Ducky’s Birthday Bash!!!!!!!!

[SnowQueenSCW]

The Witches of Alden

”Lost”

Frost ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
October 23rd, 2022
1:10am

The lights were all out save for a nightlight or two strategically plugged into certain spots in the main floor to guide the young girls to the washroom. They offered a little illumination but nothing that bothered the sleeping children, Elsianna on the larger couch, Becky on the smaller one and Carla occupying the inflatable mattress Selena and Deanna had brought up from the basement. Their soft snores (least one of them was snoring) carried into Selena’s ears, the Snow Queen the only girl still awake. 

Her ears picked up the ticking of the clock in the kitchen and the one in the hall, only a fraction of a second apart from one another, as she lay on the wooden-floor near the couch her daughter slept in. It actually was her choice to sleep there, the hard surface reminding her of the nights she would sleep in her father’s mine, too tired from a dine of digging to walk the distance back to her house. Still, she didn’t want to think too much about that cave, where she had left Killjoy last she was there.

Lifting her hand up, the Snow Queen gazed at it, the pale skin and magenta of her nightgown only barely seen amidst the dim nightlight. So…this is a sleep over. She thought, not daring to risk waking up the girls as she turned her hand in front of her face. She had enjoyed spending time with her daughter and friends, and it was everything Deanna had said it would be. They had started off with a ‘make your own pizza’ for dinner (Selena making a small pizza with pepperoni and pineapple), followed by a few hours of Dungeons and Dragons (she had used the same elven cleric character she had used last time she played with Deanna and Jordan Majors), followed by a movie. By that time, Deanna had excused herself to go to bed upstairs, insisting Selena stay and sleep downstairs as part of ‘the experience’. With the girls growing more and more tired as the house trickled by, card games and horror stories (it was Halloween season after all) followed before the girls were asleep before eleven - poor things had thought they could stay awake past midnight.

And yet, as Selena lay there, contemplating on the night, things still felt off. First, she had already accepted that tonight would be little help in her match this Breakdown. There just wasn’t enough to go off of. The rules kept changing – now, it seemed, people were trying to join in without an invitation, just a onesie or something, so she wasn’t entirely sure who she would even be facing. And while Shaun had promised a world title shot at a ‘later date’, not even that could be guaranteed with how things had changed. In short, the Snow Queen didn’t know what to expect except for the attire and who was already invited. There are just some things you can’t prepare for. Deanna’s words echoed in Selena’s mind. She had slowly accepted that in the coming hours, which was why the uncertainty wasn’t what was keeping her awake. 

Rather, it was the certainty of something else. Something that had dawned on her the moment she had tucked Elsianna into the couch and checked on Becky and Carla before settling down herself.

I don’t belong here.

Quietly, she released a sigh, one of many this past hour as her eyes stared into the dimly-lit darkness, a sad, but sure, smile gracing her features. She was grateful to her wife and, especially, to her daughter for trying this but… it was just too late.

Sleepovers were for children. Meant to bring them closer together as friends. A time for them to play and feel free – as if it was some kind of new adventure. It was meant to be exciting… but only for children.

And I stopped being a child a long time ago… Selena thought sadly, knowing the exact time it had happened. When her father had disappeared when she was 12. When Santa Claus had failed to bring him back. When all her prayers could not do so. Sadly, that was when she had stopped being a child. It would take Deanna and Elsianna, and eventually David and Amiliah, to bring back her sense of wonder and joy and faith… but still… some things just couldn’t be brought back. Some things, like youth and childhood, were meant to be lost as one went through life.

This…whatever this experiment could be called – while the kindest of things given by her wife and daughter – just couldn’t fix or give back what Selena had lost. 

And that’s okay… With a quiet exhale, Selena sat up and quietly pushed herself up off the floor, standing up, only to lean down and kiss her daughter’s cheek. She would wake up in a few hours to make the girls breakfast, but now? The platinum-blonde mother quietly tip-toed out of the living room, across the hall and up the stairs, careful to avoid the ‘creaky spot’ on the third step that she knew was there. Within a minute or two, she was in her bedroom, just able to make out the direction of her bed, and the small figure wrapped under the covers. Closing the door behind her, Selena pulled herself out of her nightgown before settling under the covers, almost yelping in surprise when, the moment she had entered the bed, a pair of warm arms pulled her in, and a warm, naked body pressed against hers.

“Knew you were coming.” Deanna whispered, immediately making herself and her wife comfortable by lazily shuffling and cuddling closer.

Despite her surprise, Selena immediately felt her body relax in her familiar bed with the familiar lover wrapped around her.  “Did you?” she whispered, earning a slow nod from Deanna. 

“Figured, anyway.” She sighed. “I called home at my first sleepover around this time. Had Amy pick me up.”
“I thought…” Selena’s head turned a little. “I thought you said you had a good time.”
“I did.” Sighed Deanna. “But…some things you just can’t prepare for…”

Selena’s eyes widened in the dark at hearing those words again. She opened her mouth to ask what Deanna meant, but instead closed it, feeling her wife move a little as the redhead cuddled her, her skin a comfort against Selena’s.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” Deanna whispered, earning a slow shake of the head from Selena.
“I think it did.” Selena whispered. “Way I see it? I get to have all the sleepovers with you.” She teased, before leaning in and kissing her wife’s forehead.

“And if I wasn’t so sleepy, I’d show you the difference between a child’s sleepover…and a sleepover with your wife.” Deanna teased.
“Rain check.” Selena yawned before turning a little to hold her wife closer, savouring the warmth of their bodies. “But next time? Don’t answer any doorbell.”

“Deal.” Deanna sighed as the pair drifted off to sleep. “Next time… something…better be on fire…”

_______________________________________________________________

The Royal Letter

Nicole…Ducky…

I have to admit that I was relieved when I received your invitation. After…well… everything that happened at Apocalypse and then to be cold-shouldered by Dillusion the very next Breakdown, I was a mess of emotions regarding you. I can’t say I regret what I had to do at Apocalypse but I regret that it came to that. 

I told you that I would do whatever I had to do to ensure that Luna was defeated and wouldn’t hurt anyone. I don’t like Ravyn. I’ll go as far to say that I despise her for so many reasons – but she did not deserve to have her spine almost turned to paste. She didn’t deserve to risk becoming injured or worse at Luna’s hands. I truly hope that you understand that – least I think you did with the invitations.

But now? I still am not sure of things. And I am no longer relieved.

Because I don’t understand how you can be so reckless like this. Please understand, your innocence and creativity are both wonderful. They are beautiful things and they are beyond good and welcome in SCW and that says nothing of your wrestling talent. But as the days have gone by, I realize just what I am in for – and I can’t believe you don’t see it.

Or maybe you do… I am not sure who is REALLY at the driver’s seat for this and that is enough to put me on edge.

Because how could you invite Ravyn? After everything she put you through. For Odin sake, after torturing you – YOU, several of your alters, begging her not to force Luna out. She brought a TASER into that match – for the sole purpose of harming you! Do you remember that? How I pushed you out of the way and took that for you? I doubt you, specifically, will remember because it was Luna I blasted, but I know Ducky, Pro, and Nicole are smart enough to watch a YouTube replay video. And trust me, that taser hurt! What do you think she will bring in now as a ‘birthday present’? What do you think she will do to manipulate you to her side? She did all she could to unleash Luna onto me – and you want her near you again?

And while we are on the subject, what about Xander? I know he was your friend, but did you miss last Breakdown, where he tore Gavin Taylor, your former tag-partner and current friend, to shreds? Rewatch the match, hun! He trampled over Gavin and choked him out because all he cares about now is sitting on his self-erected throne as the world champion! And you want him near Gavin again? Near you? Near your friends? Do you not realize what he will do to you, any version of ‘you’, and them to get what you have dangled in front of everyone? Who he will tear apart to secure his place as the world champion?

But no! It doesn’t end there! Because then you make the invitations irrelevant and make it open for everyone in a onesie, which just brings in James Evans. Nicole! Ducky! Pro! James Evans hijacked a cage so he could injure Syren and try to end her career! And even if I let that slide as an ‘accident’, do you know who’s after him? Konrad Raab! The man with a mace that can slice open a damn turnbuckle. Are we supposed to forget how he almost sliced open my wife’s face a couple of weeks ago? You’ve allowed that to be brought into a match! And don’t get me started on the rest of Infamous that could get in on this just to get the title shot to Ravyn!

And while I am intrigued with fighting Datura, the idea of Kimberly? Yes, it’s the same old tune of ‘chaos’ and ‘Queen of the Deathmatch’ and ‘I don’t need the SCW world title’ from Retribution earlier this year – but the woman kidnapped several superstars! And with no rules set? We can just tack on all her weapons to the list of things being brought in. Pin the knife on the Ducky, anyone? Aaaaah!! What if someone gets hurt, Ducky?! Someone innocent like YUYO, who’s just trying to make a name for herself? Someone trying for a second chance like Datura?! Gods, what if YOU get hurt and I can’t be there to help you?!

*Sigh*

Do you understand why I am beyond scared and frustrated for this, Ducky? I’m not mad at you, dear, I’m scared. Because I’m one person. I’m one person that can’t take on everything. I’m not that arrogant to think I can. I barely survived Luna and Ravyn. I barely survived my wars with Xander alone. I barely survived Infamous. Every time, I go through hell to survive or to protect someone – someone just like you, Ducky - it’s never been easy and it’s never been simple. It’s always cost me something one way or another. My health, my emotions, something always ends up less than what it was before such a fight.

But now? You throw all this together without rules. Without an outline. Without considering the consequences. You haven’t considered what would happen if Ravyn brings out Luna in you. You haven’t considered what would happen if Konrad shows up, mace in hand. You haven’t considered what would happen if Xander wants to just make an example of you like he did Gavin. You haven’t considered ANYTHING! You’ve just dangled a world title shot in front of everyone and are letting the chaos in. You’re worse than Kimberly, Ravyn, and Xander right now and you don’t even realize it! Or maybe you do, I don’t know…

Gods… I should just say ‘no’. I should just walk away from this! I have an SCW World tag-team title match to prepare for! Do you know how much I’ve wanted that? How much that has meant to me?! How much I have dreamed of teaming with Deanna and becoming the SCW World tag-team champions as the House of Frost? You were tag champions with your best friend Gavin. Now imagine that with Anthony Wallace. Nicole! Imagine that amazingness! Does your heart skip a beat at the thought? Does it flutter thinking of teaming with the one person you love more than anything in this whole world? Does the idea of making Nicole so happy make you smile, Ducky? That’s how I feel whenever I think about being/teaming with my Deanna.

And now? I risk all of that because you’ve thrown together something that I can’t prepare for, Ducky. Something that you are constantly changing the rules for. I don’t know what else to expect. I don’t know who else will be there or what else can happen!

And every fiber of me is screaming that this is a trap of some kind, either by the hand of one of your alters, or will become a trap at the hands of some of the most intelligent and dangerous people you’ve invited into this! You think a onesie is going to dissuade Xander? Or Ravyn? It’ll only encourage Kimberly! And taking me out to ease their chance at Under Attack? Lexy Chapel would leap at that chance for her Farmstead clients!

I should just walk away from this and focus on what I do know and what I can control, like Under Attack! 

But I can’t. I can’t walk away from this, despite my instincts screaming at me to do so. And no, Ducky, it’s not simply because you’ve put a ‘world title shot’ as the party-favor for the ‘best dressed’ or whatever way there is to win. You honestly think I would endanger my wife and my chances at this dream for a shot at a title I am already owed a rematch for at some point down the line? No, dear, at first, I wanted to be part of this because I wanted to celebrate your good health. I wanted you to be surrounded by friends and people that care for you, and YES, that includes me! I wanted to hug you, apologize to you, and talk to you about what happened and why I did what I did at Apocalypse. I wanted this to be the ‘fun’ that I thought was so symbolic of you, both of Nicole Kinneck and of Ducky.

But now? I have accepted this invite and everything that is coming with it because, unlike so many people in this match, from Ravyn to Xander, I KEEP my promises!

I promised you both, Ducky, that I would look after you. I promised that I would do all I could to take care of you and protect SCW from Luna and the ‘monsters’ that roamed the SCW Universe! I promised that I would never back away from a challenge, no matter how terrifying it is!

And I also promised the SCW Universe that I would never abandon the SCW World title after spending eight months raising it to the level of integrity that Xander is poorly attempting to imitate. I gave my word that I would stand back and watch the world title exist without me to helm it because I believed people like Adam Allocco (though I despise him) and Gavin Taylor and Syren deserved a chance to reach that level, maybe even make it better than I ever could. And I want to see someone emerge out of the chamber and challenge for that title. I want to see someone earn that shot and continue to show what hard work and passion can do. Kimberly may just spit on the title and what it means to fight for its throne, but I respect it. I respect earning that shot. I respect those that work to do it!

But where does that leave me? Why win this match and take this shot as the reward when my heart is elsewhere with my wife and the tag-team titles? Because, Ducky, what better way to hold every person to the mark? What better way to hold every challenger and champion that vies for that title, even someone like Kimberly who ‘doesn’t need it’, then the reminder that ‘at a later date’, the longest reigning world champion in SCW history will be next in line?

Like the grains of an hourglass, the idea that any time, Selena Frost can cash in and get her shot. Can come in when the world champion disrespects the integrity of that title. It’s my way of keeping my fingers on the pulse of the world title and holding them all to the mark – just like I will hold everyone in this birthday bash, invited or otherwise, to the mark.

That is what tonight is for me, Ducky. It’s not a celebration. It’s not me trying to make a statement against The Farmstead Friends. I walk into this hornet’s nest willingly! Knowing the risk and dangers we may be in for but refusing to break my promises to you and to the SCW Universe. I will hold Ravyn, Xander, Kimberly, The Farmstead Friends, Evans… even you… and everyone else that decides to enter to the mark of integrity. I will not allow any monsters to invade SCW. I will not allow anyone to take the power of a future world title shot with the intent to disrespect the integrity of that championship.  

And I will not allow another Trios cash-in to end in chaos and destruction. Of that, birthday girl, I can promise you. Believe it!

Sincerely,
Selena Michelle Frost