Deanna Frost vs. Konrad Raab

[SnowQueenSCW]

The Witches of Alden

”After-Hours”

Eyrie Tower
New York City, New York
July 15th, 2024
5:42pm

Deanna was almost as impatient as the kids standing in front of her as the four of them rode the elevator up the numerous floors to the top of the Eyrie Tower.

“Wooooowww….” Garret remarked, the young boy eyeing the digital number that told the floor – a number that continued to climb. “How many floors are there?”

“A lot.” David Frost answered, a little bored. Not that Deanna could really blame her son. All the pomp and glitz that Selena surrounded herself with – things that were meant to showcase her ‘status’ within SCW. Things she had never cared about before, maybe still didn’t but put on for show (the redhead couldn’t be sure), the young boy had clearly gotten used to in the months that had passed.

The same couldn’t be said for Deanna. All the opulence? It wasn’t the same. It wasn’t nearly as good as home – their ‘Forever Home’. Maybe it was more expensive or listed as more popular to a buyer, but for Deanna, it couldn’t even compare. Bet she doesn’t have much memories here… she thought to herself. Memories like their children growing, of going to school, of Elsianna having nightmares and needing her Sir Crackshell nutcracker and the lullaby - Does she still know how to sing it?

Deanna hated these questions rampaging through her mind. She wanted to focus on Raab and then Rise to Greatness. And while she had been worried about Selena’s silence since last Breakdown, the last thing she wanted to hear from the platinum-blonde was some kind of insult because of her accepting Knox’s challenge and, thus, putting herself in a double-booked scenario.

She didn’t want to hear Selena question her thinking or chastise her for not focusing on the title more or not focusing on ‘the bigger feud in Enigma’ more or not focusing on the ‘supernatural powers of Enigma’ or not focusing on the ‘wildcard Knox more’ - whatever direction the Snow Queen would go – Deanna wasn’t even sure anymore.

Truth was, she wasn’t even sure which one was ‘right’. She needed to focus on Enigma. That was a certainty. Jessica was still bedridden. Still not healed from whatever Enigma did to her. Each day was another day of life wasted for the poor girl – a day she would never be able to get back. It was something Deanna could relate to. She had lost nearly two years of her life in the Frankfurt Prison III under false charges. Months of missing her children grow and learn. Months of life and time with her wife that she would never get back, and with their divorce developing - Soon as she signs those papers… Deanna thought sadly – it made the ‘missed time’ all the more painful.

The loud ‘ding’ was heard as the doors opened, Sara and Garrett too nervous to take the first steps in, even though they stood at the front. Carefully, Deanna pressed one hand against each of their backs, helping them take the first few steps into the castle abode.

“It’s okay.” She whispered. “It’s not as scary as you think.”

“Mom!” David called out, walking further inside as soon as he had the space to do so. “Mom! We’re here!”

“In the kitchen!” came the response, actually surprising Deanna more than the children. Still, an answer was an answer, and it was all David needed to be on the move. The boy walked fast down the short hall, taking a left and leading Sara and Garrett through the section of the castle, with the redhead bringing up the rear. As soon as the four entered the kitchen, they were all surprised at the sight.

For there, drying her hands off from just washing them, stood the SCW world champion, Selena Frost… seemingly baking? It shouldn’t have surprised Deanna. The Snow Queen had cooked and baked before for their children. Still, that Selena… she couldn’t bring herself to say ‘that wasn’t my Selena’ again. It was too painful. Instead, the United States champion settled on simply never thinking of ‘The Blue-Eyed Devil’ as baking – she recognized the smell as she took a deep breath through her nose – chocolate-chip cookies.

“Come in and sit down.” Selena welcomed, picking up the large, white and blue plate of fresh cookies and placing them at the table. Children and sweets… didn’t need to tell them twice. The fastest person to get there was, actually, Garrett, the boy suddenly the flash as he moved to the table to try the top cookie on the pile. Deanna could see it melt in his hand and mouth as he bit into it.

“Mmmm!” the boy remarked, prompting Sara and David to join in and have their fill.

Staying back, Deanna was able to notice the table also had glasses of milk for the children as well. With them so distracted, it did not surprise when Selena moved away from them to approach her, the platinum-blonde offering a bit of a guilty smile to the redhead.

“Thanks for warning me.” She whispered before moving down the hall from where the four visitors had come, Deanna following her. She was able to see the black long-sleeve button up shirt with dark blue feathers Selena wore, the blue matching her jeans. Her hair was in its braid.

“It seemed like the best option.” Deanna shrugged. “Worse-case scenario, you weren’t here and I just use this place for a homework-session, order some pizza and help them.”

“Good thinking.” Selena nodded as she moved into the large sitting room/dining room section. “If it goes late, I’ll keep that as an idea.”

“Do these things last long?” Deanna asked, earning a shake of the head from Deanna.
“It’s simple subjects for us.” Selena explained. “I try not to help them, but if it’s getting late, I’ll drop some hints to help them along. Last thing I want is for the parents to get worried.”

“Yeah…they might call Leslie…” Deanna remarked, keeping her hands behind her back. “So…speaking of which…” she started, wishing to get to the heart of the matter. “Garrett and Sara told me you’ve got this new little competition going on with Leslie…”

For a moment, she saw Selena stiffen a little before, eventually, relaxing back to her previous posture. “She’s been protesting at the school.” Selena explained. “Her and her ‘elitist, our kids are perfect’ parents. It was making the children unhappy and distracting them… and me.” She released a sigh. “I confronted her and played to her ego. Told her that the kids in the program could be just as good as any of them and I challenged her to a sort of ‘Olympics’ thing.”

“’Olympics thing’?” Deanna asked, earning another nod from Selena.

“I figured if my kids win, she’ll be too embarrassed to continue harassing them the rest of the summer school. Then they can focus on finishing it and passing.”
“And if they lose?”

“Then maybe Leslie backs off anyway.” Selena shrugged. “Cause she’s ‘proven’ whatever point she’s trying to make, or she gets ‘one over on us’? I mean, it’s not that much of a stretch. Look at Polly or Kandis…” she tensed a little at the last name, not surprising to Deanna. “Anyone would love to have a win against us to milk for all it’s worth. You the year-long champion and me the world champion.”

“I…I guess.” Deanna sighed. She knew at least part of that was true. She had spent months dealing with Kristen Scott’s obsession to ‘beat a Frost’, then, almost immediately, had to deal with Polly’s same obsession. For Deanna, it had meant more challenges and pushing herself further to overcome such drive, which she loved to do. Still, there were dangerous moments where obsessions caused problems – like Kristen breaking Deanna’s arm or Polly jumping off a cage-

Immediately, Deanna’s eyes flew back to Selena, studying her face. She saw the remains of a cut at Selena’s brow-line, but it seemed to have healed in the past few days where a bandage was no longer needed.

“How are you?” she asked. “Between teaching and all that, I can’t imagine you’ve had much time to rest since Breakdown.”

With a sigh, Selena shrugged her shoulders. “Can’t really stop now.” She simply stated. “I’m…alright. The NX helps with the aches. Especially my ribs. I thought…” she stopped, instinctively placing a hand over her left ribs. “I was afraid she had cracked one of my ribs…”

“Did she?” Deanna’s eyes widened, earning a soft smile from Selena.
“No.” she shook her head. “But I appreciate the caring. She just bruised them, I think.” Carefully, she lowered her hand.

“You…” Deanna breathed. “You could have called.”

Casting her gaze back up, Selena’s eyes weren’t annoyed or irritated like Deanna had figured they would be, but, instead, were simply tired. “I’m sorry.” Sweeping her hand to the side, she gestured to the stack of papers on the lounge coffee table. “I was working on a lot of things when I got your call.”

The redhead didn’t give the papers much of a glance – not enough to read – but she could already guess.

“Your contract renewal offer?” Deanna asked.
“Among other contracts…” Selena cast a glance at the papers, seemingly lost in thought as she stared at them.

It was only the clearing of a voice that got both Frost women’s attention as Garrett stood in the archway between room and hall.

“Ummm…Mrs. Frost… uh…” he nervously gestured towards Selena. “That Mrs. Frost, I mean…” the whole affair earning a raised eyebrow from Selena.

“You okay, Garrett?” she asked.

“Yeah…uh… just…” his fingers pointed to Selena and Deanna (one hand per woman), criss-crossing between themselves multiple time. “David tried to explain it to me in the kitchen. You are both his mother…”

Selena’s head jerked towards Deanna in shock, her sapphire eyes wide. “What did you tell him?” she asked the redhead, earning a shrug from Deanna.

“That both you and I are David’s parents. That some kids have a mother and a father, some kids have two fathers and some kinds have two mothers.”

“For Odin’s sake, Deanna… he’s like nine!”
“David got it and he’s eight.”
“David is our son.” Selena shook her head. “Can’t believe you tried to explain to a child what a lesbian is.”
“What’s a les-bee-in?”

If possible, Selena’s eyes grew wider and her mouth hung open, allowing a short, quiet yet high-pitched gasp to escape her. It was more than enough for a laugh to escape Deanna.

“That one’s on you, Teach!” she laughed a little more before running a hand through her hair. “I’ll let you teach it to him.” She grinned. “I’ve got a promo to write and record. Mind if I use your office?”

Excusing herself, and not waiting for an answer, Deanna slipped past the Snow Queen and her student, taking the hall towards the stairs to the second floor of the castle. She could just hear Selena stammering out a start of an explanation to the young boy.

“Hope she doesn’t scar him for life.” Deanna whispered, amusingly, to herself. At least, it started as amusing… but as she ascended the stairs and slipped inside the office space, where more papers were stacked on the desk, she began to wonder if such a statement was merely a joke.

Because, where the two of them were headed – professionally and privately… she wasn’t so sure it would be the children that was scared for life…

Not when the Frost women were so near the chopping block…
_______________________________________________________________


So… where do we start?

Because it’s been a rough couple of months for me, hasn’t it? Things haven’t been clicking like they used to. Things aren’t as simple as they once were. A couple of months ago, my path was clear. I knew what I wanted to do. What I wanted to be.

A champion worthy in the eyes of the SCW Universe.
A woman that did SCW proud.
A mother that made her children proud of her.
A person that could stand on her own.

And it was all simple. Note! I said ‘simple’, not ‘easy’. Because nothing in SCW is ever easy. It shouldn’t be. You have to work here. You have to pay your dues, earn your scars, and I have no desire to take any shortcut in that regard. I never have wanted a shortcut.

But a short time ago, all that mattered to me was being a good champion, representing the United States title division and representing SCW. My focus was on that path and come what may: elimination chambers, surprise challengers, Trios cash-ins, it didn’t matter. I would get in the ring and, between the ropes, fight for all I had to be the best.

I look back at that… and I wish it could be that simple again. But it can’t be. Now? Now I’m torn in different directions. My focus, my morality, my identity. It’s all being pulled at different corners to the point where I feel like I could be ripped to shreds any moment.

And the inevitable question has kept popping up. Not whether I can beat both Enigma and Knox in the span of two days. I’ve survived a double-booking at Rise to Greatness before. No… the question… where a lot of people want to start with me is “what if I can’t?”. What if I can’t beat both men in their respective matches? If I can only beat one, which one do I choose?

One or the other kind of thing. And my answer… my answer always seems to disappoint because I can’t give one. I can’t answer that question of ‘which I’d rather beat’ because that’s not how I’m wired. You get in the ring with me, I have to believe that I can win. That I can overcome. Otherwise, why try at all? Why go through all this if you do not believe in yourself that you CAN survive and you CAN overcome?

So I don’t think about one or the other. I don’t think about ‘choosing’. My focus is on being ready not just to get to RTG in one piece, but to win the whole damn thing: pre-show AND main show!

Which is why I am needing this match with you, Konrad Raab. Now, the last time you and I fought was at Taking Hold of the Flame. You had your friends hold me down and you blasted me in the head with that mace to get me out of the way from you getting your hands on Enigma. You scrambled my brains and almost knocked me out. I still owe you for that, by the way…

But even so, in order to get my pound of flesh from Enigma that night, you made me have to dig deep and keep going despite being knocked for a loop. And that’s what always happens when I face you, Raab. I always have to dig down deeper than I thought was possible. Each and every time. I have to dig deep and find something that even you can’t smash or destroy. Something that, even with your Fiery Nation, can’t be silenced or ended.

That is why I need this match with you, Raab. Because I need to, once again, find that part of me that even you can’t destroy. Because that’s what Enigma is now to you.

I saw it, Raab – I KNOW you saw it! Your nation obliterated Enigma! Power moves! Destruction! I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little bit thrilled to see him finally, seemingly, getting his punishment for all he did to us. But then… he just got back up… as if your boys had merely smacked him on the shoulder with a light tap! As if a little breeze blew him a few steps to the left or right! And trust me, Raab – TRUST ME! – As someone that was held down by those two, that isn’t a knock on your guys! That is a statement on the otherworldly nature of The Enigma!

I mean, I’ve seen toughness, Raab. I’ve seen it in Xander Valentine. I’ve seen it in Kimberly Williams in her Underground matches. I’ve seen it in you! Over and over again, I’ve seen it. In different forms, in different ways, it was there – grit – it’s something I’ve tried so hard to have. To have more of and better than everyone else. To keep getting back up. But all those names I’ve seen? Xander, Kim, you? I’ve also seen the limits. I’ve seen when enough is enough.

I haven’t seen that in Enigma yet. I’ve seen him lose. But not be truly beaten. Not be beaten down and left in the ring. Not hurt so bad that he can’t even disappear into his smoke and darkness. And I… I am going to change that, Raab. I am going to give Enigma the beating that he so deserves after what he’s done to Jessica, to Ginny, to Angelica, to so many others! I am going to end the mystique and end the ‘powers’ that Enigma possesses.

And maybe… maybe I don’t know how to do it yet. Maybe I need this Breakdown to get my head on straight – or better than it has been. So, I am telling you to bring that warlord that you are, Konrad. Because I don’t want my words to be the only thing you have after our match! I want you to see why it’s ME that has Enigma at Rise to Greatness and why I am the one that can and WILL take him down!

I want to show you and make you understand the only way a man like you can understand it! By taking you at your best and overcoming it! By showing you the levels of pain and fury I will unleash on Enigma in a little over a week!

For me!
For Jessica!
For you!
For Ginny!
For Angelica!
FOR ALL OF SCW!

This is NOT some match where I lose my focus, Raab. I have but one focus for this match. To show my grit and show you the fire that I possess.

The very fire that is going to burnout Enigma. Burn him to the damn ground!

Checkmate, bitches!