plans to try and have a romantic morning with Chase.

“Wait… are you…” The fan started to ask as she started to feverishly flip the pages of her binder back until found the photograph of a much younger Woody. She probably didn’t recognize him at first, because back at the time the photograph she had was taken he had a buzz cut and clean shaven… a far cry from the man of the mountain beard and longer hair that he has now. “The Living Action Figure, Woody Hoyt?”

“Not for many years now kiddo.” Woody said in the most sagely way that he could, but it still didn’t stop the fan from getting giddy again as she thrust the binder in his direction. Woody, was taken aback by the gesture, because even when he was competing actively he didn’t get requests for his autograph that much. Seeing as he was putting much just an enhancement talent in GDW putting over the likes of Nova Wonder, Nevaeh Summers, and the like.

“I know, but can you sign it anyway?” The fan gave Woody the saddest looking puppy dog eyes and Patience couldn’t help, but laugh a little bit, because she knew that her husband wasn’t going to be able to say no to that. When he finally took the binder from the girl to sign his page she turned back to Patience with a bright smile on her face. “Do you remember that time that Pierce Manning dropped you through the quadruple stacked tables?”

Patience had to take a deep breath at that thought of that memory, because while it was one that she had never forgotten it was one that she didn’t like to think about too often, because it was one of the more painful moments of her tenure in the developmental league. Not to mention she had a feeling she knew where this could possibly be going and she didn’t like it in the slightest.

“I do…” Patience had a feeling that she was going to be asked if she has any ideas how to top that moment.

“That was one of my favorite moments, because you showed peopled that us, women could be as extreme as the guys… like your dad.” Patience took a deep breath, because she knew it. Here it comes, and she could even see that her husband was looking up at from the binder wondering how she was going to deal with what was coming next, because they had talked about this happening prior to her return. “But don’t push it too far. With your neck injury it be easier for you to reinjure yourself. As much as I’d love to see you top your dad as a daredevil… I want to see you have a long career too.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Patience dodged a bullet there, because she really thought that it was going to go the other way. This time she could breathe a little sigh of relief, but she knew there was going to come a time that doesn’t go that way. However, she knew that she didn’t have to worry about keeping the ‘promise ‘ to this fan, because she really has no inkling in trying to do anything too high risk at the moment in the ring.

“Ah… I gotta go my friends are calling me.” The young girl rolled her eyes as the sounds of Shawn Mendes’ “Treat You Better” start coming from her cellphone. She doesn’t answer the phone instead she reaches for the binder just as Woody finishes signing his name to take it back from him.

Following the loss to The Red Empire, it was easy to tell that Ember Young was upset about letting the team down. It was the grand debut of Ember and Ashes and she blew it. She took her eye off the goal for just a split second, and she paid the price for it. They both knew that the Red Empire weren’t going to be ones to mess around with, because they had both been in tag title contention and one of them were former a singles champion. Ember stormed into the locker room first, kicking the next bag on the floor, which just so happened to be hers that sent some of her private items such as bras and panties flying all over the place. Ash was just a few seconds behind her, but she didn’t look nearly as upset about the defeat in their debut.

“There is no damn reason that should’ve happened, Ash.” Ember sat roughly down on one of the benches in the lockers and started to yank down the old ratty looking elbow pad she was wearing on her left arm. “I can’t believe that I already went ahead and screwed this up already. We lost to a pair of sexpots, what the hell?!”

“Chill out, Ember.” At that moment Ashe, walked straight up to Ember, and with an out stretched hand slapped her across the face. “It was one match and it was our first time working together as a team, and you know what?”

“What?” Ember stood up holding the side of her face that had just been slapped by her tag team partner. They here looking eye to eye after she stood up, but the rookie wasn’t backing down any to the veteran.

“Even in defeat, I think we showed that we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with here in the tag division.” Ember closed her eyes and took a deep as Ashe just continued: “So before you go destroying what’s left of your gear, we need to sit down, RELAX, and formulate a game plan for next time.”

Ember knew that she was right. Ember sighed, because she couldn’t believe that she needed to be talked down from a meltdown by a rookie. Prior to the start of the night Ember had thought if they were to lose that she would be the one talking down Ashe telling her it wasn’t the end of the world. At that moment both of their phones went off at the same time. Ashe was the first one able to pick up her phone, and looked at it, it wasn’t long before a huge smile started to form on her face.

“They didn’t think we were terrible. We have another match on Breakdown.” Ashe was positivitely glowing with the news that they were going to have another match so soon, because to her she is living her dream for the first time. This is Ember’s second rodeo and while some of the luster is gone for it, but even she had to admit that she had fun tonight.

“Really?” Ember was curious as to who they were going to be wrestling against in their second match as a team. A match that they were going have to make sure they both come together even more so than they did in their first match. Ember finally getting a hold of her own phone looked at the screen and a smirk came across her face. This match was already going to be a little different than the first, because unlike The Red Empire, there was history here… Ember knew things about Brittany Lohan that could help in the ring, but Harmony Fisher was the unknown wild card factor.

“Wow, from sexpots to hall of fame level talent.” Ashe was beaming with energy in the moment to the point that she could probably go out to the right now and replace someone in each remaining match to wrestle in their place. If they were looking to make a name for themselves in the SCW defeating The Hollow was definitely in the right direction for sure. They after all were a former two time SCW Tag Team champions.

“We will definitely have our work cut out for us.” Ember said, when all sudden another group message came in, but this time it wasn’t from the management team of the SCW letting them know of their next opponent. This one was a personal group message from Crissy and Ember just had to look at it and raised an eyebrow.

Jun 26, 2019 at 9:05pm
Sorry that you guys lost in your debut. Ya’ll will slay against The Hollow. I’m sure ya’ll will crush it. 💋

“This is going to be interesting,” Ashe had a devilish smile on her face as she turned back to face Ember who was looking up from her own phone at that point. “Let’s hit the showers, grab some food, and hit the road. We have a lot of work to do.”

Ember just nodded her head as she thought of the ideas they had been tossing around for what they wanted to do and stumbled upon something that to Ember seemed like it could be something to set them apart from the rest of the tag team division. However, they had to run the idea by the appropriate people to get approval and by the time their match came up they hadn’t received it. Maybe it was time to tweak the idea or even go a little rogue and do it without permission. Either way… The Hollow won’t see what’s headed towards them till it’s too late until they are the dear that’s stuck in the headlights.

The Day of Shopping - Part 2

It was just a little after nine thirty am when Ashlynn Harte climbed out of her beat up old Ford Focus in the parking lot of the shopping center. She was going to let everyone think that she drove with a lead foot to make it in time for the shopping trip, but in reality she drove up the night before and stayed in a hotel room right down the street. Which, sadly last night was the best sleep she had in a while. Compared to what she can get back home in her apartment. She really needed to think about moving once she’s able to get a little money in her deserted bank account.

Even though her clothes would never scream that she was living in poverty, because she’s the type of person that lives beyond their means in some ways. Which is why she is steady walking away from her car at a quickened paced to where people don’t realize that is her car. However, she is dressed casually, but more fancy casual. Designer boots covered her feet, designer leather pants hugged her hips, a designer purse hanging off her shoulder, but a basic top to finish the outfit. Hey, the money had to run out at some point.

As she approached the entrance of the center her phone inside of her purse started ringing. Knowing that it wasn’t anyone calling her wondering where she was, because she’s on the earlier side of things wondered who was calling her. As she started to dig for her phone she started to become worried that the shopping trip was going to be cancelled, because that’s the only thing that was coming to mind in the moment. However, when the screen of her phone came in view that was thrown out the window, because while the phone number looked familiar it wasn’t saved in to her phone.

“Hello, this is Ashlynn Harte, who may I ask is calling?” She answered the phone in the most polite way that she could think of, because she could only think that it was someone from SCW management that was calling her in the moment.

“Ashlynn! Thank god you answered.”

“Grandma? How did you get this number?” Ash couldn’t believe that she was listening to the voice of her grandmother on the side of the phone. She had made sure that she didn’t give it to either one of her grandparents, because she didn’t want to be bothered by the hatred of the world of professional wrestling.

“That’s not important right now…”

“Tell me how you got it or I hang up.” Ashlynn didn’t like giving her grandmother an ultimatum like that, but she had a feeling that was going to be the only way she was going to get the information out of her.

“I called a man…”

She called a man? Ashlynn didn’t understand what her grandmother was saying, because how did some random man have her number to give to her? However, she soon realized that her grandmother wasn’t finished speaking, but that she paused, because she became over whelmed with emotion.

“A man that I haven’t spoken to in twenty one years.”

“Grandma, you’re not making sense.” Ashlynn even upon hearing what she paused before saying couldn’t understand how a man, that her grandmother hadn’t talked to in twenty one years, which meant that he probably never even met her known the less known her phone number. Or wait, was she talking about someone that works for a phone company, because that MIGHT explain it.

“I spoke with your father…”

Those five words hit Ashlynn like a ton of bricks, because she didn’t think that was even possible. “That’s not possible! You told me he was died before I was born.”

“I know what we told you, but it wasn’t true… he’s very much alive.”

“I should ask why you and grandpa lied to me, but that will wait for another time.” Ashlynn had a lot to process in the moment. She didn’t even know how many more bombshells were going to be dropped on to her lap, because for all she knew she was going to tell her that her mother didn’t die in a car accident when she was just five years old, but has been living this entire time with her father, but that neither one wanted her. “What do you want Grandma?”

“Your grandfather and I, we watched your first two matches…”

Ashlynn heard, and she really didn’t want to hear her grandmother tell her that those two loses were signs that she shouldn’t be wrestling. Things were never going to change with her grandparents…

“Sweetie, while we don’t like your choice… it was the right one for you to make.”

Upon hearing those words, words that she swore she would never hear from either of her grandparent, but there it was. She couldn’t help, but come to a stop trying to take that information in, but she did so right in the middle the parking lot blocking a truck’s path. The driver already frustrated by the lack of parking options lays in to his horn and starts cursing at Ashlynn. “Sorry!” Ashlynn yelled, and then quickly moved out of the truck’s way. The moment that she was out of the way she could hear the engine of the truck roar to life as he sped away.

“We were wrong to try to keep you away, but we didn’t want you to be like your mother.”

“My mother? So is she one of the people you didn’t want me to end up like?” Ashlynn in that moment recalled the conversation that she had with her grandmother and grandfather before Taking Hold of the Flame. She had mentioned something to the effect that they didn’t want her to end up like them, but she never knew who ‘them’ were…

“Yes.”

Ashlynn couldn’t believe that her grandmother admitted it to her, but even more so that her mother was a wrestler. They had always told her that she was a kindergarten teacher, but now she didn’t know what to believe about her own mother. However, there was still the mystery of who the other person she was talking about. As if she could heard her grandchild’s mind…

“Your sister, who we always thought was corrupted by your father.”

“Sister? I have a sister? How did I not this? Why didn’t we grew up together? Who is she?” It was really starting to seem that the more questions that were answered… the more questions that seemed to pop up. She knew that she had to seek out her sister, because she should know about her as well. Or should she not drop this bombshell on her, because what if it totally upends her life like her grandmother just did to her life.

“I can say much more… your grandfather just got home, but I’m not sure if your father changed your sister’s name. So you will have to ask him. His name is Michael Young.”

Before Ashlynn had a chance to say anything more to her grandmother the line went dead. She had hung up on her without saying good bye. So it would seem to be that while they are softening their stance against her wrestling, but her grandfather still doesn’t want her to know the truth about her mother, father, and yes… sister. Her brain was running a million miles a minute, but the moment that it finally wrapped itself around the fact that her grandmother told her that, Michael… Mike Young, was her father. Even though she might not know if he changed her other grandchild’s name… she told her exactly who her sister was.

Ashlynn’s face went pale, because she knew that he only one daughter. Her sister, was her new tag team partner… Patience was her sister, but then realization hit her that meant that Charlie Quinn… her son was. Who Ashlynn had always thought of as Forever Young Wrestling Academy cheerleader was actually her nephew. She never took the time to get to know the young child and now here she was dealing with the fact that she gained and lost a nephew within a moment’s realization.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” Ashlynn heard barely through the fog of haze that her brain had become.

“Yeah… I just need a minute.” Ashlynn was on autopilot as she answered the question verbally and also nodded her head. She couldn’t believe everything that she just learned and she can only imagine how Patience was going to take the news. However, considering what she just went through she didn’t want to put Patience through that emotional roller coster of emotions. So she decides that it is best not to tell her at the moment.

Now We are A Team - Promo

For the next few after their loss to The Red Empire, Ember and Ashes went over different tag team techniques and clips of The Hollows old matches. Both Ember and Ashe had their eyes fixated on every move that their opponents utilized during the matches especially the ones they used during their tag team title matches. At the end of the video watching sessions came to an end there was no mistaken it that The Hollow were a formable unit, but they had to wonder was time on their side? It’s been a while since the last time that Brittany Lohan and Harmony Fisher teamed together. Were they the same solid unit of a team?

 They picked apart their opponents. So Ember and Ashe knew that they had to have a better plan if they were to avoid the outcome of their debut match, but that they couldn’t just relay on the fact that Ember had a familiarity with Brittany. As they knew that Harmony was very much the wild card in the match, because they didn’t know much about her, but also the fact that she hasn’t wrestled in a long while. However, things weren’t perfect on the side of Ember and Ashes’ either. Ashe was an inexperienced rookie while Ember once upon a time ruled on top of a tag team division with an iron fist with a different partner.

The Hollow were scrappy and could take level of pain in ways that some men couldn’t imagine. That was one of things that made them so dangerous. It would take more than a clash of egos to bring them down. They needed more time to understand the dynamic between Harmony and Brittany, but time wasn’t something that was on their side. Ember was definitely starting to feel the pressure again, because she knew that Ashe needed her insight so she needed to clear her mind.

“I’ll be the first to say it. The Red Empire got one over us. They managed to win against a newbie team, but a win that none the less that is going to bring them closer to the SCW tag team championship. Yet, in an ironic twist, the winners of the match are nowhere to be seen this week, but we are about to step foot in to the ring against former two time champions, The Hollow, in what will be their final match as a team.” The best way she could think to do that was to film a promo for the upcoming match against the hall of fame level tag team. She and Ashe were set up what was her office from her time running her uncle’s wrestling school. Most of her personal items have been packed up and removed from the room, but that tends to happen when schools close up shop.

“Jesus, it’s like we are going from being against the putty patrol of The Red Empire to Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa in The Hollow.” Ashe couldn’t help, but smile at the clever pun that she made. “Ember, here is extremely disappointed in our performance and blames herself, but I place that burden on myself. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Ashe, you don’t need to…” Ember didn’t get a chance to finish what she was saying, because Ash cut her off.

“I’m not saying that, because I wanted to say it live for everyone to hear. There were several times in that match that I made rookie mistakes that cost us. Maybe it was the exhilaration that I felt from being in my first official match and got caught up in the moment. It was Ember and Ashes tag debut, yours and mine Breakdown debut, and we fell short.” Ash paused for a moment, but Ember just stood there silent. “Honestly, we’re both at fault, but I’d rather take the blame myself than let my veteran partner take the heat. This will be our first time getting in to the ring with a high caliber team like The Hollow, and I have to say that it would suck if we put on a piss poor performance.”

“Life isn’t perfect, but we’ll be damned if we look bad in front of a duo that can make or break our standing in the tag team division. Ashe and I came into this division, because it’s sort of a tradition of the school that we trained yet. Everyone starts off in the tag team division, I’ve been here before…” Ember pauses for a moment, as she thinks about whether or not to boast about her accomplishments in GDW’s developmental leauges. She decides against it. “I know what it takes to become a champion in the tag division. I haven’t forgotten anything about this business, but I am a little rusty, but I trust that if anyone can knock that rust off me it’s you, Brittany.”

“You consider this battle our interlude before we eventually step in the ring with the tag team champions, because I’m a fast learner and I’m not going to disappoint my partner this time around.” Ashe adds, with a matter of fact tone in her voice.

“I must admit that it’s going to be a pleasure to finally being standing face to face with you Brittany. We’ve never had the pleasure of stepping in to the ring against one another after Crissy and I, helped Sam and Faith kick you and little Marie out of Hidden Desires back in the day.” Ember ponders in the moment whether or not that struck the nerve that she was trying to hit with Brittany, but she has a feeling that it missed it mark.

“Brittany and her style that revolves around inflicting as much damage as possible. Not to mention the fact that I hear that she hits like a damn freight truck. Remind me not to get too close to her.” Ashe laughed a little bit, because she wasn’t scared of how Brittany hits, because she’s scrapper of this team. So getting in to scraps like that is right up her alley, but she wanted to be a little cute in the matter. Considering that Brittany, much like she has done with her own on again, off again lover Samantha Raine was overlooking her. Brittany, blinded put her faith in to her protégé over her lover, because she trained Sienna Swan. So she wondered how Brittany would handle it if Sam were to do the same to her by blindly putting her faith in her protégé. It’s true that Ashe has spent the last couple of months under Woody Hoyt and Ember at the school, but the trainer that introduced her to everything on day one was, Samantha Raine. “Either way, she’s going to have firsthand knowledge of how much I’ve learned about her from my mentor, Samantha Raine. I can’t way to see how she reacts to ways that I pick her apart with ruthless efficiency. It’s a shame that Sam won’t be here there to cheer me on over Brittany like she did Sienna to Sam, but I’m going to make Sam proud of me either way.”

“Don’t think we’ve forgot about you, Harmony.” Ember laughs a little bit as her eyes show a glint that receives that she just might have a little darker side to her after all. “You and I are like two peas in a pod. You suffered an injury that put you out of the ring and working at a wrestling school. I did too. However, that’s about as much as I really know about you really. For all I know is that you’re the strategist of your team, like I am, of mine. I don’t know for sure, but I’ll give you that much seeing as from what I know about Brittany she’s the muscle.” Ember nods her head for a moments. “This is going to be an interesting encounter, because one on hand we have a team that is just breaking in to the SCW and then the other has one foot on its grave in the tag graveyard. The Hollow don’t need this victory, they want it, but we… we hunger for it.”

“Hunger. A good word choice, because let’s face it we’ll call the spade a spade, as it were. In the record books, Red Empire defeated Ember Young and Ashe Harte… but, and this maybe me getting technical here, but they didn’t beat Ember and Ashes.” Cue everyone’s confusion that is listening to the promo.

“Ashe is right, they didn’t defeat a unified front. Red Empire, beat a rookie and a veteran in their first attempt at coming together as a team. As for the Hollow? You are looking at a pair of competitors that have learned from their last outing, have adjusted and adapted, and as I said hungry to climb to the top of the division.” Ember pauses, because she stops to think about her past when she was just throwing her body around the ring hitting anything and everything that moved like the daredevil that her father was in the ring. Now, because of her own injury to her neck she had to play it smarter, she couldn’t go off halfcocked with those big moves anymore. “You see, I’m always learning, Brittany, Harmony. I couldn’t have come back to this crazy business without that key word. Adaptation. You adapt, or you perish. I swear I’ve heard that before, but eh.”

“The Red Empire that was the past, however, and this is now. We learn from our mistakes. We are a wrestling team, but a team of brawlers like you wouldn’t know about that. You just want to fight. You just to hurt people. We… we want to win, yes, but… we also want to look damn good doing it.” Ashe made sure to really drive home the part that they wanted to look good doing it.

“Britt, Harmony… it isn’t much longer from now that we’ll send you off with a blaze of glory.” Ember and Ashe both chuckled at the cheesy of the line, but it was something that fit in the moment. Which as if on cue is when the camera stopped filming.