Aaron Blackbourne vs. Shilo Valiiant

[SnowQueenSCW]

SHILO'S BIG TOP CIRCUS!!!

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The screen fizzles and the sound distorts, sounding off-pitch and haunting as it strains to continue playing, the graphic warping and twisting until the image has changed to something completely different. Before the audience's eyes now is a dark, cracked concrete, with crumpled leaves and ripped posters of 'entertaining acts' littering the floor. There is the sound of creaking chains and a warped, slow version of "Pop Goes The Weasel" as a merry-go-round is seen, unmoving as the camera focuses on some of the lights and horse heads.

Another shot is seen, this of an electronic 'Zoltar' fortune-teller, its eyes alight and its mouth moving but no sound is coming out. All that us heard is that warped "Pop Goes the Weasel" as the camera shot slowly changes again, this time to the inside of a dressing room. To the far end, there are three mirrors, each with a perimeter of lightbulbs surrounding it. There are masks of various shape and artistic design placed on mannequin heads or hanging on the walls, they blank holes for 'eyes' staring down at the man sitting at the central mirror, his back to the camera.

All around S-C-double-you, the artist chased the jester... he sings slowly, as slowly and haunting as the music, which is now revealed to be a warped jack in the box. The artist thought he'd figured it out till...

The jack-in-box suddenly pops open, revealing a twisted version of Aaron Blackbourne in one of his many 'persona' makeup designs. The second 'Blackbourne' is out, however, the man's closest hand reached out and catches it, crushing the doll and spring with a loud 'crunch'. Reigned the jester...

With a swift movement, the man smashes the doll and box into the closest mirror, shattering it into pieces! Slowly... Slowly, he turns in his seat, his head down and shoulder-length hair covering parts of his face. The shot shifts to the masks for a moment, an eerie, haunting sight, before returning back to the man.

I am Shilo Valiant. he declared simply. I am the jester so spoken of. I... Am the Man Who Laughs!

And how I have laughed at you, Aaron Blackbourne. Laughed and cried. Laughed and cried. the image of a comedy and tragedy pair of masks is shown, alternating with Shilo's words before the shot goes back to Shilo.

For you are the SCW's best kept joke. And, in the same breath, the SCW's saddest excuse for a wrestler. he tilts his head. Oh do I offend? Are you mad, Aaron? Is this where you stomp around in your little video and call it 'art'? Is this where you march down to the ring, declaring it your 'canvas' as you stand there and cry and whine about 'mean old Shilo'?

The Entertaining One shakes his head. If I wanted to see that, Aaron, all I need to do is go back to Rise to Greatness X where I beat the hell out of Syren, took the World title from her - and listened to her bitch and whine about it for the rest of her career. If I wanted to be dealing with another Syren...

Turning back to stare into the shattered mirror, Valiant runs a few hairs away from his face as he gazes at his cracked reflection. You know, you truly are an ungrateful child, Aaron. You've been nothing but ungrateful from the beginning. And despite my forgiving nature - despite me giving you chance after chance to make amends... You've just continued to disappoint me and everyone that wastes their time investing in you, haven't you?

Suddenly, the camera zooms into the cracked shards of glass, the shot warping and twisting as it becomes something, Shilo's voice narrating everything. Did you really think anyone was invested in you, Aaron? Even when you became Television champion? You were given the chance to earn their support. Earn their investment, and what happened? You choked and failed to become World Champion, didn't you? An event that would repeat, much like your antics in dealing with me.

You were a good mid-card boy. Good to have around while the majority of the audience need a match to skip to relieve themselves in the washroom. Good to have around when the champion needed someone to knock around to look good and dominant. Good to have around as a punching bag to get to your buddies like Owen Cruze. Footage shown of Aaron Blackbourne on episodes of Breakdown and PPVs, but it's all black and white and looks like a spotlight is fading on the poor boy until it goes dark.

The boy with some potential... With some kind of gimmick... But ultimately, for all his talent, didn't have the skills or the brains to know how to get the job done.

But I... the screen is black. I saw something different.

Immediately, the scene explodes with color as footage from Shilo Valiant returning to challenge Aaron Blackbourne for the Television Title on an episode of Breakdown. People are cheering and chanting Shilo's name as he gets in the ring and wrestles Aaron.

I saw a speck of potential. Something so similiar to when I was young and inexperienced in this business. If only it could be worked on. I believed in you, Aaron. So I bend down, picked you up, and let you play in my fame and spotlight. When the world rushed to their televisions to see if the rumours were true - if Shilo Valiant, the greatest entertainer in SCW history, was indeed back... I let you stand in that spotlight, Aaron. I let you be in MY spotlight so that, for a moment, the eyes of the SCW Universe were on you.

More than that, Aaron, do you honestly think I ran away from you that night?

The footage changes to Shilo sliding out of the ring, mid-match, and walking up the ramp, gesturing to Aaron and declaring him as 'someone to watch'. I, who have beaten practically every legend. I, who have accomplished nearly everything there is to accomplish? The man that DID beat Syren. DID main-event Rise to Greatness three times in a row... Running from you?

Your inexperience and arrogance blinded you, Aaron. And it was the first time I saw the cracks in your 'art'. For if you were a true 'artist', an 'entertainer', like myself, you would have realized the first rule of entertaining the masses. The footage is shown of Shilo smiling as he gazes at Aaron in the ring, who is confused by Shilo's antics. Always...leave them...wanting... More.

And more they wanted, Aaron. They wanted more of me... They wanted more of you! In five minutes, I had done for you what you couldn't do in your entire time in SCW to that point. I made Aaron Blackbourne relevant again! I made Aaron Blackbourne someone to watch, because if Shilo Valiant - THE Shilo Valiant - thought this Blackbourne was something special, than it must be true.

You know what SCW didn't put my history in RTG as "RTG moments"? Choosing people like Andrew Raynes and a losing Xander Valentine, instead? Because no one needs to be reminded about my success at Rise to Greatness, Aaron. It's gospel. It's legendary. It's defied time to the point that my name is on the top of SCW's 'numbers' when it comes to "The World Title Main-Event".

And how did you repay me? How did you repay this legend, this God of Entertainment?

The footage changes to that of Aaron Blackbourne standing in the ring, clearing yelling into a microphone, though no sound is heard.

You cursed me. You blamed me for YOUR short-comings. You blamed me for 'distracting you', causing you to lose when all I did was cheer you on like the fan that I was! Not once did I attack you. Not once did I go near you. I merely cheered for you - do you blame the thousands of fans in attendance that night as well? Those that I made cheer for you by making you relevant? Do you blame them, Aaron, for YOUR failure?

For a moment, the footage shifts back to the present scene, where Shilo, his back still to the camera, lifts a gloved hand and drags it across the cracked mirror.

Still, I continued in my mission to try and help you, Aaron. I tried to fine-tune your, supposed, 'creativity'. I kept you relevant by constantly showing up, keeping the audience in engaged. Because you, dear boy, for all your brags about being an 'artist' with 'unchained creativity'... For all of that, the world seemed to pick up your 'secret', as it were. Come in, get in the ring and yell and whine, wrestle and, nine times out of ten, lose. And if I happened to show up, blame Shilo Valiant.

You never realized how you, despite no success worth mentioning, was STILL getting attention. Was STILL getting talked about. Because of me. But alas, lesson two of entertainment: Never give them the same trick twice.

The shot changes back to the black and white footage of Aaron Blackbourne in episodes of Breakdown. Some are of him talking in the ring. Some are of him standing there. Some are of him wrestling and, usually, losing.

You seemed content in your generic formula, which included blaming me for your problems. So... I had to do the work. the shot changes to that of Datura, lying on the ground, beaten up at Retribution earlier this year. The footage, unseen until now, is shown of Shilo Valiant slipping on Datura's robe before shifting to reveal the robed figure standing in the ring.

I took down a dangerous woman, bringing her into our little set of lessons.

The footage than changes to a later episode of Breakdown, with Shilo sitting in the audience, taunting both Aaron, but also Jay Gold.I got the ire of an SCW Hall of Famer, and manipulated him into our world as well.

A graphic is shown of Aaron Blackbourne vs Jay Gold vs Datura vs Shilo Valiant at Cold Blooded 2020. I set up everything for you. For you to spring ahead of the pack, Aaron! To not only get your revenge on me - giving me the beating that your fanbase that I had built for you wanted - but also for you to claim victory on two Hall of Famers and the most dangerous woman since Regan Street!

The footage of Cold Blooded continues, showing Shilo, perfectly fine and conscious, lying on his back in the middle of the ring, looking right up at Aaron Blackbourne, who stares down at him. All you had to do was pin me.

The footage changes to Datura pinning Shilo and winning the match. But you couldn't even do that, could you, Aaron? Shilo's voice growls. Another FAILURE - YOUR failure.

Shilo is seen walking backstage, wagging his finger at Aaron, Datura and Jay Gold.

I was prepared to write you off then, Aaron. You clearly had the talent, but not the hunger or the smarts to use them to be entertaining like me. I had raised you up to something great! To be something great! To be... Well, perhaps as good as me! And at every turn, you let me down. You failed, you choked, you cried, you whined.

But lesson three of the entertainment? one of Shilo's masks is seen, and a gloved hand picking it up. Every crowd has a silver lining. A light laugh is heard before footage is shown of Aaron Blackbourne winning the number one contender spot for the World Championship at Fatal Fortunes. It was time for this old clown to learn something - or at least re-learn something. For suddenly, there you were, Aaron - my little project. My experiment, after elevating you, getting the crowd to pay attention to you. Getting other superstars to want to fight you! Getting LEGENDS to take you on... You finally began to show some promise. Finally, you began to pay me back, or so I had thought.

For there you were... the graphic of Bree Lancaster vs Aaron Blackbourne for the World title at Taking Hold of the Flame is shown. On the cusp of achieving what I knew you could do since the beginning. What I had pushed you towards.

And Aaron, I truly DID believe you in the beginning. And I truly believed in you again. Because I was ready to not only discard my pawn, Datura from the board... A shot is shown of Shilo nailing Datura with "The Broken Smile" and pinning her to beat her, the jester smiling as he does. But I showed you what else I was ready to give you.

In a flash, three different shots were shown, all of Shilo Valiant main-eventing Rise to Greatness three years in a row. I was prepared to win the Royale for you, Aaron, and in doing so, give you the main-event that would immortalize you. The main-event that defines Rise to Greatness. A main-event at Rise to Greatness with Shilo Valiant. My show. My land. My earned keep. I was prepared to give it to, Aaron. To, as I did before, share my spotlight with you and push you like I tried to do. I was giving you the WORLD, Aaron...

And all... You had to do... Was win the World Championship...

The footage is shown of Bree pinning and beating Aaron and retaining her title.
Win the world championship...
Bree is seen holding up her retained title.
Win the world championship...
Aaron is seen, his head lowered in frustration and sadness at his lose.
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS WIN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

The shot changes to the spotlight shining down right on Aaron after his loss.

In that moment, Aaron, I saw you for what you truly are.
Aaron's words echo as the footage stays where it is. My canvas is the ring.

You were no artist! You were no entertainer! You were a fraud! A charlatan! A joke of a man that saw me- Shots are shown of Shilo's various reincarnations and accolades in his past. Saw how I did it... And just copied my act! The 'unchained creativity' was not 'unchained' but 'unoriginal'! A brat trying to use my art, my entertainment and pass it off as his own!

Shilo is seen marching out of the Royale after being eliminated, no longer caring about it. I knew then what I had to do.

More shots are shown of the spotlight coming down on Aaron at various Breakdown episodes. Under the bright spotlight, I was going to destroy what I had raised. What I had created! I had given you fame. I had given you notoriety. Now? I was going to take it all away!

And I watched with delight as you were regulated back to your losing matches. As you were pushed back to dark matches - as you became, once more, nothing but an accessory to your friends. A minor attraction to the greater Owen Cruze and Kelcey Wallace.

Slowly, the footage changes back to the present. Through the cracked mirror, Shilo's eyes bore into his own reflection. But that wasn't good enough for me...

Footage is shown of Shilo sitting on a high-rise in the parking lot, looking down at Aaron and his friends.

I was content in my retirement, Aaron. I was fine with how I left things. I was happy with the mark I left in SCW. A shot is shown of Shilo, genuinely smiling and teary-eyed as he accepts his induction into the Hall of Fame. To end my career being inducted into the Hall of Fame? That was good enough for me.

But I came back because I thought I could help. I thought I could make someone be "the next greatest showman"!

But you denied me that, Aaron! With your failings and your lies, you took away my 'happy end to my career' and tainted it! You tied my name, my legacy to the waste of talent - waste of a man - that is Aaron Blackbourne! And I would be damned if I allowed my history, my LEGACY as the greatest entertainer in SCW to be tarnished because of YOU!

The shot fizzles and changes to the final Breakdown, with Shilo standing in the ring, dripping blue paint and grinning at Aaron.

So, tonight, Aaron... I will not raise you. I will not save you. I will not help you. I will not guide you. I will not promote you. I will not support you.

No... Rather, I will take back MY spotlight... And wipe your stain of existence from MY SCW! Various shots are shown of Shilo nailing superstars with The Inside Joke and The Broken Smile. I will erase the fraud that is Aaron Blackbourne! I will erase the embarrassment to the entertainment that is Aaron Blackbourne. I will erase the disappointment to SCW... That is Aaron Blackbourne!

The scene returns to the present, inside the dressing room as Shilo is suddenly standing, his clothes having changes from a black robe, to crimson red and black attire. Adjusting his clothes slightly, Shilo cracks his neck a little with a jerk of his head. I let you taste my generosity, Aaron. I let you taste the joy of my spotlight. Now? I will make you choke on having that spotlight and what little fame and credibility you still possess ripped away from you. I will STEAL the show from you and from every other superstar competing here tonight.

Rise to Greatness will be what it has always been about - the name Shilo Valiant. The Entertainment. And when it's all said and done, Aaron, and I finally fully expose you as the fraud - the failure - that you are... I, and I alone, will stand in MY spotlight... On MY show.

Lowering his head, the Man Who Laughs squeezes his right hand, causing red paint to ooze between the fingers. And I will leave you in the darkness, where you belong. Unwanted... Unloved... Unoriginal...

With a grin, Shilo smears the paint over the side of his face. The paint seemed to seethe and bubble, hardening to, somehow, form a red version of his skull half mask. For I am the only person that can entertain SCW. I see that now. Only Shilo Valiant can be "the world's greatest showman". And at Rise to Greatness, I will rise and prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

And you, fraud? You can be the one who makes me laugh... Shilo's grin widens as the spotlight forms around him, the rest of the room darkening to black. Make me laugh... he whispers before suddenly shouting. MAKE ME LAUGH!!! Ssssh! he shushes with his other gloved hand, his lands words a whisper as well.

Make me laugh, Aaron... Before I take it all away and leave you... he snaps his fingers and the spotlight blinks out, but Shilo's voice is still heard: a horrifying whisper...

In the dark... Ha ha ha ha ha...

His laugh fades slowly as the video comes to an end.