Frost vs. Turner vs. Valentine vs. Aries

[SnowQueenSCW]

The Royal Letter

The camera opens up to what appears to be a room with a single, red cushioned chair. Behind it are wooden walls, what appears to be some kind of warehouse or old studio. The simple design does its intended purpose, which is to draw focus to the centerpiece that is the chair. A moment passes until the sound of steps are heard, growing louder until a figure steps into frame. She wears a black pantsuit with her platinum-blonde hair tied in its iconic braid. Gracefully, she takes a seat in the chair, ensuring she is comfortable. Taking another moment, this time to inhale/exhale, she glares into the camera in silence…

Xander… she breathes, speaking the name of her target. Again… I have to come to you, don’t I? Slowly, Selena Frost shakes her head. Again, I have to be the one to make the effort because you’re just not willing to. No, you rather just hit the ‘best hits’ in your work – be it your wrestling in the ring or your promos – and call it a day, aren’t you? That’s the ‘best’ we can expect from you these days, isn’t it?

“I’m the standard bearer.”
“I’m going to destroy!”
“Nobody in this ring can stop me!”
“Everyone is just an obstacle in my way…”

The last one seems to stop Selena for a moment, the Snow Queen gazing away for a moment, as if to contemplate the idea, even wincing a little, insulted. Everyone, huh, Xander? EVERYONE is JUST an obstacle in your way? I can expect that kind of mentality towards Cid Turner. I can expect that kind of thought towards and from Aries. But you’re expecting me to believe that you stalked me backstage for months, demanding me to ‘cash in’ my contract on you, kept talking about me for months and months, hell – you sold out every promise you ever made and made yourself the biggest hypocrite in SCW… and you expect me to believe that it was just all for an obstacle? Selena tilts her head incredulously. That it?

Yeah, I don’t buy that. But let’s be honest, old man, even if you DO believe that – is that so much of a surprise? I mean, you’ve underestimated me since day one, haven’t you? Ever since this all began between you and me years ago. And despite all the times I’ve embarrassed you, knocked you out, sent you packing and all that, the fact that, at least publicly, that’s not changed for you – I mean, you’re just proving how stupid you are, Xander. How many times do I have to leave you in the ring, shocked and defeated? How many times do I have to get the better of you till you stop being too stupid to see the truth? Another six or seven years? Selena shakes her head. I don’t have that time and neither do you. That’s why I have to do this and talk to you. I gotta be the one to set Xander straight again.

Crossing her arms across her chest, Selena sits back against her chair, one leg lifting to cross over the other. Because all of this? All that’s happened? All that’s GOING to happen this coming weekend? It’s your fault, Xander. It’s all on you. No no! Don’t point at Cid! Don’t point at Gio and say it’s him or “The Fall of Man”. Don’t say it’s them ‘hoarding the title’ or me ‘trying to steal spotlight’.

Accept responsibility. Sapphire eyes narrow. That’s what ‘the standard bearer’ does, Xander. That’s what the captain of the ship does! Accept responsibility for where the ship goes. So ACCEPT it! Accept that this? All of this that's happened? It’s all your fault.

Because all you had to do was stay the course, Xander! All you had to do was be the world champion going into RTG. You want to say it’s ‘too hard’? I’ve done it FOUR TIMES. Four times I won the title, held it, and went into Rise to Greatness to defend it – so what’s your excuse?! Does that make me better than you? Oh please refute that so I can see your ego come close to bursting! Because how could I do something four times that you couldn’t even do despite me paving the way for you and staying out of your way?!

I mean... you really don’t have any real excuse in that matter, do you? Sure, you dropped the ball when you lost the title to James Evans, but then, ace in the hole, you had a chance to make it all right again! To fix things and reestablish your course. Challenge James Evans to a world title match and keep it one-on-one!

Giving a knowing chuckle, Selena snaps her fingers. Oh wait… you didn’t do that, did you? Oh no! You couldn’t do that, could you? You had to stack the deck so high against yourself! You had to be the ‘big hero’! To let your ego call the shots! That the same ego that made you think you could beat me and take me out of SCW for good so many times? That the same ego that said you’d take my head off or take my face off or turn me into a ‘shadow of SCW’ or… oh I don’t know… same ego that thought you could beat Frozen Hell in a damned handicap match?

Another shrug comes from the World-Ruler. See where I am getting the idea that you’re a dumbass, Xander? Because if you weren’t, you would have learned your lessons from the past! You would have learned from those humiliations and made the smart choice – the fair choice for yourself and for these people, the people you ‘claim’ to care about. But nope! Xander and his ego! “I’LL TAKE ON ALL OF FALL OF MAN BY MYSELF! I CAN DO IT!” Another laugh comes from the former world champion, the history known from such a choice made by the Executioner.

The reason I bring this up is because at this time of year – Rise to Greatness - you’re probably drowning in all of the noise of those people that cheer you. Of those people supposedly believing in you. But I am the voice of reality, Xander. And the reality is that, because of your choices … you lost. You dropped the ball again. But this time, YOUR choices got in MY way!

You honestly think that I’d have let Cid get the drop on me in the royale if you had succeeded? You honestly think that he would have beat me and eliminated me if I hadn’t been focused on you? Check the tape, Xander!

There you were, hanging by a thread – by your fingertips on the ropes – about to be eliminated by me when Cid saved you! Yeah! You heard me right. Cid SAVED you from me! Sort of like how Blake Mason saved you during the Trios Finals last year, didn’t he? You saw it! Saw how my team dominated yours the whole match – even Sharper and Knots admitted it. You saw it happening while you stayed in the ring. The man that hated when Simon Lyman and Amy Chastaine got involved in his business, when Kandis got involved in his business – talks a big game about wanting to ‘do it on his own’ – but didn’t bat an eyelash when he stood to benefit from that interference, did you?! Didn’t mind when Mason was piledriving me or Cid – NOT YOU – eliminated me from the royale, did you?

Clenching her jaw, Selena moves her leg back and leans forward, glaring daggers of ice at the camera. That’s why I called you the biggest hypocrite, Xander. Because you told everyone last time we fought for the world title that I was ‘saved’! Told everyone for months that Kandis ‘saved me’ from you! And that you would have destroyed me otherwise. But look at yourself! You’re the one that’s been needing saving when dealing with me! You’re the one that’s needed help when dealing with me! How’d you get me during my match with Asher, Xander? Huh?

Oh yeah! Interference AGAIN! Loved that one, by the way! You LITERALLY interfered in my match, while my back was turned, and stuck your nose in MY business - made the match a 3-on-1 handicap against me! But please, Xander! Keep talking about how you want people to ‘stay out of your business’! Go tell Simon and Amy how people shouldn’t ‘interfere in matches’ and let 'dominance' shine!

With a sad, slightly bitter laugh, Selena looks away to shake her head for a moment before returning her gaze back to the camera. You just keep disappointing me, Xander. Because it wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was supposed to be Selena Frost vs. Xander Valentine for the world title at Rise to Greatness. The two most dominant superstars in SCW this year fighting for the greatest prize in the game. The two most unstoppable forces in SCW this year killing each other for the world title! But when push came to shove? Xander Valentine sold out! Sold out his promises, his beliefs, hell, even his damned integrity. Took the handout. Took the protection. Took the shortcut. Took the ‘Plan B’ he had because he FAILED all of you!

Your ’hero’, ladies and gentlemen. Believe it! she gestures towards the camera with a pale hand. After a moment, she settles back into her chair, her hand lowering back to rest on her leg.

So where does that leave us, Xander? You and me? Hmmm? Because I’ve let you have your time in the sun. I’ve let you have your little ‘run’ with my world title. I stayed away and bided my time with MY contract, while you used yours like an idiot the second you lost the SCW championship. Just to keep score here, old man, that puts you in the same ‘intelligence’ as Josh Hudson, cause he did the same thing earlier this year, remember?! His ‘called shot’ got him nowhere too, which means you’re as dumb as he is! Cause look where he is now! He’s back to being a manager cause he couldn’t even last a year at the world title level – at MY level – by the way: called it! She smiles knowingly.

But I let you have your fun, Xander. I even pushed you to be the ‘hero’ for SCW! But instead of getting better, Xander, I’ve watched you only get weaker. I’ve watched you lose yourself, your toughness, your aura, your intimidation, I’ve watched it all go away until now? All I see is a man too scared to do what is necessary to keep his word. A man too scared to fail and too stupid to realize how weak he truly is!

You are living in a FANTASY, Xander! Don’t worry, so’s Cid and Gio, but you?! It’s been going on for MONTHS! This fantasy where you’re still that unstoppable behemoth from 2005! The man that tore the roster apart! The man with the undefeated streak! You’re STILL the Executioner in your dumbass mind, and you’re not! And you’re too stupid to realize it. Just like you’re too stupid to realize what you truly are now.

Her next words are colder, dissecting. You’re the guy that declares himself ‘the standard bearer’, right?
You’re the guy that tells all of SCW that you’re going to ‘fight for them and for the world title’, right?
You’re the guy that’s saying he’ll ‘save SCW from Giovanni Aries and the Fall of Man’, right?

You’re the guy… that’s trying to be who I was.

There is a brief flash in the screen before black-and-white footage is shown: various clips of Selena Frost, years back, fighting the likes of Monarchy, New Eden/Coalition, as well as meeting fans and celebrating with them, the present-day Selena’s voice heard throughout.

That’s what you’ve always wanted, wasn’t it, Xander? Ever since the beginning back in 2019? When you came out and accused me of trying to take ‘your spot’. When all along… you just wanted mine. You just wanted to be what you saw I had the ability to become.

And every year that’s passed? You’ve wanted it. And you first tried to stop me from getting to my full potential, then you tried to take me out of SCW for good, then you tried to break my spirit. Now? Now you’re just repeating the words I said back then and making the same promises I made against the likes of The Brand and The Coalition and Infamous. You’re just the guy that’s trying to be ‘The Next Selena Frost’, aren’t you? Because you can’t really be The Executioner now, can you? Can’t really be the guy that’s ‘unstoppable’ when you can’t win a chamber match or a royale on your own, can you?

Instead of bothered by the idea, Selena merely shrugs her shoulders. But you see… that suits me just fine. Because if you’re going to be what I was? Well, then that makes my job all the easier, Xander. Because I KNOW that Selena Frost. I know how to kill THAT Selena Frost. I was the one that did it the first time!

Wasn’t you or Cid and Giovanni when they did the whole ‘Brand’ thing. It was me. I KILLED that Selena Frost… which means I know how to kill you, Xander.

A cold, wicked grin breaks across the Snow Queen’s face. Yes, I am going there, Valentine! Because I am SICK of it! I am sick of hearing you say the same shit in every promo year after year! ‘I’m going to kill Selena!’, ‘I’m going to take her head off and put it on a pike!’, ‘I’m going to rip her face off!’, ‘I’m going to make her The Shadow of SCW’-

I am sick of it, Xander! she leans forward, gesturing between herself and the camera.

This! You and me! It needs to end! No more promises! No more fake-outs! I don’t care if there IS a peanut gallery of two in Cid and Giovanni! I DON’T CARE! I am sick of hearing you promise something and failing to deliver time and time again!

So if you’re the old me? Then I’m going to be the old you… which means I’ll be the one holding the gun to your forehead!

Her angry expression grows calm, but cold, matching her glare, which seems far more menacing than her anger a moment ago as she sits back in her chair. Listen to me very carefully, Xander Valentine. Because the old Selena would never say this to anyone…

This Sunday, I am going to end you. I am going to finish you. I am going to kill what you are. You want me to spell it out for you? I am going to KILL the career of Xander F’N Valentine!

There is a brief moment of silence as Selena’s words, and their implications, become clear. You have no idea what you have done signing that contract and holds harmless agreement… because now? Now, I can make sure that you can NEVER wrestle again! I will make it so that you can’t do anything with your children except watch them from your wheelchair!

Do you get it, old man?! I’m not just threatening your present, dumbass! I am threatening your very future! I am threatening to do what you have sworn to do to me time and time again and failed to do each and every time!

Closing her eyes for a moment, Selena allows a slow inhale and exhale before opening her eyes again. And it’s all because I hate you, Xander. I hate you just like I hate all of them. The SCW Universe. You want to know why I bided my time and waited till now? You spent so much time these months demanding to know ‘when’, your stupid-self didn’t bother asking ‘why’. Why was I doing all of this in the first place when I could have pulled a you/Hudson and just got my title shot, got back my title, immediately and called it a day?

Her jaw clenches at the idea. Because that wasn’t good enough this time around! Not with some cheap imitation of who I used to be running around and the SCW Universe eating it up! Nowhere NEAR good enough for me!

Because not only did you have my words in your mouth, not only were you protected by CHBK on a regular basis, handed opportunity after opportunity while I was given nothing despite being more dominant than you were, but you also had their – the SCW Universe’s – belief and love…

You… the man that smashed O. D.’s head into a car mirror.
You… the man that stalked my house and harassed my children.
You… who ASSAULTED SCW fans on purpose!
You… who took my sister from me…

The cold glare returns, striking the viewer hard. The number of people you’ve hurt – the lives you’ve RUINED – the damage you have done to SCW – to me!

And then what? You promise them the Wild, Wild West, and you can’t deliver! You’re just the loser to the Fall of Man! You fail them time and time again! And in spite of it all, all your failures and wrongdoings… THEY forgave you! Just like they forgave Cid all he’s done! They forgave you and embraced you and said ‘Be our hero!’.

Her voice trails off for a moment before she shrugs her shoulders. And what about me? she tilts her head, yet her voice carries a hint of hurt. I disagreed… once… on a call. On some stupid thing with a Trios Contract years ago. I didn’t attack the boss! I didn’t ruin someone’s life! I didn’t injure someone and take away their career! I didn’t betray anyone or hurt children or went after their families! I didn’t lie or cheat or ANYTHING! ! I just disagreed with one assessment of the titles of SCW.

What was the result? the hurt disappears, replaced by the cold hatred she’s held. What was my punishment for not agreeing this one time?! Their unending hatred! Their demands to see me leave SCW! Their deafening boos as I – for a simple OPINION – became the most hated person in SCW!

And, despite it… I kept trying to do what was needed and what was right!

With a bitter laugh, Selena falls back into her seat. They wanted me out of SCW? I left.
They begged me to come back? I came back.
They begged for integrity in the world title matches? I forced it to happen for them!
They wanted dominance? I gave them the longest world title reign in SCW history!

Slowly, Selena shakes her head. And it wasn’t enough! They still booed me. They still hated me!

When I fought in the chamber and won it to bring some validity to this ‘Wild, Wild West’ BS? They booed me.
When I fought for my wife- she winces, catching herself. For Deanna! They booed me.
When I fought for my child – my daughter that Mason harassed and targeted?! her jaw clenches. They still booed me!
When I put my rematch contract on the line against Kristen Scott - risking it all! They still booed me.
When I bloodied the despicable Blake Mason. They still booed me!

I gave them EVERYTHING! I sacrificed EVERYTHING for them! While you played hotfoot with Konrad Raab, shook hands with Josh Hudson, and made excuses with your failures! I pushed the Wild West forward! I MADE it something valid in SCW! Even if it cost me EVERYTHING I hold dear in my life! My marriage! My home! My kids! Turning away, Selena forces herself to calm before returning her eyes back to the camera. And they still hated me… while they forgave you each and every night…

A bitter chuckle is heard. Giovanni was right. SCW is ugly. The SCW Universe is ugly… but simply playing keep-away with a title wasn’t going to show them that. Nor would some rip-off of ‘Past Selena Frost’.

But this Sunday? a slow, cold smirk crosses the Snow Queen’s features. I will show them everything, Xander. See, not only will I kill off the ‘wannabe’? I’m going to kill it all. I’m going to kill off the Wild, Wild West. I’m going to kill off the ‘experiment’ that Hudson brought in last year that he couldn’t even see through. I’m going to reveal how ugly you and SCW truly are under this ‘current direction’!

And when all of that is done and ended? I will readjust SCW into the direction it SHOULD be going. The direction you weren’t good enough or ‘heroic’ enough to make happen. The direction it NEEDS to go!

Keeping her smirk, the platinum-blonde tilts her head. Unless, of course… you can stop me.

The smirk becomes a sinister grin. What do you say, Xander? You finally going to make good on your promises? Or is this going to be another empty promo of yours that amounts to absolutely nothing? Because I did not wait a year to break MY word! I didn’t wait a year to make all of this right to fail! I didn’t wait a year to miss MY killshot!

So this Sunday, Xander? You’re going to have to have your head on a swivel. Cause it won’t be just Cid and Gio looking to take you down and out. It won’t just be an ‘obstacle’ looking to ‘get in your way’.

It will be the REAL Selena Frost! The woman that’s outlasted, surpassed, and wrecked you time and time again. The woman that holds the tools to kill what you have pretended to be for too long, ‘hero’!

And you, Xander, you will have a choice to make. And in the simplest terms, that choice will be: Kill or be killed.

Sitting back in her chair, the cold calm returns to Selena’s voice. Because one way or another, old man – I swear to you – ‘Selena Frost’ is not going to make it out of Rise to Greatness alive!

The deadly glare persists as the smile widens knowingly. Believe it! is all she says before the camera slowly fades to black.