Happy Farmstead Friends vs. Light in the Darkness

[Wisteria Waltz]

With a new year about to begin, you wouldn't be faulted for thinking that the stress levels of many wrestlers would be at an all-time high. The pressure of starting the year off on the right foot and making a statement about what you plan on making out of a new set of 365 days would arguably produce some rather tense words meant to convince everyone that this person or that wrestler would be the one to keep all eyes on going forward. These statements, however, were often double-edged swords, as talking a big game only to be unable to deliver on any promises you make would either break someone or drive them to desperation, just as making good on those words would increase the pressure of trying to live up to those lofty expectations being set.

Sometimes, a moment of levity is needed to remind the world that these wrestlers are just as human as anybody else.

Perhaps that's the explanation for the scene we find ourselves looking at. A large sofa in a rather nice-looking living room certainly gives off a warm and inviting vibe. On that sofa, however, sits the tandem known as The Light In The Darkness. Considering Amelia and Luz have made no secret of their relationship, maybe it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to find them cuddling together as a means of trying to keep each other relaxed and composed before they get down to business. What makes this sight surreal, however, is their choice of attire, considering both women are decked out in adult-sized animal onesies. Amelia, in her white cat onesie, looks like she's on the fence about doing this despite her blush being a dead giveaway as to her decision on that matter. Luz, adorned in a purple otter onesie that matches the colors of her current mask, is just wearing the kind of grin that could probably light up the whole room on its own.

“Luz?”

“Yes, mi gatita?”

Amelia's blush seems to deepen at the affectionate name, but she clears her throat and tries her best to regain her composure. “Why are we doing this in animal onesies?”

“What? We can't try to be part of the Happy Farmstead?”

“I don't think it's as simple as that, mi amor.”

“Ah well, points for trying,” Luz says with a shrug. “Doesn't change the fact that we're going ahead with this because, to be honest, it provides the perfect counterbalance to the burdens that usually come with starting a brand new year. Everyone's always making resolutions and reflecting on how they ended the previous year so they can make this one even better, but the problem is how easily people can lose themselves in the process. We get it, you want this year to be better than the last or you want this to be the year you finally win championship gold or break out and become the star everyone's been hoping you'd become. I'm not saying it's a bad thing to want any of those... what is bad, however, is when you throw yourself at making any of it a reality so hard that you ultimately just create a self-fulfilling prophecy that will make this year seem like the last, leading to the exact same resolutions being made, and the vicious cycle begins anew.

Amelia and I have fallen into this trap so many times over the years. Don't get me wrong, we want 2023 to be a statement year for us considering we haven't really gotten to show much of what we're capable of in the overall short time we've been active between our two runs so far, but we've found it's easier not to make any promises because it's only going to cause us to crash and burn when the stress begins to mount. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, and if that means doing something a little more light-hearted like saying what we need to say while wearing onesies, then we'll do it because it's a part of who we are that we'd otherwise lose if we started to spiral trying to push ourselves too hard in pursuit of some goal that we may or may not achieve this year. We've both still got long careers ahead of us, after all, and we'll prove ourselves eventually, so why force anything this soon if it's not meant to happen just yet?”

“To Luz's point, we weren't expecting much to close out 2022. I mean, we officially re-signed back at Under Attack, so to expect that we'd be an immediate threat to anyone that quickly would have been foolish. We were perfectly fine with starting over and working our way back up, especially after spending so long building ourselves back up when we were put on the shelf. This was always meant to be the year we really put the pedal to the metal on that goal in whatever form that takes, whether it be us becoming tag champions or one of us holding singles gold or even just proving that we're comfortable being back in an SCW ring again so that one of those things could become the next goal we strive for. We're sure that some of you out there are watching this and grinding your teeth, thinking we're not taking this seriously not just because we wanted to dress like our favorite animals as a means of keeping our thoughts anchored, but because we're not like anybody who is already crumbling under your self-designed burden of 'I will be recognized at the greatest talent SCW has to offer before this year is done' or something along those lines. We know who we are, we've been wrestling long enough to know our potential and limits, and we feel comfortable taking baby steps and seeing what the year brings us.

That said, we do recognize that fate gave one of us a chance to try and come into this year with a major opportunity under our belts despite us not being back for very long, and just like with the injuries that cost us both a tag title opportunity and a while of not even being able to compete at all, it slipped through our fingers not because we simply weren't good enough yet, but because of other factors.”

Luz lets out a frustrated sigh as she briefly pulls the hood of her onesie down so that her face is hidden behind that of the otter face sewn upon it. Amelia gently reaches over and rubs her shoulder, softly saying something in Spanish that isn't audible enough to be picked up completely, but it seems to do the trick as Luz pushes the hood back up enough to show her masked face. Gone is the bright smile that she started with, and in its place is the kind of focus that one would expect to see when business is at hand.

“Don't get me wrong, I was well aware that the team I was a part of weren't exactly heavy favorites in the Trios Tournament that all you betting folks out there were expecting to ride to a nice little payday. Considering Calvan, Penguin and I were facing the new world champion, a manipulative witch whose own accolades can't be ignored and one of last year's Trios winners, I honestly would have been fine with the loss if it was because they were simply the better team. Yeah, I had high hopes because my team managed to gel pretty well leading up to that Breakdown while Nicole and Ravyn wasted no time in trying to tear each other apart as opposed to attempting to make it work temporarily, but I'm not one to get upset if I wasn't the better competitor on that night because it gives me something to learn from for the next time our paths cross.

Unfortunately, my team found itself eliminated not because we weren't the better team, but because Lexy insisted that Bear get involved and it caused this whole scene that got us disqualified.

Lexy, for someone who's managed to prove herself as a successful manager over the past year or two, why would you think it was a good idea to cheat on our behalf when our team was clearly in control at that point in time? Penguin and I had a plan to keep the momentum in our favor, and the next thing we know, Bear's being shoved into the ring to start this whole domino effect that leads to him attacking Nicole to 'defend you' and costs us that opportunity in the process. Was it just the fact that you were starting to put together some new conspiracy theory because the sight of Penguin managing to work together with someone that wasn't his usual partner wasn't sitting well with you? Never mind the fact that him needing to work together with Calvan and me was the whole point of Trios? I don't recall Ames over here having any sort of issue with me clicking with some new partners to make that work, so it just baffles me trying to figure out what on earth you even thought you were trying to do.”

“Lexy can try to spin some sort of conspiracy web about SCW screwing Penguin out of Trios like the whole mess she created with the End of the Year Special and Penguin's world title opportunity, but the truth of the matter is that the only two people to blame for why my partner's Trios team was eliminated are her and the Dancing Bear. Her trying some harebrained scheme doesn't surprise me because that's basically all she does to keep adding fuel to the fire that is this idea that SCW is intentionally trying to screw her somehow.

Bear, on the other hand... I get it, you're Penguin's friend, and the idea of him finding success with other people probably didn't sit well with you even if that's just how the Trios draw worked. Maybe once upon a time, I would have thought that same way seeing Luz drawn into Trios while I stood on the sidelines. The fact of the matter is that you not only cost my partner, hence why I yelled at you after the referee made his decision, but you also cost your partner. Think about it... if Penguin, Luz and Calvan had won the tournament and those contracts, what's stopping your friend from using it to maybe get you two another immediate tag title match, or maybe bring your show to a live SCW pay-per-view again, or even using it to give you an opportunity all your own out of appreciation for being such a good friend? The sky was the limit for the two of you, and all you had to do to get to that point was support him and trust in the people he was teamed up with, like a good friend should.”

Amelia pauses for a moment, seemingly putting on an emotionless mask that creates a stark contrast to the attire she's currently sitting in. Luz looks over to her and sees that something is clearly on her mind and goes to take over speaking, but as she opens her mouth Amelia gently takes her hand to draw her attention again, and the look in her eyes seems to be all the message Luz needs as she just nods and lets her girlfriend keep the floor.

“Bear, I need you to understand something. Yes, you and Penguin are tag partners, and more importantly, you're best friends. Having spent time with him while he and Luz were trying to form a cohesive bond to take into Trios for the sake of their team, I can say with absolute certainty that Hairless Penguin is a great guy who wants to make something of himself in this business, and we can't help but respect that. More importantly, he wants to be able to share that success with you. With or without Lexy, Penguin has made it clear that he wants you to be by his side no matter what because he cares about you that much. That's a true friend... the problem is that I don't know if you fully understand what it means to have someone like that as your friend. The fact that Penguin felt the need to have to try and sneak around you and Lexy to bond with Calvan, Luz and myself because he was afraid of how you'd react told me everything I need to know.

You, Dancing Bear... you're venturing into the territory of being a toxic friend.

I hate having to imply that's the case, but to someone like me, who fell into that category against my will growing up because I came from a family that insisted I only hang out with friends they handpicked for me that met their impossibly high criteria, I know the signs. Over the past few months alone you tried to exploit an injury to win back the tag titles when Penguin was clearly not comfortable trying to win like that, you got his Trios team disqualified which is the main reason this upcoming match is even happening as soon as it is... you even made it clear you're more in support of Lexy stealing the world title belt over her conspiracies than you are of Penguin just wanting to give things a try his way. Penguin deeply values the friendship he has with you and what you've accomplished together thus far... if you value it just as much as he does, you might want to reconsider how you've been treating him recently because if you two keep walking this path and nothing changes, then the next fork in the road you find could very well see you taking opposite paths and yours will only bring about remorse for what you've lost and might never be able to get back.”

Amelia takes a deep breath and lowers her head so the cat hood can hide her face. Luz, knowing full well she had a moment of personal trauma slipping into her message, gently drapes an arm over her shoulder and pulls her close so Amelia's head can rest on her shoulder. While she takes a moment to collect herself, Luz takes over.

“I want to be clear about something... we hold no ill will toward you, HP. After getting to know you for the short time we spent together preparing for Trios, we understand who you are and respect the kind of wrestler and person you want to be. We don't even regret training with you to help you reach the level you want to be at. I'll let you in on a little secret: Amelia and I had two matches against each other before we became friends and tag partners, and even after we started learning each other's craft and what we had evolved into what it is today, we've still had moments where we've faced off in that ring. Every single time, we've been more than happy to test one another holding nothing back when that's happened because it only helps us to get even better, and we want that to be the case here. We don't plan on holding back, and we want you to take what you learned from us and use it to put up the best fight you possibly can, no regrets, because win or lose it's going to go a long way in helping you to keep building yourself into who you truly want to be.

This match is, honestly, the first real test Amelia and I will face after coming back to SCW, and we want to be able to walk into that ring and throw down with the former tag champions who held those belts for most of the previous year. We want to be able to test ourselves against a team that's hungry to get back in the hunt to try and reclaim those titles because that's going to show us if we're ready to take the next step in our journey or if we still have work to do. Penguin, we want you to bring the fight to us like you did to Owen to prove that you very well deserve to be a world champion someday. Bear... we want to hope you're able to bring the kind of fight that proves you know how to weather the storm we're bringing to pay you back for screwing Calvan, Penguin and I out of Trios. We know how huge it would be to win our first match of this year, especially over the former champions themselves, and we fully intend to leave New Orleans with our hands raised in victory. It's nothing personal, but we do hope that lessons are learned out of this, both for the sake of your friendship and the rivalry we hope to have in the hunt for tag team gold.”

With that, Luz leans her head over onto Amelia's as the two let go of their focus on the task ahead of them and opt to simply enjoy a moment of peace together, knowing that it will be vital to making sure that when they do meet the Happy Farmstead Friends for their first SCW match of 2023, they can honestly go into that match at their absolute best not only physically, but also mentally.

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While Breakdown is roughly an hour away from starting in New Orleans, somewhere in California the promotional videos leading up to the show have caught the attention of one woman in particular.

Specifically, the video shot by The Light In The Darkness.

Watching the video on her laptop, the face of Ivy Plume shifts as she watches someone she never believed she'd see again and silently hoped that would truly be the case as she opens up alongside someone else. Her friend Gage Parker was also listening to the video while trying to put some plans together, and he watched Ivy carefully as they heard Amelia pour her heart out over part of her past. When the video finally ended, Ivy just slowly closed the laptop and leaned back, letting out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

“That can't be the same girl I once knew...” she mumbled to herself. “It's not possible... is it?”

“People can change for the better Ivy,” Gage offered. “You won't truly know unless you try talking with her. That doesn't excuse the fact that she did hurt you, though, and it's up to you to dictate what happens next if you do decide to reach out.”

Ivy can only nod as she reflects on what she just watched, trying to figure out if it was time to shelve her hatred of the woman she once called her best friend to hear her out and get some long overdue closure on the whole thing or not.