11-06-2024, 12:52 AM
OOC: As a reminder, this entire RP, including the promo, takes place immediately after my first one, so it's all on the same day, that still being November 1st. It also happens simultaneously with the second Selena Frost CD for that Chamber Match, and Selena and Deanna both appear in this with permission. Finally, while I'll have it linked in the CD itself, I'll also link it up here too for anyone who wishes to listen along to the song Luz and Amelia share their first dance as a married couple to. Once again, best of luck to everyone involved in this match!
https://youtu.be/PBeCoAOP5d0?si=E_5kUiX1fRMNv4tf
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Under any other circumstances, the thought of a wedding reception being held in a cemetery would have probably had you questioning the sanity of the newly-wedded couple.
Anyone who did have those kinds of doubts and concerns, however, quickly found out just what kind of joy and fun could be had among the resting places of the deceased.
It felt like there was magic in the air as the cemetery was alight with the warm glow of so many candles scattered all around, with guests not only indulging in authentic Latin cuisine (and some learning just how much better it was compared to any Mexican restaurant making similar claims) but also just being in awe of the absolute respect that this culture treated the dead with. Stories were shared by families who had lost someone, and the feeling that the spirits were walking among them and joining in on the festivities added an extra spark into the air that was palpable.
This was more than just a wedding reception... this was an authentic, honest-to-God Día de Muertos celebration, and the joint celebration of the memories of the dead and the new life together stretching out before the newlyweds was unlike anything else.
La Pequeña Luz had always looked forward to this day. Sure, she loved the concept of Halloween and would never turn down an excuse to dress up in some sort of costume, but Día de Muertos wasn't just Mexico's version of Halloween. Being able to learn all about the lives of those who were no longer with us, even if she never knew them, fascinated her with how much love and passion could be shared through those stories about a life well lived and what these spirits meant to their families. It was also, arguably, the biggest reason why she might've moved on maybe a little too quickly after her father died. That's not to say she wasn't destroyed by the loss, but one thing you learn growing up thanks to this holiday is that death is inevitable and being afraid of it is pointless for that reason. As tragic as it was—especially now that she knew the full details behind the incident that had also ultimately claimed the life of her father's greatest rival as well—she knew that their memories lived on and still inspired her to this day.
“What are you thinking about in that cute head of yours?”
Luz couldn't help but blush and giggle as she turned to face her wife. Her wife! Being able to look Amelia in the eyes, knowing that her last name was now Nevado and she was now her wife had her giddy like she had fallen in love for the very first time all over again. She could tell, based on the soft look in her eyes and the visibility of the blush even beneath her painted cheeks, that Amelia felt the same way.
“Just thinking about how amazing it is that I can finally call you my wife,” Luz grinned, earning a giggle and a playful shove from Amelia. This ultimately earned them a stern clearing of a throat from the wedding photographer as they sheepishly posed themselves once more.
They had yet to actually make a proper appearance at their reception, wanting to tackle the wedding photos first to allow for families who had someone buried in this cemetery to properly engage in Día de Muertos traditions and spent time with the spirits of their dearly departed. This day wasn't entirely about them, after all, but they were honored to share it with so many souls both living and deceased to gain their blessing for an incredible married life ahead of them.
Amelia knew there was a little more on Luz's mind than she was letting on, but she wasn't going to push until Luz felt comfortable opening up to her. Healthy boundaries and communication had been a blessing all their own on the couple's entire relationship, and she knew that was only going to be more important now that they were married. So, for the time being, she kept smiling and indulging in the feeling of having this lovable embodiment of light and joy itself as her partner in both wrestling and now in marriage, firmly believing that even when they were on their deathbeds many, many years down the line they could look back on these photos and smile at just how amazing it all was that they had finally earned this moment for themselves.
Soon enough, the photographer was finished and all of their loved ones were rushing off to engage in the festivities and prepare to officially announce the couple as wives for the very first time. Luz and Amelia lingered, the latter gently brushing her thumb across the former's knuckles as she saw Luz's focus drift over to her father's grave and the ofrenda that decorated it.
“I wish I could've met him...” Amelia mused, drawing Luz's attention to her as a somber smile appeared on her lips.
“He would've loved you,” Luz admitted. “Heck, I know he loves you... I know he's proud of both of us and how far we've both come. I also know that he'll be watching us on Sunday, tackling a challenge that even he never had the chance to face in his lifetime, cheering us on as we fight like heck and hopefully make it clear to everyone that we can give them what they want, but at the end of the day, it's ultimately on them to be able to actually take us down.”
“Right,” Amelia nodded with a smile, though she knew there was something deeper to Luz's words and patiently waited for that ball to drop.
“So...” Luz finally opened up after a quiet moment, “I've been thinking for a bit about today, beyond our wedding. There's a part of me that always felt... guilty, I guess. I sat in the crowd on that night and watched my father die from the severe injury he sustained, and it hurt a lot... still does, to be honest. But I always questioned if something was... wrong with me, because it felt like I seemed to get over it a lot quicker than mom did. It had barely been a few weeks after it happened that I threw myself right back into my training, just with some of my father's friends instead of him. It felt like I needed a distraction at the time, but... the more I think about it now, the more I realize that I think I just embraced the true meaning of this holiday a little more than my mom might have.”
“How so?” Amelia raised an eyebrow.
“The core idea of Día de Muertos is showing people that death isn't something to be afraid of,” Luz explained. “It's inevitable, regardless of the when and how. Celebrations like this are just as much about life as they are the memories of those we've lost... it's not that I became desensitized to the thought of death, but more like I became encouraged by it, wanting to make my own mark on the world in the best way that I could before my time comes, to give people great memories to remember me by.”
“Well, you've certainly left an impact on my life that I'll never forget,” Amelia grinned, leaning over to kiss Luz's masked cheek. “And hopefully we'll be able to leave a mark on SCW this Sunday night as well and prove that we may be new blood for the Chamber, but we're not afraid to adapt and fight to make our statement loud and clear.”
Luz couldn't help but wipe away a tear before she wrapped her arms around Amelia's waist, lifting her up and spinning her around as the two of them laughed, letting the moment of their wedded bliss wash over them. There would be plenty of time to shift their focus to Under Attack and the war that awaited them... for now, they deserved to bask in the joyous occasion that was only going to fuel them to fight harder in two nights' time to leave the Chamber the same way they were entering it: as SCW World Tag Team Champions.
“Can I have everyone's attention, please?”
They heard Gage calling throughout the cemetery, accompanied by the clinging of glass as he got everyone's attention. Realizing they were about to miss their own moment, Luz put Amelia down and the two of them rushed over, still giggling to themselves and quietly reassuring each other that they were ready.
“It is my honor, as a close friend of theirs, to proudly introduce to you all, for the very first time as a married couple... Mrs. La Pequeña Luz and Mrs. Amelia Nevado!” Gage happily announced with all the enthusiasm he usually displayed as a commentator, and Luz and Amelia happily revealed themselves to the delighted cheers and applause of everyone around them. They couldn't help but grin and also nudge Gage for how he announced Luz in particular, though they couldn't blame him as Luz's actual name wasn't public knowledge and she wasn't about to break the sacred tradition even on her wedding night.
From there, the couple stood front and center as their loved ones gave their speeches. They all knew how much they were loved by their little found family, how much they were all inspired by the newly-wedded Nevados and vice versa. Still, to hear the raw emotion in their voices as all of them recounted their pasts to everyone present, especially from the likes of Ivy and Camila who thanked Luz and Amelia respectfully for the impact they had on the other's life and how much better they made one another, to the point where they each had taken the necessary steps to repair broken relationships with them to allow for the incredible group that The Light In The Darkness had become the literal beating heart of... Luz and Amelia would be lying if they said they didn't wipe away a few forming tears from how incredible the speeches were.
The one that probably stood out the most, however, was Amelia's siblings, who actually looked nervous for the first time in as long as Amelia could remember seeing them.
“We're not going to stand here and sugarcoat things,” Emily began. “Growing up, we were awful to our baby sister. While our parents can take a lot of the blame for how they 'raised' us, Ed and I have to own up to our own role we played in a lot of Amelia's problems.”
“As some have already touched on,” Edward continued, “our parents were obsessed with the idea of a family legacy. All three of their children weren't human being, but mere extensions of their own wrestling accomplishments. Em and I? We got shafted a fair amount simply because we were born as twins... which, in their eyes, meant we were only viable to their grand plans as a tag team. That left Amelia as the 'sole, true heir' to bear the brunt of everything they did to us.”
“As much as we all hated it, Ed and I couldn't help but resent Amelia,” Emily added with a guilty look on her face. “Our parents fed us all of this bullshit about how she was miles better than either of us, that she was a 'true Blythe' because she could succeed on our own while we would never have that chance because we were twins! Instead of realizing they were trying to pit us against one another... we actively antagonized our sister, lording our tag team success over her head because outside of the undefeated streak she started her career with, she hadn't tasted championship gold yet while we were breaking records together.”
“But where we only made things worse for her,” Edward choked out as he wiped away a few tears. “Here came this masked woman like a tornado, upending everything that our parents had tried to forge Amelia into being, showing her that she could decide for herself what kind of person she wanted to be. The bond they built with each other... it didn't just save our sister, it also opened our eyes as well, and it makes that old record-breaking tag title run of ours that the two of you ended special in our eyes. Not just because that was the night that gave birth to what The Light In The Darkness is today, but because Em and I got the chance to truly reflect on everything and realize that we had to be better siblings, not better wrestlers, if we wanted to truly fix anything.”
“So thank you, Luz,” Emily smiled as she raised her glass. “Thank you for not only being the best sister-in-law we could ever ask for, but for also giving us our sister back.”
“You really are the best thing that ever happened to her,” Edward added, “and seeing how far you've both come... it's inspired us and so many others in more ways than one, and we'd be honored to see just where you, Amelia, can go now that you're finally free of our awful family name and everything it's done to you since the day you were born.”
“To the Nevados! And to The Light In The Darkness!” the twins shouted simultaneously to a raucous ovation as Luz and Amelia struggled to hold back their tears, losing the battle to throw themselves at Edward and Emily and embrace them for the profound statements they'd made.
As Amelia pulled away and let Luz talk with her siblings for a moment, she looked out at the sea of people celebrating this incredible moment and holiday with them and found herself briefly locking eyes with Selena, who was almost hidden with Deanna near the very back of the crowd. While she couldn't tell from this distance how things may have been looking between the two of them after Ivy's little stunt of seating them together for the ceremony, she did see something in Selena's eyes in that moment that she recognized all too well: guilt. She couldn't be certain for the reason behind it, but she could tell that some of the wedding speeches, especially what her siblings had just shared, seemed to have an effect on her. She thought all the way back to that final Breakdown, where Selena had approached her after the show and tried to sow the seeds of doubt and dissension within her head regarding her Trios team, how Amelia had responded with a personal letter addressed only to her that gave the smallest bit of insight into how similar Selena was becoming to the Amelia Blythe of old.
She couldn't fully tell just how deeply the confirmation that none of what she's said about her family life and all the pain it brought her all just so she could be the 'perfect prodigy' of the Blythe family on camera had been hyperbole just to garner sympathy had gotten through to Selena, but she hoped enough of it had to prove that no matter how deep she sank into the darkness, she could still be saved as long as she was willing to reach out and fight for who she truly wanted to be, deep down inside.
Before she could dwell on it any further, she felt someone grabbing her hand and realized Luz was pulling her towards the little area that had been set up as a sort of dance floor.
“Come on, Ames!” she happily exclaimed. “It's time for our first dance!”
“Is it really our first if we're always waltzing our way down to the ring, though?” Amelia couldn't help but grin as she let Luz drag her along.
“You know what I mean!” Luz laughed, which got Amelia to laugh as well before they composed themselves.
With a nod to the band that had been playing music to add to the festive atmosphere, they slowly stopped playing as Gage hooked up his phone to a little sound system, knowing that his friends had picked out a very special song that was perfect for this very moment. With a few taps on his screen, the haunting melody of “When It's Time” by Altamullan Road began to sink in over the cemetery.
Everyone gathered watched in awe, some even fighting back tears, as the meaning of the lyrics made it very clear why the newlyweds had chosen this song to share their first dance to, keeping in mind the holiday they had chosen to host this momentous occasion on. As Luz and Amelia shared easily the slowest waltz they ever have, especially when compared to their usual entrance dance for SCW, they smiled at one another and let the tears linger on the edges of their eyes, taking in the song's implications of the love they shared and their hope that it would be strong enough that, way down the line, they hoped to be able to reunite when death inevitably claimed the both of them to proudly watch their stories being shared and their memories kept alive by everyone around them, embracing the spirit of Día de Muertos and giving both strength and encouragement to those in attendance to always keep remembering and keep living for the loved ones they had lost.
By the time the song finished and the couple took a bow, it was safe to say there wasn't a dry eye left, and they could only smile and nod as their found family surrounded them, pulling them away from the dance floor as the hired band resumed playing and the floor opened up for everyone to dance now.
“You two truly are something else, you know that?” Marilyn fought back tears as she grinned down at them.
“Only you could share your first dance as wives to a song that fits this holiday so well,” Ivy choked out as she removed her glasses to clean some of her tears from the lenses. “God, the two of you are so perfect together.
“Girls...” Camila carefully said as she stepped forward, pulling both Luz and Amelia into a hug that they immediately returned. “Thank you... thank you for this beautiful moment...”
“Well, today's just as much about Papá and everyone else resting here as it is us taking the next big step in our lives,” Luz admitted. “It only felt right to acknowledge that.”
“And maybe remind ourselves that even death isn't going to keep us apart,” Amelia added with a soft smile, which only encouraged Camila to hug them even tighter.
It wasn't too long after that where they all piled onto the dance floor, Luz and Amelia eager to pick up the pace with some of their dancing together as their found family danced around them, basking in the joy radiating off the couple that kept everything in high spirits. Even as they looked around and saw the various local officers as well as FBI and NCA agents still patrolling around, just in case The Empire or anyone else did try to make any sort of move even now to ruin the moment, the fact that they were full of so much life and love that you could swear the Day of the Dead might have been a holiday in their honor somehow was infectious and showed that nothing could truly stop them or bring them down.
Luz glancing over and seeing her mother dancing a similar waltz to them all on her own at first glance, knowing that she did have a partner in the spirit of Manuel Nevado, aka El Espíritu Angélico, guiding her steps to try and keep up with their daughter and her new wife, was a reminder of the power she and Amelia possessed now more than ever to try and leave a legacy of their own design behind when it was finally their time, inspiring future generations to fight for who they wanted to be, no matter what form that took.
It was that thought that had her and Amelia's eyes wandering as they finally stepped away from the dance floor to take a small break, ultimately finding two people they knew they should probably talk to at some point while they had the opportunity to do so. Nodding to one another and joining hands to keep themselves grounded, they slowly made their way over to where Selena and Deanna had seemingly tucked themselves away, watching as some sort of conversation seemed to be wrapping up between them as they were conveniently standing beside what Luz would've wanted her next destination to be anyway, that being near her father's grave.
“Are we interrupting?” Amelia said, getting both Frosts' attention. “I'm incredibly sorry if we were.”
“No... I think we were just wrapping up some things we truly needed to discuss,” Deanna replied, her tone being a little hard to read but between what they could gather and Selena's body language in response, it sounded like they might've at least made some headway in whatever lingered between them.
“¿Cómo están ambos?” Luz asked before realizing what she'd done and quickly correcting herself. “Sorry, force of habit whenever my emotions are running a bit high. How are you both doing?”
“Alright, I think...” Selena said, letting that linger in the air for a moment as Deanna nodded. “This was a lovely wedding, you two.”
“And this reception?” Deanna added. “It honestly feels perfect. A wedding on the Day of the Dead, celebrating among the spirits...”
“Well, we here in Mexico know how to respect and honor those who are no longer with us,” Luz said, a bit of emotion thickly coating her voice as she looked at her father's ofrenda. “This is just as much about honoring them and the impact they've had on us as it is about Ames and I taking the next big step in our lives together, with their blessing.”
“It suits the both of you,” Selena stated. “I... I know I probably haven't given this impression lately, especially after what I tried to pull on you, Amelia, after that Breakdown before Apocalypse, but... I really am happy for the both of you, and I can tell from how much emotion has been a part of everything I've seen and heard that this moment has been a long time coming, and you deserve it.”
Deanna shot Selena a questioning look, but Amelia just nodded.
“Thank you, Selena,” Amelia smiled. “It means a lot to hear that, especially from you. And... hopefully you understand me, understand us, a little better now.”
“I'm a little surprised, truth be told,” Selena admitted. “The fact that you still invited me out here, that you forgave me so easily after what I had to say...”
“Yeah, that's just kind of how we are,” Luz admitted as she traced a finger along the flower wings that her father's grave had been decorated with. “Mi papá taught me at a young age to try and not hold onto grudges, especially in wrestling. There's always two sides to the story, and it's best to try and get the other perspective as best as you can before judging anybody, because they might have their reasons for doing what they do. That doesn't change the fact that we might not agree with them, but that doesn't mean we can't still extend our hands to those we call our friends if they want or need us.”
“It's how Luz saved me,” Amelia confirmed. “That said... I'll be honest, Selena: I'm truly disgusted with how that match ended, that having a Trios contract to my name is tainted by what Blake did. Even still... I meant what I said when I told you that you didn't need it, but that's because I know you, I've been in the ring with you at least twice now. I believe that you're more than good enough to become World Champion again if that's the road you wish to walk, and you don't need all these precautions to prove what everyone already knows deep down: that you're one of the best to ever set foot in an SCW ring. And as far as that contract is concerned... I know I've got a year to use it, and that's plenty of time to prove in some other way that I truly deserve whatever I ultimately choose to use it for.”
Selena was speechless at hearing what Amelia had to say to her, and even Deanna looked stunned as it looked like Amelia had managed to at least somewhat get through to her. Before she could chime in with anything, however, she felt Luz taking her hand and looking straight into her sleep-deprived eyes.
“Deanna, I don't know if you've paid attention at all or if that psychologist has mentioned anything to you about it,” Luz confided in her, “but I meant what I've said on these past Breakdowns. Screw The Enigma and whatever games he's playing, he's not going to taint this for us. Ultimately, however it has to happen, I want to see you be able to return to the ring happy and healthy again, as the champion you've proven yourself to be. If I'm truly ready to take the U.S. Title from you, then I want to do it the right way: having an incredible match with you and knowing that, win or lose, I gave you the best fight I could. But I don't care how long it takes, I want to fight to make that happen, no matter how long you need or whatever needs to be done. If you don't want me in your fight then I understand and respect that decision... but know that if you ever do want help, I'll be more than happy to step up and lend a hand.”
“Same with me,” Amelia added. “We know that guy's pulled some bizarre stunts with you over the past few months, but we've got some unsettled issues with him too. He inserted himself into a Tag Title defense at the start of the year when we were offering for someone else to put their money where their mouth is, he ended Luz's Television Title reign by capitalizing on her distress over another issue we were focused on... we've got plenty of our own reasons, but make no mistake, we don't really need one to help someone we care about.”
Deanna couldn't help but get a little choked up at the sound of that. Maybe it was whatever lack of sleep she was under that perhaps made her feel a little more emotional, but she didn't seem to care as she stared fondly at the newlyweds.
“You two really are something else...” Selena admitted, a grin on her lips making it clear that she meant it as a compliment.
“That's just who we are,” Luz grinned back.
“Well, I hope you're both ready for this Sunday then,” Selena noted. “Because I can tell you from firsthand experience, that Chamber is no walk in the park.”
“You're both definitely going to come away from it feeling sore like you've never felt before,” Deanna added.
“We know the kind of fight we're walking into,” Amelia chuckled. “And we're not backing down from it.”
“If others want chaos to reign,” Luz added, “then we'll contain and overcome it to prove that it's going to take a lot more than constant fighting and believing that locking down what we've fought so hard for to keep the 'unworthy' people out to stop us from reminding everyone exactly why SCW's tag division is the best in the world.”
Selena and Deanna both couldn't help but grin, knowing that it was probably a naive approach to the match but it was hard to argue with the conviction the couple held, and they both knew deep down that Luz and Amelia had what it took to adapt and overcome this war they'd brought upon themselves.
“Seeing you guys win would certainly make for one heck of a belated wedding present on behalf of SCW,” Deanna laughed.
“Speaking of wedding presents,” Selena chimed in. “Maybe it's not that much of one, but... I came here on my private plane, and I can promise it would get us anywhere we'd need to go in just a few hours. I don't know what your travel plans were from here to Detroit, but... a little luxury flight feels like the least I can offer before we all have to endure the Chamber.”
Luz and Amelia exchange looks, engaging in a silent conversation for a moment, before turning back to her.
“If you're offering,” Amelia finally said, “then I think we can take you up on that offer. It'd probably give us a little more time to actually rest up and prepare too.”
“As I said, it's the least I can offer to help you out a bit after this beautiful event,” Selena smiled as she motioned all around, though this included all the armed individuals patrolling around. “That said... were you guys expecting some of that chaos to potentially ruin your wedding? No offense, but it was a little surprising to see all this security around.”
“Well...” Luz sighed as she and Amelia exchanged concerned glances. “It was... a precaution. We were hoping to prevent any potential chaos, but this kind has nothing to do with SCW... and we hope it never does...”
Amelia opened her mouth to clarify when she saw some confusion cross both Frosts' faces, but before she could get a word out, a thunderous boom suddenly echoed throughout the cemetery. Some screaming began to ring out from a few of the wedding guests as she and Luz watched Selena instinctively pull Deanna close to her. Their gazes broke away from this to follow Avery, Darius and Evie leading several of their agents over to a nearby section where there wasn't a grave just yet, but a giant obelisk had been set up as a prospective marker by someone perhaps planning to use the spot as their grave whenever their time came. Guns were immediately drawn and pointed at a spot where a bunch of smoke was emanating, though there didn't seem to be any sign of a fire or any damage done anywhere. They could see local authorities tightening the perimeter along the edges of the cemetery, aiming to make sure nobody suspicious that may have caused this escaped.
After a few tense moments of dozens of armed FBI and NCA agents training their guns on this still smoking patch of dirt, a beam of light suddenly shot out from it, painting a picture on the nearby obelisk. As the picture became clearer, Luz and Amelia themselves stepped protectively in front of Selena and Deanna, wearing easily the most furious expressions they had perhaps ever seen from the young women.
The reason why became clearer as the light began to portray a large hologram, the smoke fading to reveal a little projector set up with what looked like a two-way communication device, Luz and Amelia's glares locked with the digital face of a man they had hoped to never see again.
“Who's that?” they heard Deanna utter from behind them.
“...Caleb White...” Luz and Amelia both growled, further surprising the Frosts with the sheer hatred laced in their voices.
“La Pequeña Luz... Amelia Blythe...” the hologram of Caleb spoke, his old, scarred face grinning like he'd just won the lottery. “Congratulations on the culmination of your deepest, most vile sins.”
“It's Amelia Nevado now,” Amelia spat as she and Luz stepped forward, though the wall of agent separating them from the hologram didn't budge as a precaution.
“And if our love for one another was so sinful, then how do you explain us being wed in a house of the very God you worship?” Luz tacked on, taking a small bit of delight in seeing how Caleb's face scrunched up in disgust at that thought.
“Proof that the corruptive influence you two so happily pioneer has spread, and all the more reason why my resurrection could not be better timed,” Caleb huffed before trying to reclaim his usual manipulative tone of voice. “After all, the truly pure need my guidance for salvation to be had.”
“And how do you plan to do that from the confines of a prison cell?” Amelia asked.
“A cell you earned the right to be in for every vile act you've ever committed that we all know even God disapproves of,” Luz added.
“Really now?” Caleb laughed. “If that were true, then why am I no longer falsely imprisoned for these so-called crimes I've committed?”
A collective gasp rang out through the crowd of wedding guests behind them, and Luz and Amelia knew their loved ones were probably the loudest of the bunch. They also noticed that none of the agents forming a human wall in front of them seemed surprised by this, and their concern only grew as they saw Avery, Darius and Evie turn to give them guilty looks.
“It's not true... is it?” Amelia worriedly asked.
“...I'm afraid it is,” Darius regretfully told them. “We got the call shortly before the ceremony. There was a mole in the NCA who somehow stayed well under the radar until they instigated a huge prison break as a cover to free him.”
“Why...?” Luz choked out. “Why didn't you...?”
“That's on me,” Avery sighed and guiltily looked away. “You both deserved to have this moment, this day... hell, this whole weekend with your pay-per-view included. You've fought so hard to earn this moment... we didn't want to ruin it...”
“You never could have prevented this, anyway,” the hologram of Caleb laughed. “My Empire exists to save humanity from the evils that have corrupted it and led it astray, just as God put me on this Earth to do. Did you really think I wouldn't be prepared in case something went awry? My false imprisonment was merely a test to see who was truly devoted to my cause and who isn't worth saving after all. And I have my true elite followers to thank for this moment.”
The hologram suddenly expanded, revealing several more figures surrounding Caleb. Luz and Amelia didn't recognize all of them, though seeing some wearing FBI and NCA uniforms disgusted them. Perhaps the worst part of what they were witnessing, however, were four particular individuals they DID recognize that made their blood run cold who were standing by Caleb's side: Theresa Saintsbury, Adrian Verner, and Aleister and Ophelia Blythe., the latter two making sure Amelia could see just how disgusted with her they truly were.
“Amelia, Luz...” Caleb's voice carried out once more. “Despite the stand you have taken against me, it is not too late for your souls to be saved. I offer you this one chance: renounce your sinful relationship, banish these unholy thoughts from your minds, and let me guide you to salvation while you still have a chance. Together, you can still be part of the utopia to be inherited by the worthy-”
“No.”
Both women spoke firmly and clearly, although Caleb didn't look too surprised by the answer.
“No?” he asked.
“After everything you've put us through,” Amelia growled. “Every last bit of hell that you and your twisted beliefs have wrought on our lives, all so you could 'redeem' yourself in the eyes of a God who we know wants nothing to do with you, you still think you have any right to try and 'save' us just for your own self-serving needs?”
“Do us a favor and go eat dirt, Caleb,” Luz followed. “We don't care how 'pure' you think you are when we know otherwise... we've proven we can beat you before, and we'll make sure you're locked away again, because we've earned the right to be who we are and no one, especially not you, will ever take that away from us!”
That declaration echoed throughout the graveyard as both sides stared one another down, although Caleb's eyes did flicker over to the grave of Luz's father right beside her as his mouth mumbled something, but they couldn't pick it up.
“Very well,” Caleb sighed and chuckled a bit. “I will be kind enough to let you have what's left of your little party. Consider it a peace offering out of respect for the sanctity of an honor you two do not deserve. But I hope the two of you are intimately familiar with that cemetery you're standing in... because I will not hesitate to bury you in it when all is set and done. At least I will be doing you the courtesy of reuniting you with your father, Luz.”
With that, the hologram faded as the device began to short out, FBI agents quickly moving in to try and salvage it in case there was any way of using it to track where the holographic image was being broadcast from. Luz and Amelia held one another close, their bodies trembling with anger and frustration at the realization that Caleb had still found a way to taint the happiest day of their lives. They looked to Avery, Darius and Evie, who all looked guilty and clearly wanted to apologize but were hesitant about whether or not it was right to do so at this moment. They turned to look at their found family standing front and center like a protective wall before the other guests, all of them looking concerned but ready to fight if it were necessary. Finally, they turned to look at Selena and Deanna, who both looked taken aback by what they'd just witnessed, and this was when the couple's expressions finally softened to something apologetic.
“What... was that all about?” Deanna chanced asking.
“That... was the precaution we were worried about that warranted all the law enforcement watching over our wedding,” Luz admitted.
“Let's just say we've been caught up in a holy war we never wanted any part of, to begin with,” Amelia lamented as she leaned her head on Luz's shoulder. “And unfortunately, it looks like it's not as over as we'd hoped it was.”
Selena and Deanna couldn't help but exchanged concerned glances as Luz and Amelia stood there, trying to comfort one another as the members of their found family stepped in to comfort them. It was a part of their lives they were tired of enduring and they'd been hopeful that it was finally over, but Caleb had proven himself to be a cockroach who just couldn't accept anything beyond whatever twisted version of the world he thought he could somehow still achieve, even after all of his crimes had come to light. So long as he had people to manipulate, he still believed he had a war to wage.
And just like the Chamber Match at Under Attack... if it's a war they wanted, it's a war The Light In The Darkness would give to protect everything that meant the world to them, especially the love that made them who they are today.
There's an almost ethereal feeling in the air as we find ourselves in probably one of the most unique settings we've seen yet when it comes to the two women we're here to see. As we look around, we realize that we're in a cemetery, and from some of what we can see, it's very clear that we're not in Detroit where Under Attack will emanate from in two nights' time. If anything, we appear to be in Mexico, judging by the fact that this cemetery has been decked out the way you would only find for an authentic Día de Muertos celebration, which makes sense when you consider today happens to be that very holiday. And yet, there are hints as we look around of another celebration intertwined with this holiday, and perhaps that becomes more clear when we reach a specific grave and find the familiar figures of our SCW World Tag Team Champions standing beside it. While they have their title belts resting proudly over their shoulders, we can also pick up the familiar glint of a pair of wedding bands adorning their ring fingers in the flicker of the candles illuminating this place. Dressed in a manner befitting of a wedding on the sacred Day of the Dead, Luz and Amelia hold each other close as the former is looking down at the ofrenda resting in front of the heavily decorated tombstone, the familiar image and legacy of her father proudly on display for all to see and reminisce.
“Día de Muertos... a holiday that is very sacred in my culture. On this day, we provide offerings to those we have lost to welcome them back to the land of the living, to share in the memories they left behind to inspire us all. This holiday has personal significance to me because, as you all know, my father is among the dearly departed that we welcome back on this special day each and every year. El Espíritu Angélico, a lucha libre legend... I won't lie, it hurts knowing that he's gone, but I take solace in the knowledge that his spirit is always watching over me, guiding me, and I know that he's proud of who I've become, both in general and especially as a wrestler. Every year, on this day, I get to welcome him back and show him just how much farther I've come, and this year it was an honor to welcome him back to the land of the living for a truly special occasion.
You see, this holiday may be called the Day of the Dead in English, but the truth of the matter is that it is just as much about life as it is about death.
One thing you learn at a very young age because of this holiday is the simple truth that death is inevitable. You never know when your time will come, and there's no reason to be afraid of something that will eventually become a reality for all of us. That is why we remember those we have lost and all they have done, to encourage us to live our own lives to the fullest. Life may not be eternal, but the memories you leave behind will exist for as long as there is someone to recall them. That is why my father is so fondly remembered not just by me, but by many here in Mexico, and it is the impact he left upon me that drove me to what I would consider the greatest moment of my life... my wedding night.”
“I think you mean the greatest moment of our lives, mi amor. I can happily stand here tonight and say that Amelia Blythe is no more... thanks to this incredible woman next to me who inspires me every single day to be better, no matter what form that takes, I stand before you, now and forever, as Amelia Nevado. Maybe that doesn't mean a lot to any of you... but it means everything to me. The only thing I've ever wanted for so long was to be free of the name Blythe and every scar it has left upon me. Say what you will about the wrestling prowess of my parents... the truth of the matter, which I have never shied away from being upfront about, was that they were never really parents. I wasn't a daughter to them, only a doll they could customize until I portrayed the perfect heir to their name that they wanted me to be. Sure, I could've just changed my name once Luz finally helped to loosen the chains they had been using to weigh me down years ago... but this? This is the finality I've truly been seeking, the moment where I can truly be proud of my name both in and out of the ring, finally free to forge ahead and become everything I've ever truly wanted to be without fear. I can finally live... and I'm sure Luz will agree with me about that being what Día de Muertos is truly all about. On this night, with the blessing of her father's spirit standing by our sides, Luz and I have finally tied the knot and can begin to build towards a brighter future for ourselves, together...
How appropriate, then, that the first step in our journey as wives is defending the brighter future we've been fighting for ever since we first became World Tag Team Champions at this very pay-per-view one year ago?”
Luz and Amelia can't help but smile to one another, taking a moment to wipe away each other's tears as the moment sinks in once more that they're actually wives now. As they shift gears, knowing they can return to celebrating that fact in full soon enough and have business to attend to now, they turn their smiles to us. What we don't see, however, is that their smiles are also directed towards the two fellow SCW roster members standing behind the camera that are watching them speak their piece, leaving them amazed by just how easily the newly-wedded couple can shift their attention as necessary.
“Maybe some of you found it a little jarring that I called for the Chamber this past Breakdown, but Luz and I have our reasons and it makes sense when you think about everyone in this match with us. The European Fiery Nation have been calling us out for months, demanding that we give them a title match on their terms just because they refuse to actually prove themselves the right way. Hollywood is seeking infamy. Team Desire have been looking for something to motivate them to prove that maybe, just maybe, their title win over us after Taking Hold of the Flame wasn't a fluke driven by Katie's desperation to finally become Supreme Champion. The Shinigami Foundation want to be the ones who dictate how this division operates and aren't afraid to spit in the face of the established order to get their way. And Chris Dumont, on behalf of the Dangerous Minds, wants a chance to prove himself even if that means putting himself at a disadvantage. When you really boil it down, everyone has their reasons to be in this match... including us, and it's not because we're the ones holding the championship gold that's truly at the heart of all of these issues.”
“The fact of the matter is, we made it clear a long time ago that we came to SCW it was because we heard it was where the very best came to prove themselves. In the time we've been here, we've faced plenty of setbacks, we've been public about the crises of confidence that have rocked us whenever it felt like maybe we weren't good enough after all, but time and time again we've risen to the challenge to prove that we do, in fact, belong here and we will keep fighting to prove that so long as there is air in our lungs. We want to keep raising the bar, promoting the mentality that wrestling issues should be resolved in a wrestling ring because anybody can start a fight that resolves nothing... but the end result of a match? That either defines your claims that you're the better wrestler on that night, or motivates you to learn from your defeat and bounce back to prove yourself once more. Yeah, maybe that sounds too simple, but give me one example where it hasn't worked. There's a reason why Amelia and I have worked our butts off to get to this point, to prove that we may very well be the best tag team in SCW today and will keep fighting to prove that with every match that comes our way, no matter what form that takes.”
“That's why we're not afraid to enter the Chamber, regardless of the fact that we've never been in one before and regardless of the fact that this match isn't how we usually prefer to conduct our business. This match represents a brand new challenge, a chance for us to keep proving that we're able to adapt and evolve to further define our reign as World Tag Team Champions and how hard we will fight to keep these titles. To walk into one of the most dangerous and grueling matches in SCW history, knowing that the odds of us leaving with these titles aren't great, and fighting to prevail over five other teams to prove that the philosophy we believe in is worth fighting for? That's the kind of mark we want to leave on SCW and wrestling as a whole, that's the legacy we want to leave behind whenever it's time for us to hang up our boots, knowing that someone will follow in our footsteps and fight the same way we did. In the true spirit of Día de Muertos... we have no reason to be afraid of whatever anyone else in this match wants to do to us, because we're not afraid to leave it all in the ring to see if any of you are able to give us the fight necessary to prove that our time has come.”
“This match is our way of answering the chaos, our way of giving everyone a chance to not hold back and join us in leaving in all in the ring. There are no excuses... you all have what you want, but that means you all have to accept that if our fight is stronger and we walk out of this match with our title reign intact, you have nothing to fall back on to try and justify why you didn't get the result you wanted out of this match. Don't forget that we have something we're fighting for as well: the chance to prove ourselves once more, to keep climbing higher and higher to define our legacies in SCW and wrestling as a whole, to remind the world of exactly why we are proud to stand at the top representing the greatest tag team division in all of wrestling as its champions. Not to mention, I think we can also add wanting to make our first night competing as wives a success, in addition to honoring the spirit of my father by proving that The Light In The Darkness is not afraid of any challenge, no matter how bloody or brutal it may get, because those of you who don't already know will soon find out the hard way that snuffing us out is easier said than done.”
We watch as Luz and Amelia both slowly sink to their knees, carefully shrugging off their title belts and gently placing them before the ofrenda for Luz's father. After a quiet moment where they take this sight in, they both bow their heads and close their eyes, almost in prayer.
“I pray for Team Desire, the only team entering this Chamber with any prior experience in it. We saw what you, Katie, are capable of in this match last year with the push you had to try and leave that Chamber as United States Champion. We know, firsthand, what you and Gigi are capable of. We pray that you once again find whatever fire that drove you to dethrone us all those months ago, to give us your very best and show us that if were to fall to you again, that we can trust this division in your experienced hands and not watch as all our hard work is wasted. We pray that your motivation to become World Tag Team Champions did not die when Katie finally achieved Supreme Champion status, for we proved just a few weeks ago that we have learned from that night and we are not afraid to keep evolving and climbing higher than you may be able to reach if this doesn't mean anything more to you than the final accolade Katie needed now that she's already achieved that moment.”
“I pray for Hollywood, the team that showed us the potential they do have and the talent that got them on this roster in the first place. I pray that this past Breakdown was a wake-up call for them that we are not to be underestimated for any reason, that we are not here to play games, especially in a match such as this. Unlike what so many other teams may believe, you wouldn't be on the SCW roster in the first place if you weren't capable of becoming champions. We said as much leading into that match, we made that clear when we defeated you, and we will prove it once again come Under Attack because we never give anything less than our absolute best to anyone. That is no who we are, that is not why we do this, and we pray that you know that while this match has the potential to get you whatever influence you seek, you will not be claiming victory if you are not ready to fight like your lives depend on it in a match that demands just that if you want to survive.”
“I pray for the Shinigami Foundation, the team that instigated all of this because they believe the World Tag Team Championships are meant to be a gateway for them to create a bottleneck that solves all their problems... problems that they and they alone have continued to cause. I pray that they prove to us that they respect us as they claim to by giving us the kind of fight that is worthy of our titles, and that should they fail they accept that this was simply not their time. We aren't blind to the fact that Alex and Wil do not have very many wins to their name since coming to SCW but feel as though they are owed the world just because they demand it. Every team that the two of you have picked a fight with, all because you claim they disrespect this business, have managed to defeat you, proving that they do, in fact, belong here, and if all the two of you want to have going for you is senselessly trying to attack the roster like spoiled children until you get your way... then you can do your worst inside the Chamber, because we will pray for you to reflect on why that will not be enough to remove us from this spot and undo all of our hard work just so you can play dictators and spit in the face of everything we've worked so hard to build.”
“I pray for the European Fiery Nation, who have been given everything they could've ever wanted despite deserving none of it. I pray that the two of you understand that you no longer have any excuses to fall back on should you fail to defeat us once more. We have beaten you twice, the last time being in your kind of match and even with Konrad helping you, and while we aren't too thrilled about Shaun Cruze's interference in our favor, it was legal by the terms of the match and we adapted accordingly when the odds were evened. This time, you have your violence, you'll have the titles on the line, just as you've been complaining about for months at this point. I pray that you fully realize the gravity of this situation, because as we have said, we are not afraid to set foot in the Chamber no matter what sort of violence you promise to bring against us, because we promise in return that we will find a way to adapt and survive like the fighters we've always been. Dakon, Ludvig... we pray that you accept that senseless violence and limiting yourselves to purely hardcore affairs are not what is expected of the SCW World Tag Team Champions, no matter how much you believe otherwise, and you will come to understand and respect just how versatile you need to be if you believe it's your time to stand where we are now.”
“I pray for Chris Dumont, but not for the reasons he probably thinks. I pray that Chris understands that, while we may question his decision to do this alone, we actually respect him for it. We respect the drive and the passion to prove himself, just as we have sought to do time and time again. Heck, we've stepped back from pursuing these titles until someone we trusted told us she believed we were ready to be champions, we were willing to lock ourselves out of challenging for any titles at all until we proved we could defeat every member of the roster... yes, that sounds crazy, but it's proof that we understand why Chris has chosen to do this and we do not think less of him for that decision. That said, however... I pray that Chris understands that we are honorable champions who never back down from a chance to prove ourselves as well, and should things come down to just him and us he can decide which one of us he wishes to fight. That is not because we think lesser of him, but because it is only right to even the playing field so that he has no excuses holding him back from being able to prove himself in this Chamber. I also pray that he truly is focused coming into this match, because the last time our paths crossed he barely acknowledged us despite being champions and paid the price, and we fear he is already making that same mistake again.”
“Last but not least... I pray for us. I pray that we give you all the fight you want from us, the undeniable proof that we have earned the right to be called your SCW World Tag Team Champions and will give every last drop of our blood, sweat and tears to continue to stand at the very top of that mountain. I pray that we can continue to inspire everyone, both inside of SCW and beyond, to chase your dreams and do not be afraid to fight for what matters most to you. I pray that all of our opponents understand that, because we have never gone down without a fight and we never will. Under Attack has always been a special pay-per-view for us... it's around this time when we first debuted in SCW, it's this very show where we announced our return, it's the pay-per-view where we first became World Tag Team Champions, and this Sunday? It's going to be the night where we further define our own legacies, not in the shadows of those who preceded us, but on our own terms and by our own hands.”
“We wish you all a happy Día de Muertos, we thank you all for giving us a few minutes of your time on our wedding night to say what we needed to say, and we hope you are ready for an incredible night in Detroit come Sunday night. We promise to step up to the plate and prove that The Light In The Darkness is stronger than ever and surviving the Chamber will only prove that further... we hope that all of our opponents can promise the same.”
With that final declaration, the newlyweds retrieve their titles and slowly rise to their feet, nodding in acknowledgment and respect to the spirit of Luz's father lingering near his ofrenda before they hold their titles high, their hands joined together as they smile proudly as us to the raucous cheers of everyone around them who came to celebrate their marriage and this wonderful holiday as well. Despite the smiles, however, there is nothing but determination in their eyes, making one thing abundantly clear: they may feel like they're in Heaven tonight, but they are more than ready to walk through Hell inside the Chamber at Under Attack in Detroit if that's what it took to keep proving they were worthy of being called the SCW World Tag Team Champions.
https://youtu.be/PBeCoAOP5d0?si=E_5kUiX1fRMNv4tf
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Under any other circumstances, the thought of a wedding reception being held in a cemetery would have probably had you questioning the sanity of the newly-wedded couple.
Anyone who did have those kinds of doubts and concerns, however, quickly found out just what kind of joy and fun could be had among the resting places of the deceased.
It felt like there was magic in the air as the cemetery was alight with the warm glow of so many candles scattered all around, with guests not only indulging in authentic Latin cuisine (and some learning just how much better it was compared to any Mexican restaurant making similar claims) but also just being in awe of the absolute respect that this culture treated the dead with. Stories were shared by families who had lost someone, and the feeling that the spirits were walking among them and joining in on the festivities added an extra spark into the air that was palpable.
This was more than just a wedding reception... this was an authentic, honest-to-God Día de Muertos celebration, and the joint celebration of the memories of the dead and the new life together stretching out before the newlyweds was unlike anything else.
La Pequeña Luz had always looked forward to this day. Sure, she loved the concept of Halloween and would never turn down an excuse to dress up in some sort of costume, but Día de Muertos wasn't just Mexico's version of Halloween. Being able to learn all about the lives of those who were no longer with us, even if she never knew them, fascinated her with how much love and passion could be shared through those stories about a life well lived and what these spirits meant to their families. It was also, arguably, the biggest reason why she might've moved on maybe a little too quickly after her father died. That's not to say she wasn't destroyed by the loss, but one thing you learn growing up thanks to this holiday is that death is inevitable and being afraid of it is pointless for that reason. As tragic as it was—especially now that she knew the full details behind the incident that had also ultimately claimed the life of her father's greatest rival as well—she knew that their memories lived on and still inspired her to this day.
“What are you thinking about in that cute head of yours?”
Luz couldn't help but blush and giggle as she turned to face her wife. Her wife! Being able to look Amelia in the eyes, knowing that her last name was now Nevado and she was now her wife had her giddy like she had fallen in love for the very first time all over again. She could tell, based on the soft look in her eyes and the visibility of the blush even beneath her painted cheeks, that Amelia felt the same way.
“Just thinking about how amazing it is that I can finally call you my wife,” Luz grinned, earning a giggle and a playful shove from Amelia. This ultimately earned them a stern clearing of a throat from the wedding photographer as they sheepishly posed themselves once more.
They had yet to actually make a proper appearance at their reception, wanting to tackle the wedding photos first to allow for families who had someone buried in this cemetery to properly engage in Día de Muertos traditions and spent time with the spirits of their dearly departed. This day wasn't entirely about them, after all, but they were honored to share it with so many souls both living and deceased to gain their blessing for an incredible married life ahead of them.
Amelia knew there was a little more on Luz's mind than she was letting on, but she wasn't going to push until Luz felt comfortable opening up to her. Healthy boundaries and communication had been a blessing all their own on the couple's entire relationship, and she knew that was only going to be more important now that they were married. So, for the time being, she kept smiling and indulging in the feeling of having this lovable embodiment of light and joy itself as her partner in both wrestling and now in marriage, firmly believing that even when they were on their deathbeds many, many years down the line they could look back on these photos and smile at just how amazing it all was that they had finally earned this moment for themselves.
Soon enough, the photographer was finished and all of their loved ones were rushing off to engage in the festivities and prepare to officially announce the couple as wives for the very first time. Luz and Amelia lingered, the latter gently brushing her thumb across the former's knuckles as she saw Luz's focus drift over to her father's grave and the ofrenda that decorated it.
“I wish I could've met him...” Amelia mused, drawing Luz's attention to her as a somber smile appeared on her lips.
“He would've loved you,” Luz admitted. “Heck, I know he loves you... I know he's proud of both of us and how far we've both come. I also know that he'll be watching us on Sunday, tackling a challenge that even he never had the chance to face in his lifetime, cheering us on as we fight like heck and hopefully make it clear to everyone that we can give them what they want, but at the end of the day, it's ultimately on them to be able to actually take us down.”
“Right,” Amelia nodded with a smile, though she knew there was something deeper to Luz's words and patiently waited for that ball to drop.
“So...” Luz finally opened up after a quiet moment, “I've been thinking for a bit about today, beyond our wedding. There's a part of me that always felt... guilty, I guess. I sat in the crowd on that night and watched my father die from the severe injury he sustained, and it hurt a lot... still does, to be honest. But I always questioned if something was... wrong with me, because it felt like I seemed to get over it a lot quicker than mom did. It had barely been a few weeks after it happened that I threw myself right back into my training, just with some of my father's friends instead of him. It felt like I needed a distraction at the time, but... the more I think about it now, the more I realize that I think I just embraced the true meaning of this holiday a little more than my mom might have.”
“How so?” Amelia raised an eyebrow.
“The core idea of Día de Muertos is showing people that death isn't something to be afraid of,” Luz explained. “It's inevitable, regardless of the when and how. Celebrations like this are just as much about life as they are the memories of those we've lost... it's not that I became desensitized to the thought of death, but more like I became encouraged by it, wanting to make my own mark on the world in the best way that I could before my time comes, to give people great memories to remember me by.”
“Well, you've certainly left an impact on my life that I'll never forget,” Amelia grinned, leaning over to kiss Luz's masked cheek. “And hopefully we'll be able to leave a mark on SCW this Sunday night as well and prove that we may be new blood for the Chamber, but we're not afraid to adapt and fight to make our statement loud and clear.”
Luz couldn't help but wipe away a tear before she wrapped her arms around Amelia's waist, lifting her up and spinning her around as the two of them laughed, letting the moment of their wedded bliss wash over them. There would be plenty of time to shift their focus to Under Attack and the war that awaited them... for now, they deserved to bask in the joyous occasion that was only going to fuel them to fight harder in two nights' time to leave the Chamber the same way they were entering it: as SCW World Tag Team Champions.
“Can I have everyone's attention, please?”
They heard Gage calling throughout the cemetery, accompanied by the clinging of glass as he got everyone's attention. Realizing they were about to miss their own moment, Luz put Amelia down and the two of them rushed over, still giggling to themselves and quietly reassuring each other that they were ready.
“It is my honor, as a close friend of theirs, to proudly introduce to you all, for the very first time as a married couple... Mrs. La Pequeña Luz and Mrs. Amelia Nevado!” Gage happily announced with all the enthusiasm he usually displayed as a commentator, and Luz and Amelia happily revealed themselves to the delighted cheers and applause of everyone around them. They couldn't help but grin and also nudge Gage for how he announced Luz in particular, though they couldn't blame him as Luz's actual name wasn't public knowledge and she wasn't about to break the sacred tradition even on her wedding night.
From there, the couple stood front and center as their loved ones gave their speeches. They all knew how much they were loved by their little found family, how much they were all inspired by the newly-wedded Nevados and vice versa. Still, to hear the raw emotion in their voices as all of them recounted their pasts to everyone present, especially from the likes of Ivy and Camila who thanked Luz and Amelia respectfully for the impact they had on the other's life and how much better they made one another, to the point where they each had taken the necessary steps to repair broken relationships with them to allow for the incredible group that The Light In The Darkness had become the literal beating heart of... Luz and Amelia would be lying if they said they didn't wipe away a few forming tears from how incredible the speeches were.
The one that probably stood out the most, however, was Amelia's siblings, who actually looked nervous for the first time in as long as Amelia could remember seeing them.
“We're not going to stand here and sugarcoat things,” Emily began. “Growing up, we were awful to our baby sister. While our parents can take a lot of the blame for how they 'raised' us, Ed and I have to own up to our own role we played in a lot of Amelia's problems.”
“As some have already touched on,” Edward continued, “our parents were obsessed with the idea of a family legacy. All three of their children weren't human being, but mere extensions of their own wrestling accomplishments. Em and I? We got shafted a fair amount simply because we were born as twins... which, in their eyes, meant we were only viable to their grand plans as a tag team. That left Amelia as the 'sole, true heir' to bear the brunt of everything they did to us.”
“As much as we all hated it, Ed and I couldn't help but resent Amelia,” Emily added with a guilty look on her face. “Our parents fed us all of this bullshit about how she was miles better than either of us, that she was a 'true Blythe' because she could succeed on our own while we would never have that chance because we were twins! Instead of realizing they were trying to pit us against one another... we actively antagonized our sister, lording our tag team success over her head because outside of the undefeated streak she started her career with, she hadn't tasted championship gold yet while we were breaking records together.”
“But where we only made things worse for her,” Edward choked out as he wiped away a few tears. “Here came this masked woman like a tornado, upending everything that our parents had tried to forge Amelia into being, showing her that she could decide for herself what kind of person she wanted to be. The bond they built with each other... it didn't just save our sister, it also opened our eyes as well, and it makes that old record-breaking tag title run of ours that the two of you ended special in our eyes. Not just because that was the night that gave birth to what The Light In The Darkness is today, but because Em and I got the chance to truly reflect on everything and realize that we had to be better siblings, not better wrestlers, if we wanted to truly fix anything.”
“So thank you, Luz,” Emily smiled as she raised her glass. “Thank you for not only being the best sister-in-law we could ever ask for, but for also giving us our sister back.”
“You really are the best thing that ever happened to her,” Edward added, “and seeing how far you've both come... it's inspired us and so many others in more ways than one, and we'd be honored to see just where you, Amelia, can go now that you're finally free of our awful family name and everything it's done to you since the day you were born.”
“To the Nevados! And to The Light In The Darkness!” the twins shouted simultaneously to a raucous ovation as Luz and Amelia struggled to hold back their tears, losing the battle to throw themselves at Edward and Emily and embrace them for the profound statements they'd made.
As Amelia pulled away and let Luz talk with her siblings for a moment, she looked out at the sea of people celebrating this incredible moment and holiday with them and found herself briefly locking eyes with Selena, who was almost hidden with Deanna near the very back of the crowd. While she couldn't tell from this distance how things may have been looking between the two of them after Ivy's little stunt of seating them together for the ceremony, she did see something in Selena's eyes in that moment that she recognized all too well: guilt. She couldn't be certain for the reason behind it, but she could tell that some of the wedding speeches, especially what her siblings had just shared, seemed to have an effect on her. She thought all the way back to that final Breakdown, where Selena had approached her after the show and tried to sow the seeds of doubt and dissension within her head regarding her Trios team, how Amelia had responded with a personal letter addressed only to her that gave the smallest bit of insight into how similar Selena was becoming to the Amelia Blythe of old.
She couldn't fully tell just how deeply the confirmation that none of what she's said about her family life and all the pain it brought her all just so she could be the 'perfect prodigy' of the Blythe family on camera had been hyperbole just to garner sympathy had gotten through to Selena, but she hoped enough of it had to prove that no matter how deep she sank into the darkness, she could still be saved as long as she was willing to reach out and fight for who she truly wanted to be, deep down inside.
Before she could dwell on it any further, she felt someone grabbing her hand and realized Luz was pulling her towards the little area that had been set up as a sort of dance floor.
“Come on, Ames!” she happily exclaimed. “It's time for our first dance!”
“Is it really our first if we're always waltzing our way down to the ring, though?” Amelia couldn't help but grin as she let Luz drag her along.
“You know what I mean!” Luz laughed, which got Amelia to laugh as well before they composed themselves.
With a nod to the band that had been playing music to add to the festive atmosphere, they slowly stopped playing as Gage hooked up his phone to a little sound system, knowing that his friends had picked out a very special song that was perfect for this very moment. With a few taps on his screen, the haunting melody of “When It's Time” by Altamullan Road began to sink in over the cemetery.
Everyone gathered watched in awe, some even fighting back tears, as the meaning of the lyrics made it very clear why the newlyweds had chosen this song to share their first dance to, keeping in mind the holiday they had chosen to host this momentous occasion on. As Luz and Amelia shared easily the slowest waltz they ever have, especially when compared to their usual entrance dance for SCW, they smiled at one another and let the tears linger on the edges of their eyes, taking in the song's implications of the love they shared and their hope that it would be strong enough that, way down the line, they hoped to be able to reunite when death inevitably claimed the both of them to proudly watch their stories being shared and their memories kept alive by everyone around them, embracing the spirit of Día de Muertos and giving both strength and encouragement to those in attendance to always keep remembering and keep living for the loved ones they had lost.
By the time the song finished and the couple took a bow, it was safe to say there wasn't a dry eye left, and they could only smile and nod as their found family surrounded them, pulling them away from the dance floor as the hired band resumed playing and the floor opened up for everyone to dance now.
“You two truly are something else, you know that?” Marilyn fought back tears as she grinned down at them.
“Only you could share your first dance as wives to a song that fits this holiday so well,” Ivy choked out as she removed her glasses to clean some of her tears from the lenses. “God, the two of you are so perfect together.
“Girls...” Camila carefully said as she stepped forward, pulling both Luz and Amelia into a hug that they immediately returned. “Thank you... thank you for this beautiful moment...”
“Well, today's just as much about Papá and everyone else resting here as it is us taking the next big step in our lives,” Luz admitted. “It only felt right to acknowledge that.”
“And maybe remind ourselves that even death isn't going to keep us apart,” Amelia added with a soft smile, which only encouraged Camila to hug them even tighter.
It wasn't too long after that where they all piled onto the dance floor, Luz and Amelia eager to pick up the pace with some of their dancing together as their found family danced around them, basking in the joy radiating off the couple that kept everything in high spirits. Even as they looked around and saw the various local officers as well as FBI and NCA agents still patrolling around, just in case The Empire or anyone else did try to make any sort of move even now to ruin the moment, the fact that they were full of so much life and love that you could swear the Day of the Dead might have been a holiday in their honor somehow was infectious and showed that nothing could truly stop them or bring them down.
Luz glancing over and seeing her mother dancing a similar waltz to them all on her own at first glance, knowing that she did have a partner in the spirit of Manuel Nevado, aka El Espíritu Angélico, guiding her steps to try and keep up with their daughter and her new wife, was a reminder of the power she and Amelia possessed now more than ever to try and leave a legacy of their own design behind when it was finally their time, inspiring future generations to fight for who they wanted to be, no matter what form that took.
It was that thought that had her and Amelia's eyes wandering as they finally stepped away from the dance floor to take a small break, ultimately finding two people they knew they should probably talk to at some point while they had the opportunity to do so. Nodding to one another and joining hands to keep themselves grounded, they slowly made their way over to where Selena and Deanna had seemingly tucked themselves away, watching as some sort of conversation seemed to be wrapping up between them as they were conveniently standing beside what Luz would've wanted her next destination to be anyway, that being near her father's grave.
“Are we interrupting?” Amelia said, getting both Frosts' attention. “I'm incredibly sorry if we were.”
“No... I think we were just wrapping up some things we truly needed to discuss,” Deanna replied, her tone being a little hard to read but between what they could gather and Selena's body language in response, it sounded like they might've at least made some headway in whatever lingered between them.
“¿Cómo están ambos?” Luz asked before realizing what she'd done and quickly correcting herself. “Sorry, force of habit whenever my emotions are running a bit high. How are you both doing?”
“Alright, I think...” Selena said, letting that linger in the air for a moment as Deanna nodded. “This was a lovely wedding, you two.”
“And this reception?” Deanna added. “It honestly feels perfect. A wedding on the Day of the Dead, celebrating among the spirits...”
“Well, we here in Mexico know how to respect and honor those who are no longer with us,” Luz said, a bit of emotion thickly coating her voice as she looked at her father's ofrenda. “This is just as much about honoring them and the impact they've had on us as it is about Ames and I taking the next big step in our lives together, with their blessing.”
“It suits the both of you,” Selena stated. “I... I know I probably haven't given this impression lately, especially after what I tried to pull on you, Amelia, after that Breakdown before Apocalypse, but... I really am happy for the both of you, and I can tell from how much emotion has been a part of everything I've seen and heard that this moment has been a long time coming, and you deserve it.”
Deanna shot Selena a questioning look, but Amelia just nodded.
“Thank you, Selena,” Amelia smiled. “It means a lot to hear that, especially from you. And... hopefully you understand me, understand us, a little better now.”
“I'm a little surprised, truth be told,” Selena admitted. “The fact that you still invited me out here, that you forgave me so easily after what I had to say...”
“Yeah, that's just kind of how we are,” Luz admitted as she traced a finger along the flower wings that her father's grave had been decorated with. “Mi papá taught me at a young age to try and not hold onto grudges, especially in wrestling. There's always two sides to the story, and it's best to try and get the other perspective as best as you can before judging anybody, because they might have their reasons for doing what they do. That doesn't change the fact that we might not agree with them, but that doesn't mean we can't still extend our hands to those we call our friends if they want or need us.”
“It's how Luz saved me,” Amelia confirmed. “That said... I'll be honest, Selena: I'm truly disgusted with how that match ended, that having a Trios contract to my name is tainted by what Blake did. Even still... I meant what I said when I told you that you didn't need it, but that's because I know you, I've been in the ring with you at least twice now. I believe that you're more than good enough to become World Champion again if that's the road you wish to walk, and you don't need all these precautions to prove what everyone already knows deep down: that you're one of the best to ever set foot in an SCW ring. And as far as that contract is concerned... I know I've got a year to use it, and that's plenty of time to prove in some other way that I truly deserve whatever I ultimately choose to use it for.”
Selena was speechless at hearing what Amelia had to say to her, and even Deanna looked stunned as it looked like Amelia had managed to at least somewhat get through to her. Before she could chime in with anything, however, she felt Luz taking her hand and looking straight into her sleep-deprived eyes.
“Deanna, I don't know if you've paid attention at all or if that psychologist has mentioned anything to you about it,” Luz confided in her, “but I meant what I've said on these past Breakdowns. Screw The Enigma and whatever games he's playing, he's not going to taint this for us. Ultimately, however it has to happen, I want to see you be able to return to the ring happy and healthy again, as the champion you've proven yourself to be. If I'm truly ready to take the U.S. Title from you, then I want to do it the right way: having an incredible match with you and knowing that, win or lose, I gave you the best fight I could. But I don't care how long it takes, I want to fight to make that happen, no matter how long you need or whatever needs to be done. If you don't want me in your fight then I understand and respect that decision... but know that if you ever do want help, I'll be more than happy to step up and lend a hand.”
“Same with me,” Amelia added. “We know that guy's pulled some bizarre stunts with you over the past few months, but we've got some unsettled issues with him too. He inserted himself into a Tag Title defense at the start of the year when we were offering for someone else to put their money where their mouth is, he ended Luz's Television Title reign by capitalizing on her distress over another issue we were focused on... we've got plenty of our own reasons, but make no mistake, we don't really need one to help someone we care about.”
Deanna couldn't help but get a little choked up at the sound of that. Maybe it was whatever lack of sleep she was under that perhaps made her feel a little more emotional, but she didn't seem to care as she stared fondly at the newlyweds.
“You two really are something else...” Selena admitted, a grin on her lips making it clear that she meant it as a compliment.
“That's just who we are,” Luz grinned back.
“Well, I hope you're both ready for this Sunday then,” Selena noted. “Because I can tell you from firsthand experience, that Chamber is no walk in the park.”
“You're both definitely going to come away from it feeling sore like you've never felt before,” Deanna added.
“We know the kind of fight we're walking into,” Amelia chuckled. “And we're not backing down from it.”
“If others want chaos to reign,” Luz added, “then we'll contain and overcome it to prove that it's going to take a lot more than constant fighting and believing that locking down what we've fought so hard for to keep the 'unworthy' people out to stop us from reminding everyone exactly why SCW's tag division is the best in the world.”
Selena and Deanna both couldn't help but grin, knowing that it was probably a naive approach to the match but it was hard to argue with the conviction the couple held, and they both knew deep down that Luz and Amelia had what it took to adapt and overcome this war they'd brought upon themselves.
“Seeing you guys win would certainly make for one heck of a belated wedding present on behalf of SCW,” Deanna laughed.
“Speaking of wedding presents,” Selena chimed in. “Maybe it's not that much of one, but... I came here on my private plane, and I can promise it would get us anywhere we'd need to go in just a few hours. I don't know what your travel plans were from here to Detroit, but... a little luxury flight feels like the least I can offer before we all have to endure the Chamber.”
Luz and Amelia exchange looks, engaging in a silent conversation for a moment, before turning back to her.
“If you're offering,” Amelia finally said, “then I think we can take you up on that offer. It'd probably give us a little more time to actually rest up and prepare too.”
“As I said, it's the least I can offer to help you out a bit after this beautiful event,” Selena smiled as she motioned all around, though this included all the armed individuals patrolling around. “That said... were you guys expecting some of that chaos to potentially ruin your wedding? No offense, but it was a little surprising to see all this security around.”
“Well...” Luz sighed as she and Amelia exchanged concerned glances. “It was... a precaution. We were hoping to prevent any potential chaos, but this kind has nothing to do with SCW... and we hope it never does...”
Amelia opened her mouth to clarify when she saw some confusion cross both Frosts' faces, but before she could get a word out, a thunderous boom suddenly echoed throughout the cemetery. Some screaming began to ring out from a few of the wedding guests as she and Luz watched Selena instinctively pull Deanna close to her. Their gazes broke away from this to follow Avery, Darius and Evie leading several of their agents over to a nearby section where there wasn't a grave just yet, but a giant obelisk had been set up as a prospective marker by someone perhaps planning to use the spot as their grave whenever their time came. Guns were immediately drawn and pointed at a spot where a bunch of smoke was emanating, though there didn't seem to be any sign of a fire or any damage done anywhere. They could see local authorities tightening the perimeter along the edges of the cemetery, aiming to make sure nobody suspicious that may have caused this escaped.
After a few tense moments of dozens of armed FBI and NCA agents training their guns on this still smoking patch of dirt, a beam of light suddenly shot out from it, painting a picture on the nearby obelisk. As the picture became clearer, Luz and Amelia themselves stepped protectively in front of Selena and Deanna, wearing easily the most furious expressions they had perhaps ever seen from the young women.
The reason why became clearer as the light began to portray a large hologram, the smoke fading to reveal a little projector set up with what looked like a two-way communication device, Luz and Amelia's glares locked with the digital face of a man they had hoped to never see again.
“Who's that?” they heard Deanna utter from behind them.
“...Caleb White...” Luz and Amelia both growled, further surprising the Frosts with the sheer hatred laced in their voices.
“La Pequeña Luz... Amelia Blythe...” the hologram of Caleb spoke, his old, scarred face grinning like he'd just won the lottery. “Congratulations on the culmination of your deepest, most vile sins.”
“It's Amelia Nevado now,” Amelia spat as she and Luz stepped forward, though the wall of agent separating them from the hologram didn't budge as a precaution.
“And if our love for one another was so sinful, then how do you explain us being wed in a house of the very God you worship?” Luz tacked on, taking a small bit of delight in seeing how Caleb's face scrunched up in disgust at that thought.
“Proof that the corruptive influence you two so happily pioneer has spread, and all the more reason why my resurrection could not be better timed,” Caleb huffed before trying to reclaim his usual manipulative tone of voice. “After all, the truly pure need my guidance for salvation to be had.”
“And how do you plan to do that from the confines of a prison cell?” Amelia asked.
“A cell you earned the right to be in for every vile act you've ever committed that we all know even God disapproves of,” Luz added.
“Really now?” Caleb laughed. “If that were true, then why am I no longer falsely imprisoned for these so-called crimes I've committed?”
A collective gasp rang out through the crowd of wedding guests behind them, and Luz and Amelia knew their loved ones were probably the loudest of the bunch. They also noticed that none of the agents forming a human wall in front of them seemed surprised by this, and their concern only grew as they saw Avery, Darius and Evie turn to give them guilty looks.
“It's not true... is it?” Amelia worriedly asked.
“...I'm afraid it is,” Darius regretfully told them. “We got the call shortly before the ceremony. There was a mole in the NCA who somehow stayed well under the radar until they instigated a huge prison break as a cover to free him.”
“Why...?” Luz choked out. “Why didn't you...?”
“That's on me,” Avery sighed and guiltily looked away. “You both deserved to have this moment, this day... hell, this whole weekend with your pay-per-view included. You've fought so hard to earn this moment... we didn't want to ruin it...”
“You never could have prevented this, anyway,” the hologram of Caleb laughed. “My Empire exists to save humanity from the evils that have corrupted it and led it astray, just as God put me on this Earth to do. Did you really think I wouldn't be prepared in case something went awry? My false imprisonment was merely a test to see who was truly devoted to my cause and who isn't worth saving after all. And I have my true elite followers to thank for this moment.”
The hologram suddenly expanded, revealing several more figures surrounding Caleb. Luz and Amelia didn't recognize all of them, though seeing some wearing FBI and NCA uniforms disgusted them. Perhaps the worst part of what they were witnessing, however, were four particular individuals they DID recognize that made their blood run cold who were standing by Caleb's side: Theresa Saintsbury, Adrian Verner, and Aleister and Ophelia Blythe., the latter two making sure Amelia could see just how disgusted with her they truly were.
“Amelia, Luz...” Caleb's voice carried out once more. “Despite the stand you have taken against me, it is not too late for your souls to be saved. I offer you this one chance: renounce your sinful relationship, banish these unholy thoughts from your minds, and let me guide you to salvation while you still have a chance. Together, you can still be part of the utopia to be inherited by the worthy-”
“No.”
Both women spoke firmly and clearly, although Caleb didn't look too surprised by the answer.
“No?” he asked.
“After everything you've put us through,” Amelia growled. “Every last bit of hell that you and your twisted beliefs have wrought on our lives, all so you could 'redeem' yourself in the eyes of a God who we know wants nothing to do with you, you still think you have any right to try and 'save' us just for your own self-serving needs?”
“Do us a favor and go eat dirt, Caleb,” Luz followed. “We don't care how 'pure' you think you are when we know otherwise... we've proven we can beat you before, and we'll make sure you're locked away again, because we've earned the right to be who we are and no one, especially not you, will ever take that away from us!”
That declaration echoed throughout the graveyard as both sides stared one another down, although Caleb's eyes did flicker over to the grave of Luz's father right beside her as his mouth mumbled something, but they couldn't pick it up.
“Very well,” Caleb sighed and chuckled a bit. “I will be kind enough to let you have what's left of your little party. Consider it a peace offering out of respect for the sanctity of an honor you two do not deserve. But I hope the two of you are intimately familiar with that cemetery you're standing in... because I will not hesitate to bury you in it when all is set and done. At least I will be doing you the courtesy of reuniting you with your father, Luz.”
With that, the hologram faded as the device began to short out, FBI agents quickly moving in to try and salvage it in case there was any way of using it to track where the holographic image was being broadcast from. Luz and Amelia held one another close, their bodies trembling with anger and frustration at the realization that Caleb had still found a way to taint the happiest day of their lives. They looked to Avery, Darius and Evie, who all looked guilty and clearly wanted to apologize but were hesitant about whether or not it was right to do so at this moment. They turned to look at their found family standing front and center like a protective wall before the other guests, all of them looking concerned but ready to fight if it were necessary. Finally, they turned to look at Selena and Deanna, who both looked taken aback by what they'd just witnessed, and this was when the couple's expressions finally softened to something apologetic.
“What... was that all about?” Deanna chanced asking.
“That... was the precaution we were worried about that warranted all the law enforcement watching over our wedding,” Luz admitted.
“Let's just say we've been caught up in a holy war we never wanted any part of, to begin with,” Amelia lamented as she leaned her head on Luz's shoulder. “And unfortunately, it looks like it's not as over as we'd hoped it was.”
Selena and Deanna couldn't help but exchanged concerned glances as Luz and Amelia stood there, trying to comfort one another as the members of their found family stepped in to comfort them. It was a part of their lives they were tired of enduring and they'd been hopeful that it was finally over, but Caleb had proven himself to be a cockroach who just couldn't accept anything beyond whatever twisted version of the world he thought he could somehow still achieve, even after all of his crimes had come to light. So long as he had people to manipulate, he still believed he had a war to wage.
And just like the Chamber Match at Under Attack... if it's a war they wanted, it's a war The Light In The Darkness would give to protect everything that meant the world to them, especially the love that made them who they are today.
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There's an almost ethereal feeling in the air as we find ourselves in probably one of the most unique settings we've seen yet when it comes to the two women we're here to see. As we look around, we realize that we're in a cemetery, and from some of what we can see, it's very clear that we're not in Detroit where Under Attack will emanate from in two nights' time. If anything, we appear to be in Mexico, judging by the fact that this cemetery has been decked out the way you would only find for an authentic Día de Muertos celebration, which makes sense when you consider today happens to be that very holiday. And yet, there are hints as we look around of another celebration intertwined with this holiday, and perhaps that becomes more clear when we reach a specific grave and find the familiar figures of our SCW World Tag Team Champions standing beside it. While they have their title belts resting proudly over their shoulders, we can also pick up the familiar glint of a pair of wedding bands adorning their ring fingers in the flicker of the candles illuminating this place. Dressed in a manner befitting of a wedding on the sacred Day of the Dead, Luz and Amelia hold each other close as the former is looking down at the ofrenda resting in front of the heavily decorated tombstone, the familiar image and legacy of her father proudly on display for all to see and reminisce.
“Día de Muertos... a holiday that is very sacred in my culture. On this day, we provide offerings to those we have lost to welcome them back to the land of the living, to share in the memories they left behind to inspire us all. This holiday has personal significance to me because, as you all know, my father is among the dearly departed that we welcome back on this special day each and every year. El Espíritu Angélico, a lucha libre legend... I won't lie, it hurts knowing that he's gone, but I take solace in the knowledge that his spirit is always watching over me, guiding me, and I know that he's proud of who I've become, both in general and especially as a wrestler. Every year, on this day, I get to welcome him back and show him just how much farther I've come, and this year it was an honor to welcome him back to the land of the living for a truly special occasion.
You see, this holiday may be called the Day of the Dead in English, but the truth of the matter is that it is just as much about life as it is about death.
One thing you learn at a very young age because of this holiday is the simple truth that death is inevitable. You never know when your time will come, and there's no reason to be afraid of something that will eventually become a reality for all of us. That is why we remember those we have lost and all they have done, to encourage us to live our own lives to the fullest. Life may not be eternal, but the memories you leave behind will exist for as long as there is someone to recall them. That is why my father is so fondly remembered not just by me, but by many here in Mexico, and it is the impact he left upon me that drove me to what I would consider the greatest moment of my life... my wedding night.”
“I think you mean the greatest moment of our lives, mi amor. I can happily stand here tonight and say that Amelia Blythe is no more... thanks to this incredible woman next to me who inspires me every single day to be better, no matter what form that takes, I stand before you, now and forever, as Amelia Nevado. Maybe that doesn't mean a lot to any of you... but it means everything to me. The only thing I've ever wanted for so long was to be free of the name Blythe and every scar it has left upon me. Say what you will about the wrestling prowess of my parents... the truth of the matter, which I have never shied away from being upfront about, was that they were never really parents. I wasn't a daughter to them, only a doll they could customize until I portrayed the perfect heir to their name that they wanted me to be. Sure, I could've just changed my name once Luz finally helped to loosen the chains they had been using to weigh me down years ago... but this? This is the finality I've truly been seeking, the moment where I can truly be proud of my name both in and out of the ring, finally free to forge ahead and become everything I've ever truly wanted to be without fear. I can finally live... and I'm sure Luz will agree with me about that being what Día de Muertos is truly all about. On this night, with the blessing of her father's spirit standing by our sides, Luz and I have finally tied the knot and can begin to build towards a brighter future for ourselves, together...
How appropriate, then, that the first step in our journey as wives is defending the brighter future we've been fighting for ever since we first became World Tag Team Champions at this very pay-per-view one year ago?”
Luz and Amelia can't help but smile to one another, taking a moment to wipe away each other's tears as the moment sinks in once more that they're actually wives now. As they shift gears, knowing they can return to celebrating that fact in full soon enough and have business to attend to now, they turn their smiles to us. What we don't see, however, is that their smiles are also directed towards the two fellow SCW roster members standing behind the camera that are watching them speak their piece, leaving them amazed by just how easily the newly-wedded couple can shift their attention as necessary.
“Maybe some of you found it a little jarring that I called for the Chamber this past Breakdown, but Luz and I have our reasons and it makes sense when you think about everyone in this match with us. The European Fiery Nation have been calling us out for months, demanding that we give them a title match on their terms just because they refuse to actually prove themselves the right way. Hollywood is seeking infamy. Team Desire have been looking for something to motivate them to prove that maybe, just maybe, their title win over us after Taking Hold of the Flame wasn't a fluke driven by Katie's desperation to finally become Supreme Champion. The Shinigami Foundation want to be the ones who dictate how this division operates and aren't afraid to spit in the face of the established order to get their way. And Chris Dumont, on behalf of the Dangerous Minds, wants a chance to prove himself even if that means putting himself at a disadvantage. When you really boil it down, everyone has their reasons to be in this match... including us, and it's not because we're the ones holding the championship gold that's truly at the heart of all of these issues.”
“The fact of the matter is, we made it clear a long time ago that we came to SCW it was because we heard it was where the very best came to prove themselves. In the time we've been here, we've faced plenty of setbacks, we've been public about the crises of confidence that have rocked us whenever it felt like maybe we weren't good enough after all, but time and time again we've risen to the challenge to prove that we do, in fact, belong here and we will keep fighting to prove that so long as there is air in our lungs. We want to keep raising the bar, promoting the mentality that wrestling issues should be resolved in a wrestling ring because anybody can start a fight that resolves nothing... but the end result of a match? That either defines your claims that you're the better wrestler on that night, or motivates you to learn from your defeat and bounce back to prove yourself once more. Yeah, maybe that sounds too simple, but give me one example where it hasn't worked. There's a reason why Amelia and I have worked our butts off to get to this point, to prove that we may very well be the best tag team in SCW today and will keep fighting to prove that with every match that comes our way, no matter what form that takes.”
“That's why we're not afraid to enter the Chamber, regardless of the fact that we've never been in one before and regardless of the fact that this match isn't how we usually prefer to conduct our business. This match represents a brand new challenge, a chance for us to keep proving that we're able to adapt and evolve to further define our reign as World Tag Team Champions and how hard we will fight to keep these titles. To walk into one of the most dangerous and grueling matches in SCW history, knowing that the odds of us leaving with these titles aren't great, and fighting to prevail over five other teams to prove that the philosophy we believe in is worth fighting for? That's the kind of mark we want to leave on SCW and wrestling as a whole, that's the legacy we want to leave behind whenever it's time for us to hang up our boots, knowing that someone will follow in our footsteps and fight the same way we did. In the true spirit of Día de Muertos... we have no reason to be afraid of whatever anyone else in this match wants to do to us, because we're not afraid to leave it all in the ring to see if any of you are able to give us the fight necessary to prove that our time has come.”
“This match is our way of answering the chaos, our way of giving everyone a chance to not hold back and join us in leaving in all in the ring. There are no excuses... you all have what you want, but that means you all have to accept that if our fight is stronger and we walk out of this match with our title reign intact, you have nothing to fall back on to try and justify why you didn't get the result you wanted out of this match. Don't forget that we have something we're fighting for as well: the chance to prove ourselves once more, to keep climbing higher and higher to define our legacies in SCW and wrestling as a whole, to remind the world of exactly why we are proud to stand at the top representing the greatest tag team division in all of wrestling as its champions. Not to mention, I think we can also add wanting to make our first night competing as wives a success, in addition to honoring the spirit of my father by proving that The Light In The Darkness is not afraid of any challenge, no matter how bloody or brutal it may get, because those of you who don't already know will soon find out the hard way that snuffing us out is easier said than done.”
We watch as Luz and Amelia both slowly sink to their knees, carefully shrugging off their title belts and gently placing them before the ofrenda for Luz's father. After a quiet moment where they take this sight in, they both bow their heads and close their eyes, almost in prayer.
“I pray for Team Desire, the only team entering this Chamber with any prior experience in it. We saw what you, Katie, are capable of in this match last year with the push you had to try and leave that Chamber as United States Champion. We know, firsthand, what you and Gigi are capable of. We pray that you once again find whatever fire that drove you to dethrone us all those months ago, to give us your very best and show us that if were to fall to you again, that we can trust this division in your experienced hands and not watch as all our hard work is wasted. We pray that your motivation to become World Tag Team Champions did not die when Katie finally achieved Supreme Champion status, for we proved just a few weeks ago that we have learned from that night and we are not afraid to keep evolving and climbing higher than you may be able to reach if this doesn't mean anything more to you than the final accolade Katie needed now that she's already achieved that moment.”
“I pray for Hollywood, the team that showed us the potential they do have and the talent that got them on this roster in the first place. I pray that this past Breakdown was a wake-up call for them that we are not to be underestimated for any reason, that we are not here to play games, especially in a match such as this. Unlike what so many other teams may believe, you wouldn't be on the SCW roster in the first place if you weren't capable of becoming champions. We said as much leading into that match, we made that clear when we defeated you, and we will prove it once again come Under Attack because we never give anything less than our absolute best to anyone. That is no who we are, that is not why we do this, and we pray that you know that while this match has the potential to get you whatever influence you seek, you will not be claiming victory if you are not ready to fight like your lives depend on it in a match that demands just that if you want to survive.”
“I pray for the Shinigami Foundation, the team that instigated all of this because they believe the World Tag Team Championships are meant to be a gateway for them to create a bottleneck that solves all their problems... problems that they and they alone have continued to cause. I pray that they prove to us that they respect us as they claim to by giving us the kind of fight that is worthy of our titles, and that should they fail they accept that this was simply not their time. We aren't blind to the fact that Alex and Wil do not have very many wins to their name since coming to SCW but feel as though they are owed the world just because they demand it. Every team that the two of you have picked a fight with, all because you claim they disrespect this business, have managed to defeat you, proving that they do, in fact, belong here, and if all the two of you want to have going for you is senselessly trying to attack the roster like spoiled children until you get your way... then you can do your worst inside the Chamber, because we will pray for you to reflect on why that will not be enough to remove us from this spot and undo all of our hard work just so you can play dictators and spit in the face of everything we've worked so hard to build.”
“I pray for the European Fiery Nation, who have been given everything they could've ever wanted despite deserving none of it. I pray that the two of you understand that you no longer have any excuses to fall back on should you fail to defeat us once more. We have beaten you twice, the last time being in your kind of match and even with Konrad helping you, and while we aren't too thrilled about Shaun Cruze's interference in our favor, it was legal by the terms of the match and we adapted accordingly when the odds were evened. This time, you have your violence, you'll have the titles on the line, just as you've been complaining about for months at this point. I pray that you fully realize the gravity of this situation, because as we have said, we are not afraid to set foot in the Chamber no matter what sort of violence you promise to bring against us, because we promise in return that we will find a way to adapt and survive like the fighters we've always been. Dakon, Ludvig... we pray that you accept that senseless violence and limiting yourselves to purely hardcore affairs are not what is expected of the SCW World Tag Team Champions, no matter how much you believe otherwise, and you will come to understand and respect just how versatile you need to be if you believe it's your time to stand where we are now.”
“I pray for Chris Dumont, but not for the reasons he probably thinks. I pray that Chris understands that, while we may question his decision to do this alone, we actually respect him for it. We respect the drive and the passion to prove himself, just as we have sought to do time and time again. Heck, we've stepped back from pursuing these titles until someone we trusted told us she believed we were ready to be champions, we were willing to lock ourselves out of challenging for any titles at all until we proved we could defeat every member of the roster... yes, that sounds crazy, but it's proof that we understand why Chris has chosen to do this and we do not think less of him for that decision. That said, however... I pray that Chris understands that we are honorable champions who never back down from a chance to prove ourselves as well, and should things come down to just him and us he can decide which one of us he wishes to fight. That is not because we think lesser of him, but because it is only right to even the playing field so that he has no excuses holding him back from being able to prove himself in this Chamber. I also pray that he truly is focused coming into this match, because the last time our paths crossed he barely acknowledged us despite being champions and paid the price, and we fear he is already making that same mistake again.”
“Last but not least... I pray for us. I pray that we give you all the fight you want from us, the undeniable proof that we have earned the right to be called your SCW World Tag Team Champions and will give every last drop of our blood, sweat and tears to continue to stand at the very top of that mountain. I pray that we can continue to inspire everyone, both inside of SCW and beyond, to chase your dreams and do not be afraid to fight for what matters most to you. I pray that all of our opponents understand that, because we have never gone down without a fight and we never will. Under Attack has always been a special pay-per-view for us... it's around this time when we first debuted in SCW, it's this very show where we announced our return, it's the pay-per-view where we first became World Tag Team Champions, and this Sunday? It's going to be the night where we further define our own legacies, not in the shadows of those who preceded us, but on our own terms and by our own hands.”
“We wish you all a happy Día de Muertos, we thank you all for giving us a few minutes of your time on our wedding night to say what we needed to say, and we hope you are ready for an incredible night in Detroit come Sunday night. We promise to step up to the plate and prove that The Light In The Darkness is stronger than ever and surviving the Chamber will only prove that further... we hope that all of our opponents can promise the same.”
With that final declaration, the newlyweds retrieve their titles and slowly rise to their feet, nodding in acknowledgment and respect to the spirit of Luz's father lingering near his ofrenda before they hold their titles high, their hands joined together as they smile proudly as us to the raucous cheers of everyone around them who came to celebrate their marriage and this wonderful holiday as well. Despite the smiles, however, there is nothing but determination in their eyes, making one thing abundantly clear: they may feel like they're in Heaven tonight, but they are more than ready to walk through Hell inside the Chamber at Under Attack in Detroit if that's what it took to keep proving they were worthy of being called the SCW World Tag Team Champions.
![[Image: uKMzpho.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uKMzpho.png)
Tag Team Record: 28-11-1*
La Pequeña Luz Solo Record: 19-10
Amelia Blythe Nevado Solo Record: 14-9-1
*The tag team turmoil on the 9/14/2023 Breakdown is counted in this record as the three separate matches LITD had in the gauntlet up until their elimination.
Breakdown 3/30/2023 - Kim Williams' Trios Cash-In
La Pequeña Luz: 3 Falls
Amelia Blythe Nevado: 2 Falls
*Neither one finished high enough to win any championships in this match
*Result listed separately and not counted in records due to lack of clarity on how to count falls
SCW Accomplishments
SCW Television Championship (Amelia Blythe Nevado - 29 Days)
SCW Television Championship (La Pequeña Luz - 98 Days)
SCW World Tag Team Championship [3] (1 - 81 Days) (2 - 109 Days) (3 - 231 Days)
SCW United States Championship (La Pequeña Luz) [2] (1/Interim Reign - 94 Days) (2 - Current)
2024 Trios Tournament Winner (Amelia Blythe Nevado, w/ Xander Valentine and Billy Heaven Jr.)
2023 Tag Team of the Year
2023 Match of the Year (Kim Williams' Trios Cash-In)
2024 Tag Team of the Year