Dark Fantasy vs. Light in the Darkness vs. Twisted & Sadistic

[Wisteria Waltz]

OOC: Just to avoid any potential confusion since I forgot to clarify this when the character was initially introduced, Avery (the FBI agent who's been helping Luz and Amelia) is nonbinary and goes by they/them pronouns, so my usage of those when referring to that character is intentional. Also, this ended up being a lot longer than I'd planned, and ideally I could've and should've split the CD in half, but time has not been my friend this week so this is how we're rolling with this. All of that said, I wish Matt, Randy and Alexis the best of luck and this whole feud has been a blast.
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When playing the role of Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone once said: “It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”

It's safe to say that quote has become the creed by which La Pequeña Luz and Amelia Blythe lived their lives by at this point.

The past month had not gone too great for them, to put it mildly. The feeling of their win over Dark Fantasy at Body, Heart & Soul being tainted by late interference, the loss of their World Tag Team Titles to Twisted & Sadistic only for Dark Fantasy to ruin their moment, the hurricane of problems that the couple feel like they've been caught in because of all of this that not only had a hand in costing Luz her TV Title but also costing Amelia a potential win over Syren on the most recent Breakdown... every single setback has weighed heavily on the minds of Amelia and Luz going into Retribution, where they know full well they could fall short once again and have to climb the tag team ranks once more.

It's not a prospect that bothers them, to be honest... if anything, it would be a challenge they would happily welcome with open arms.

The biggest issue hadn't been the mounting losses, considering the tandem know full well how stiff the competition in SCW truly is. If that were the case, then they wouldn't have kept picking themselves back up and going right back to work to right the ship. No, the problem that had been frustrating them to no end is just how chaotic everything had gotten and how much it was throwing them off despite their best efforts to adapt to it. Simply being Tag Champions had ultimately put them right in the middle of an escalating issue that wasn't simply going to be solved in the ring between Dark Fantasy and Twisted & Sadistic, namely Brittany Lohan. The Light In The Darkness weren't going to simply be caught in the crossfire and then be ignored as though they hadn't been screwed over several times by this whole mess, though, hence the triple threat World Tag Title match at Retribution that, with any luck, would put this whole issue to bed once and for all, regardless of the outcome.

It was easier said than done, and not just because Luz and Amelia knew full well by this point how good all of their opponents truly were. Retribution itself had felt like a cursed event for the couple ever since their first run with the company, considering this had been the pay-per-view where they had both been injured during a bid to become number one contenders to that tag team gold and ultimately felt the best move was to step away from SCW until they felt they were good enough to take another shot. Their failed attempt to become champions at this show last year against the Frosts only further fueled the specter lingering over their heads about this particular show, but they knew it was just one more challenge they would have to fight to overcome.

Being where they were now was a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and it was always darkest just before the dawn.

That was why the couple had decided the best course of action in the week they had leading up to the pay-per-view was to take a detour out to Bridgeport, Connecticut and visit Marilyn's wrestling school. Obviously there were plans on getting some training in and seeing if there was anything they could add to their arsenals that might help turn the tide and give them that little extra push to show both teams that they could continue to evolve as competitors, but the couple would be lying if they said the idea of also offering a helping hand to a new generation of wrestlers looking for that opportunity to break into the sport wasn't extremely tempting. Maybe it was a bit early to be thinking that far ahead given they were both still in their mid-20s, but it was their way of also trying to reopen the discussion about other matters they'd had to put on the back burner because of the other lingering issue that rested in the back of their thoughts.

Marilyn Clauson certainly had to admit that she was surprised at the events unfolding before her very eyes, even if this had been a suggestion of hers in the first place. Seeing Luz and Amelia happily teaching an impromptu class to her students with such enthusiasm warmed her heart, especially knowing full well what both girls had endured just to reach this point in their lives. They had even gotten their friends in on things, effectively creating one of the most impressive wrestling workshops she'd ever seen. Word seemed to have also spread, because her school had also seemingly accumulated several new students in just one day, something she actually had nothing to do with despite knowing full well how to market herself and what she could teach to aspiring wrestlers.

“You know... this brings back fond memories...”

Marilyn turned her head, a bit surprised to see that Avery was standing right beside her, a smile on their face as they seemed lost in reminiscing about the past.

“Heh, I guess it does...” Marilyn grinned. “It feels like forever ago when we both first met at a big wrestling workshop and took our first steps into this sport. Kind of makes me miss the days where we got to stand atop our own little tag team mountain together.”

“I still have a photo from our first shoot as champions together framed in my office.” Avery glanced over at Marilyn, who looked surprised by that revelation. “I'm allowed to keep mementos of happier times to help me remember why I do my job, Marilyn.”

“I wasn't going to argue against that.” Marilyn held up her hands in defense as she took a step back. “I guess I was just surprised... then again, I'm surprised you actually answered me when I first called you for help for these girls and what they'd gotten dragged into, but I guess that's probably more to do with that nutjob Caleb.”

“That was why I committed to helping you, but it had nothing to do with why I was willing to hear you out in the first place,” Avery told her as they looked back to Luz and Amelia, who seemed to be giving a live demonstration now regarding some new combinations they were testing out. “It was surprising to actually hear from you again after how things ended between us, even if you weren't calling about us and what happened back then.”

“I knew if anybody could protect them in ways that I or anybody else can't, it would be you,” Marilyn replied immediately. “I know I can be stubborn and I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this isn't about me. Those two... they're honestly a lot like what we could've been, they've proven they're able to solve their problems in far healthier ways than I ever could, and they don't deserve to be fighting a lunatic who won't let go of some outdated belief about how everything and everyone should be. There's only so much I've been able to do in my own fight against the guy and look at how much it's cost me. They don't deserve to have to make those same senseless sacrifices, especially when all they want to do is wrestle and make a life together... like I should've wanted...”

Avery scanned Marilyn's face carefully as she finished, wanting to be absolutely sure that what they'd just heard from her was the truth. To say they were surprised that she seemed to mean every last word was an understatement, but as Marilyn turned away to look at Luz and Amelia again, they began to put the pieces together. Thinking back on how much enthusiasm Marilyn seemed to have whenever she spoke with Avery about these girls and what they were capable of, not to mention the raw desperation they recalled from that initial phone call that solidified the FBI's involvement in trying to bring down Caleb White and his Empire, it was clear that she saw these girls almost as surrogate daughters in a sense. Given how much they'd seemed to take to her as well despite meeting out of the blue on a whim, Avery was honestly impressed with what they'd seen come of it.

“Those two have really changed you, huh?” they couldn't help but say as they placed a hand on Marilyn's shoulder, causing her to simply grin in return.

“What can I say? It's hard not to like them once you actually get to know them,” she responded, her smile fading with her next words. “And everything they've both been through.”

Avery simply sighed and nodded in agreement, having seen the files and heard everything from Camila and Darius that they could ever know about the respective childhoods of both women and how much pride they had in just trying to be themselves through it all. They had to admit, the fact that these two were still forging ahead and having impressive careers for themselves despite everything they'd endured both growing up and at the hands of The Empire in the past year was nothing short of impressive. The fact that Caleb, in one form or another, had a hand in a good part of what had happened in Luz and Amelia's lives would have broken lesser individuals and ultimately brought them under his control. The man was far too good at playing puppet master, knowing exactly what to say or do to get into anybody's head and twist their thoughts until they were believing in the cause he wanted them to believe in.

That reminder made the fact that The Empire had been way too quiet ever since the exchange that ultimately led to the death of Ryan Lumis far more unsettling.

They were snapped out of their thoughts when they heard people shuffling about around them, realizing that the students were beginning to disperse so everyone could have a break before more teaching and training could be done. They and Marilyn took the opportunity to head over to the ring that the couple were standing in as they grabbed some water and discussed what to do next, with everyone in the found family ultimately converging on that ring.

“I have to hand it to you two,” Marilyn called to them with a proud grin, “this was a brilliant idea. I don't think I've ever seen my humble little school be this packed before!”

“The fact that we're getting a chance to actually share what we know and help future wrestlers develop is something I never thought I'd enjoy so much!” Ivy exclaimed, wearing what may have been the biggest smile anyone had seen from her in a very long time.

“Seriously,” Edward chimed in. “Great idea sis and future sis-in-law.”

“Aw, it's not THAT big of a deal,” Luz laughed.

“We just thought it'd be something nice to do to help out,” Amelia added. “Plus, it gives us a chance to keep our heads clear so we don't push ourselves too hard. That's definitely going to blow up in our face if we want to snap this losing streak we've been on lately.”

She and Luz exchanged looks that the others quickly realized was a silent conversation between them, which had them all smiling at how well the two of them had seemed to bounce back after everything. There was still a bit of concern mixed in, given that the two of them really deserved a chance to step back for a little bit to fully address everything, especially Ryan's death before their very eyes, but they had been doing a much better job of opening themselves up and talking through their feelings with those that cared about them to get the support that was keeping them going in the face of all of it.

“Fair point,” Valentina cut through the momentary silence. “Given those looks though... are you sure you and Amelia aren't thinking about something else, sis?”

Luz and Amelia both went bright red at the implication, and everyone else couldn't help but laugh as Luz started sputtering to try and respond, ultimately stammering out something in Spanish that sounded barely comprehensible even to those who understood the language.

“What's going on over here?” Lily called as she approached the group, having been busy with a phone call for the past little bit and only now joining back up with everyone.

“Nothing, Lily,” Marilyn laughed. “Just giving our little lovebirds a hard time because they might be thinking about a 'next generation' of their very own someday.”

“It's...” Amelia started to respond before pausing to look at Luz, another silent conversation happening between them to make sure it was alright as everyone else calmed down and gave them a chance. “We know it's probably way too early to even start thinking about anything like that, especially since we're still trying to figure out what to do for our wedding. But, the idea of having someone who calls us both 'mom' and being able to give them all the love and attention they deserve, the chance to help them grow into their own and figure out their life and what they want to do with it...”

“If you want my honest opinion?” Emily jumped in before Amelia could start derailing herself. “I KNOW you would make a much better mom than Ophelia, Ames. And Luz will be right there with you every step of the way, supporting you just as you'll support her on that journey if and when you decide to take it.”

Everyone else nodded, with Avery and the Clausons exchanging concerned looks over just how deep these emotional scars truly ran for Amelia after how her parents raised her. There was even concern for Luz, who had witnessed her father die right before her very eyes and ultimately fell out with her mother for several years in the aftermath of it. Perhaps the thought of looking into therapy for the two of them wouldn't be a bad idea if they could find someone up for the task... ideally someone who they could keep out of the crosshairs of The Empire, who they knew would gladly jump on the opportunity to hurt someone else if it meant prying further into these girls' lives and thoughts.

As everyone else began to reassure the young couple that they were just teasing them in good fun and knew they would make great parents someday, Lily noticed Ivy step back and not join in on this, her eyes glued to her phone as she seemed to be furiously texting someone. With an eyebrow raised, Lily couldn't help but step over to her.

“Everything alright, Ivy?” she asked, startling the girl for a moment.

“Oh, Lily, sorry...” she nervously chuckled before recomposing herself. “I'm... not sure, to be honest. I just got a text from Henry...”

Lily's attention was immediately ensnared as Ivy turned her phone so the former Empire member could see. Despite Henry's admittedly atrocious texting style that made it clear he wasn't too used to actually doing so (which wouldn't surprise her after that poor boy spent so long being molded by Caleb), the text spoke volumes. It was a warning, an insider tip that The Empire was making some sort of move right now on Marilyn's wrestling school. He wasn't sure exactly what was going down as he'd been left out of the planning, but the warning to keep their guards up was unmistakable.

“Excuse me, Miss Luz and Miss Blythe?”

Everyone turned to the sudden interruption in all the conversations to find two individuals who had broken away from the crowd of students who were still on their break to approach the ring. The one who had spoken was a rather small woman who even Luz and Amelia towered over, while the other was a monster of a man who stood tall over everyone else.

“My friend and I were wondering, if it was alright,” the woman continued, “if we could maybe have a sparring match with the two of you? We were kind of hoping to break into the business as a tag team and wanted the practice, and it would be an honor to both get that practice against the two of you and also, maybe, help you out in practicing for your own big match coming up.”

Luz and Amelia exchanged glances for a moment before nodding to one another as Luz turned to address them. “Of course! Get on in here, you two!”

The mountain of a man easily lifted his partner onto the apron so she could step into the ring before he climbed in as well, effortlessly stepping over the top rope. As the two sides began to converse, Lily narrowed her eyes from where she stood, something about this not feeling right to her. Her gaze was mostly focused on the woman, who looked and sounded familiar but was doing a very good job of disguising herself if she was. Something about her, though, was setting off alarm bells in her head, and she was desperately trying to grab hold of any memories that would confirm her suspicions.

“So,” Amelia began to ask, “what are your names?”

“Well...” The woman pointed her thumb up at the behemoth towering behind her. “His name isn't really important. As for me? You can call me... Kiki.”

As she said that, she turned and glanced over at Lily, who saw the briefest flash of a smirk before she and her partner began to pull some cloths that had been tied around their necks up over their noses. It was that reveal that caused everything to click for Lily, who went pale as she began trembling in both anger and fear at who had brazenly waltzed into her sister's wrestling school knowing full well she was outnumbered. The fact that they had only now covered their faces, though...

“Lily? Are you alright?” Ivy carefully asked.

Lily ignored her, however, suddenly realizing what was about to happen.

“Luz! Amelia! Get away from them now!”

Everyone turned to Lily, but her warning came too late. Before anyone could make any moves, the behemoth had pulled a canister out of a satchel he'd been concealing before letting it drop and roll towards the couple, where it began spewing gas everywhere. Luz and Amelia immediately began coughing and trying to cover their faces as the others began trying to pull them out of the ring, only for Kiki to drop a few more canisters that also began unloading gas, creating a thick fog around the area that forced the group to quickly back away to avoid being caught themselves.

Luz and Amelia remembered hearing screams and a lot of chaos happening around them at that point, but not only was their vision obscured they were also growing drowsy. As they dropped to their knees and held each other tightly, trying to grab hold of any sort of strength to power through this, the last thing they remembered seeing was Kiki and her titan approach them, the little gremlin grinning under her face cover.

“Pleasant dreams girls... The Empire's dreams are about to finally come true,” she confidently stated.

Anything after that became a blur as the couple finally collapsed to the canvas, unable to fight the forced sleep taking hold of them any longer.

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A groggy haze hung over their heads, but Luz and Amelia slowly found themselves waking up after a dreamless sleep. In the time it took for them to slowly get their bearings and shake off the drowsy feeling, a few things started to become apparent to them.

They weren't in Marilyn's wrestling school anymore.

Wherever they were, it looked like some kind of warehouse.

They weren't tied up or restrained or anything like that, allowing them to freely cling to each other as they tried to figure this all out.

Perhaps worst of all... they were alone.

The last thing they remembered was preparing to have a tag team spar with this small woman named Kiki and a much larger man, happily wanting to help them prepare to break into the business as a tag team while using the chance to get some practice in themselves, especially since the silent juggernaut seemed like a fair comparison to Brittany Lohan and finding larger powerhouses to spar with so they could better prepare for whatever she could throw at them hadn't been easy to come by surprisingly. The next thing they knew, they were breathing in what they could only assume to be some sort of knockout gas as they tried to pull themselves out of the ring, only for Kiki to taunt them about...

“No...” they both uttered in horror as it began to sink in.

“Ah, good, you're both awake.”

That calm, knowing, sinister voice only made the dread worse as they swore they could feel icicles begin forming along their spines. Wide eyes turned in the direction it had emanated from, and their worst fears were confirmed. Slowly approaching them was none other than Caleb White, offering them the kindest smile he could muster which only made their skin crawl. Kiki and her behemoth followed close behind, with the latter dragging a chair with him. Once they were close enough, he unfolded the chair so Caleb could carefully take a seat.

“You two did well today,” he told them. “Now... why don't you go and make sure our little meeting doesn't have any unexpected interruptions?”

Kiki and the man nodded before taking their leave, though once she thought they were far enough away they could see Kiki starting to get all giddy and doing a little happy dance while saying something to herself. Caleb simply scoffed and shook his head.

“Poor little thing doesn't even realize how much of an abomination she truly is, and yet she devotes herself so thoroughly to my cause and tries so hard to earn my admiration,” Caleb coldly stated as he turned his attention back to the couple. “She may not know that she will be among those purged in the saving grace I will bring to all, but sometimes the best sheep in the flock are the ones who are willing to wholeheartedly sacrifice themselves for the greater good... whether they know it or not.”

Luz and Amelia simply looked at Caleb with unbridled disgust. Even if they hated Kiki for what she had just pulled and the fact that she was so thoroughly devoted to this monster, they couldn't help but feel sorry for her because of how thoroughly she was being deceived and manipulated, seen as nothing more than a useless pawn in this man's greater endgame. For him to speak so lowly of her despite that twisted devotion and the work she was putting into it... even if there was the smallest shred of hope that maybe Caleb could be redeemed somehow, that just stomped it out like someone squashing a bug beneath their heel with such excessive cruelty.

“We're not joining you,” Amelia vehemently spat, wasting no time in cutting to the heart of what she and Luz both knew they were brought here for.

“Jumping the gun a bit, aren't we Amelia?” Caleb chuckled. “Perhaps I merely wanted to speak with the both of you? Trying to meet with THE Amelia Blythe and La Pequeña Luz seems to be a challenge these days unless you're a part of their inner circle, so I apologize for the drastic lengths I needed to resort to just to have this opportunity.”

“Save the flattery,” Luz growled back. “There's only one reason you'd ever want to talk with us, and we all know you're not changing our stance or getting into our heads and turning us against the world that only YOU have a problem with, so let us go!”

Caleb simply tilted his head, that unnervingly generous smile still plastered to his lips.

“I'm sure by now you've both noticed that you're not bound in any fashion,” he stated. “I'm not holding you hostage... that would be counterintuitive to why I brought you here. It would be quite rude of me to seek a simple conversation with you and not allow you to be comfortable while we talk.”

“We're not comfortable being in your presence, period,” Luz bluntly responded as she tried standing up. She and Amelia looked around and noticed that no one looked like they were around to stop them, and Caleb himself wasn't budging from his seat. If anything, he simply crossed his legs and continued to display the patience of a saint—a thought that made them want to vomit considering they knew the man was anything but, despite his own beliefs.

Luz took Amelia's hand and helped her to her feet as well, the two of them leaning on one another as they still felt the lingering effects of the knockout gas from however long they've been out cold. Once they were steady enough and took one last look at Caleb to see if he was going to try anything, they began to walk away.

“I apologize for simply wanting to offer some help in reversing your fortunes in the ring.”

They both stopped at that, knowing full well they shouldn't turn around and engage the man after a remark like that, but the tone he said it with... they both knew that combination all too well and how difficult it was to fight the urge to respond to it at all. They gripped each other's hands tightly, a quiet gesture to draw strength from so they didn't give in, but the hesitation that stopped them in the first place was all the opening Caleb needed to continue.

“I've been watching, you know. You two work so hard out in that ring... harder than anyone in that company, to be perfectly honest. You put in so much effort to be the best Tag Team Champions you could possibly be... only for it all to be ripped away because nobody seems to respect any of that.”

Amelia bit her bottom lip, but it wasn't enough to keep her from responding. “We lost those titles fair and square to a team that was better than us on that night.”

“Were they, though?” Caleb asked. “Can Glory Braddock and Brittany Lohan truly claim they were the beter team on that night when they took advantage of the fact that they knew their actions from the pay-per-view were weighing heavily on your minds, clouding your judgment and throwing you off your game?”

“The only thing that threw us off going into that match was what YOU did to Ryan!” Luz snapped back with a raw fury that would have surprised Amelia for how out-of-character it was coming from her fiancée... if she wasn't feeling the exact same anger and hatred bubbling beneath the surface herself.

Caleb, however, was unfazed. “I did warn you girls that your actions and decisions would have consequences... I cannot be blamed for the fact that I was simply following divine orders to remove an obstacle from my Empire's path. Perhaps, had you been more willing to hear me out beforehand, he could've been saved. That, however, is on your hands... not mine.”

The madman couldn't help but smirk even wider at how much effort he could see the girls exerting to restrain themselves from trying to attack him. Whether they realized it or not, they had played right into his hands and were now his captive audience, and all he had to do was keep pushing the right buttons until everything was right where he wanted it to be.

“I'm afraid we are getting off-topic, though,” he continued, further aggravating the tandem with how easily he dismissed their truthful claims. “It doesn't change the fact that the two of you, despite trying so hard to fight against the chaos all around you, ultimately allowed it to affect you and cost you dearly. Even you have to admit that this is a trend that has continued far beyond even your accusations against me. The Television Title, the match with Syren... both losses that could have been avoided if you didn't allow yourselves to be sucked into the tornado of chaos that has made it clear none of your opponents at this upcoming show have the respect for this business that they may claim to have. At the end of the day, it is all about the gold and the glory to them... nothing else. And those fans encourage all of it, entertained by the unpredictable and the barbaric as opposed to the purity and skill that wrestling once represented.”

Luz and Amelia looked at one another, shuddering at the fact that they knew his words held some weight to them. Even disagreeing with how he was phrasing it and what they knew deep down he was fishing for by presenting it in this fashion, they unfortunately had to admit that he wasn't wrong. Whether it was his actions he was refusing to fully admit to or the hurricane that was the beef between Dark Fantasy and Twisted & Sadistic they had unfortunately gotten caught in the middle of due to their status as the now-former World Tag Team Champions, all of it had impacted their focus despite their best efforts to rise above it all, resulting in their lack of momentum heading into their toughest challenge to date.

“Why don't the two of you have a seat and we can discuss this whole situation in a civilized manner?” Caleb offered, gesturing to the admittedly out-of-place black leather couch the girls had woken up on and only now fully realized was there.

“We'll stand, thank you very much,” Luz quickly responded, squeezing Amelia's hand as she saw her love start moving to take the offered seat as if her body was on autopilot. Amelia offered a quiet thank that Luz flashed a quick smile to before they were both glaring at Caleb again.

“As you wish,” Caleb scoffed while leaning back in his chair, further irritating the girls with how dismissive and nonchalant he was being with all of this. It wasn't unlike any of their past encounters with the zealot, but all of those had come in situations where it seemed easier to ultimately get under his skin because they had him on the back foot in some fashion. Here, he was in full control and he knew it, meaning it was going to take every last ounce of willpower they possessed just to try and not lose themselves to his manipulation.

As both sides quietly stared one another down, they took the opportunity to try and piece together the scenario in their heads. All they knew was that they were in some sort of warehouse who knows where in Bridgeport, assuming they were even still in the city at this point. They had no idea how long they were out or what had happened to their loved ones after the knockout gas had been deployed. About the only other thing they knew was Caleb's implication that Empire members were keeping watch for any 'uninvited guests,' meaning that Caleb likely wasn't stopping them from trying to leave because he knew they couldn't... not without having to fight their way through a potential army first.

The realization of the full scope of how much control Caleb had here rattled them to their cores, though they did their best not to show it. At this point, their only hope seemed to be indulging him to buy enough time for help to come, especially since Avery's presence at the school meant the FBI were no doubt combing the city at this point trying to find them.

“Let's say for a moment that you're right,” Amelia tentatively restarted the conversation with all of that in mind. “What exactly would you be able to do about it? You're not part of SCW, nor is whatever part of this Empire that's still wrestling and not essentially religious terrorists at this point.”

“There's still plenty of time before Retribution for me to sort that out, especially with a good word from the both of you,” Caleb replied, the sickening sweetness in his words putting even Ophelia Blythe to shame. “Even still, I wouldn't dare to do anything that would further drag the integrity of the sport of wrestling down like those other two teams have with their constant squabbling. I would simply offer a presence in your corner to help guide you to what you desire, provide you with a safety net that would make sure everyone understands what wrestling should truly be all about and eliminate all the unnecessary chaos from the equation entirely.”

“You mean by having The Empire get involved on our behalf?” Luz accused as she shook her head in disbelief. “Doesn't that seem hypocritical to what you're trying to preach?”

“It honestly reminds me of James Evans, especially after he came back...” Amelia lamented, earning a one-armed hug from Luz to help keep her grounded and remind her that it was an accident.

“You call it hypocritical,” Caleb carefully responded, “but is it any more hypocritical than Glory Braddock claiming she respects the integrity of this sport and then refusing to condone the actions of her partner because she 'doesn't control her'? Or perhaps it would blindside you if any of them felt the need to call you both hypocrites just because of what Luz did on that previous show?”

“I was protecting Amelia so she could keep her focus on a clean match with Syren!” Luz defended herself.

“And I believe Ravyn has made similar claims regarding that woman, just as Brittany has with Glory,” Caleb pointed out. “The point is, you took their bait and you paid the price for playing their game.”

“Like with what you did to Ryan?” Amelia growled, not regretting throwing that accusation back in his face once more.

Caleb simply rolled his eyes before standing up, looking down at the girls with a cold, calculating expression despite the smile that lingered on his scarred and wrinkled features.

“You can use that against me all you want, but at the end of the day I'm simply offering to help the both of you become far more than you could ever be right now,” he explained to them. “You both fight because of your love for the sport, the respect you have for what it means to you, and the desire to share all of that with those fans. But people are fickle, and there will come a time when they will stop caring about what you have to offer them because it no longer fits with their changing perceptions of what the business should and shouldn't be about. When that time comes... what will you do when those fans turn on you because they no longer respect your passion? What will you do when your bosses no longer want you to succeed because your presence clashes with the direction they wish to go in? When you are asked to either change who you are or lose everything you've worked so hard to gain... what then?”

His words sank in as he could tell Amelia and Luz were heavily thinking it over. Truth be told, while they didn't have the full story and didn't want to feel like they were prying into matters that weren't there, what Caleb was describing sounded eerily similar to what had happened to Selena Frost recently. The decade she had spent fighting for an SCW she could be proud to wrestle in, all thrown back in her face when the fans grew tired of it and it seemed like everyone preferred to embrace the likes of Kandis, Asher Hayes, Ace Marshall and Ravyn Taylor, simply because the chaos and uncertainty they introduced was exciting and felt like the investment to make at the moment. In fact, the last time Selena had truly been praised and respected by those people had been this exact point in time last year when she and Deanna had put on a clinic with the two of them. Since then... Selena had walked away from SCW, ultimately to return having embraced all the hatred thrown at her as she fought to force the change she wanted through politicking and conniving acts rather than staying true to herself and trying to get the results she wanted through actions and skill alone.

She had given in to her inner darkness, caving under the pressure when it became too much to ignore. The temptation had been there for Luz and Amelia as well so many times over the years, but they had always managed to fight against it. And now, here was Caleb White, trying to spell it out for them in order to get his version of The Light In The Darkness... a corrupted version that was a shell of everything that name stood for and everything that made these two women who they truly were.

“I was in that position myself,” Caleb continued when the couple remained silent, “and my response was to fight this evolution with one of my own, embracing what God has given me in order to fix this broken world and all of His children who have lost their way and risk being too far gone. I am offering you the keys to His kingdom, the chance to achieve that eternal divine glory by doing the right thing and evolving the right way, taking the fight to those who will eventually stab you in the back because they no longer believe in you before they have the chance to do so.”

“Was that your justification for killing your own brother and his wife?” Luz suddenly cut in, and in that moment, the atmosphere around them noticeably changed.

“...I have no idea what you're talking about,” Caleb tried to save face, but Luz and Amelia knew they'd found an opening and were not going to let him take control of the situation again.

“Everything you just described to us,” Amelia added, “is something we've been watching happen to a woman we respected for a very long time. Selena Frost has changed from being the kind of competitor we always aspired to be into this self-professed 'devil' because somehow, someway, something about all the changes within the past year found a way to get to her and slowly broke her down brick by brick until she felt the only way to fix it was to betray herself and embrace the monster everyone made her out to be.”

“We could say the same thing happened to Simon Lyman,” Luz continued. “We don't know what happened in his personal life that made him into what he is now, but it doesn't change the fact that he refused to address it in a healthy way and instead lost sight of who he truly is, blaming all of it on everyone around him instead of taking fault for any of his own actions that may have contributed to his decline.”

“In you, we see the very worst example of what becomes of someone who loses sight of their true self and thinks the answer is throwing it all away,” Amelia pressed onward as she and Luz slowly began closing the distance. “Your issues were entirely based on the sport you loved changing in a way that you disagreed with. You could have evolved your style to better match with these changes, still able to put on incredible matches without compromising whoever you may have been once upon a time. You could have forged ahead, defiantly showing anyone who hated you for not changing that your will is stronger than theirs and you don't have to completely change to be who they want you to be or do what they want you to do.”

“You took it too far,” Luz jabbed. “Religious beliefs are no excuse to justify what you've done to people, the lives you've destroyed all just to get your way. It was never your fault in your mind, it was everyone else's and the only way to fight those changes to you was to try and declare some sort of holy war on the world for not being what YOU want it to be... not God, YOU and YOU alone. YOU killed your brother because he dared to disagree with what you became and refused to give in when you demanded he throw away what made him happy just because it wasn't what YOU wanted.”

“YOU promised my parents power and status greater than what they already had by convincing them that I should belong to you before I was even born,” Amelia fired off.

“YOU took my father's life and scarred the version of wrestling that means so much to myself and the people I grew up with because all of it flew in the face of YOUR vision of how it was all supposed to be,” Luz tacked on.

At this point, both women were now within arm's reach of Caleb, locked in a tense staredown with the zealot who sneered but stood his ground. The whole situation was akin to a powder keg just waiting to explode, but Luz and Amelia didn't care.

“I am Amelia Blythe,” Amelia stated with determination. “I am my own woman, I love who I love and my choices are mine and mine alone to make. I love the person I've become and I refuse to throw any of that away because I have already lost myself once, and I will not put myself through that again.”

“And I am La Pequeña Luz,” Luz followed up with a fiery passion. “I am my own woman, I love who I love and my choices are mine and mine alone to make. I am proud of who I am and everything I've accomplished without having to bend to the whims of others simply because they don't understand or care.”

“We are The Light In The Darkness,” Amelia kept going. “A name that means so much more than just trying to be that beacon of hope for the wrestling business.”

“And even if things change and the world turns against us, we will remain true to ourselves,” Luz finished. “Because we've survived those moments in our lives once already by not compromising our true selves, and that means there is nothing you, or anyone else, can say or do that will break us.”

Silence began to take hold once again as the tension became so thick you'd need a chainsaw to try and cut through it. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Caleb simply huffed.

“You two truly insist on being lost causes,” he spat, any sense of composure starting to disappear. “I am sorry that I could not show you the true light and save your souls... and I am sorry for this.”

In the blink of an eye, Caleb moved with a speed that was unnatural for a man his age, and Luz and Amelia could see the glint of the jagged dagger that he suddenly produced that was pointed right at Luz's heart. Amelia had moved to try and take the blow instead, only for Luz to try and protect her by refusing to budge. Ultimately, neither one of them felt the sting of the cold steel, ultimately causing them to temporarily lower their guards as they saw Caleb struggling to move the dagger any closer.

Not with Henry trying his best to tie the man up in a chickenwing crossface despite their height difference.

“Henry!?” Caleb growled as he tried to squirm free. “What are you doing!?”

“Making up for every mistake I ever made while I let you mold me into your perfect little doppelganger and erasing everything that made me the son of Paul and Martha Clauson!” Henry grunted as he fought with everything he had to keep his uncle restrained.

“You ungrateful little-” Caleb spat as he managed to slip his arm free. Luz and Amelia watched in horror as he managed to swing his arm back, the blade of the dagger cutting across Henry's face and causing him to drop to the floor. Their bodies went on autopilot, and the moment Caleb turned his attention back to them while he tried to pull himself together, the two of them threw everything they had into stereo punches that dropped the lunatic with a sickening crack that echoed throughout the warehouse.

It was shortly after Caleb had dropped that the girls heard what sounded like gunfire erupting from outside, but they did their best to ignore it as they rushed over to help Henry up, who was bleeding profusely from a deep cut across his face.

“Are you girls alright?” he asked.

“Are WE alright!?” Amelia yelled. “You're bleeding pretty bad Henry! He got you with that dagger!”

“What were you thinking!?” Luz followed up as she glanced over at Caleb, whose nose was clearly broken as he seemed to get his bearings and realized he'd lost control of the situation.

“I wasn't going to let him hurt you,” he told them with a bit of a laugh. “Everything you said to him was right... and he deserved it after everything he's done.”

“Another lost cause,” Caleb suddenly cut in as he pulled himself to his feet, clutching the dagger tightly as he glared at the defiant trio while Amelia and Luz rose to form a human wall in front of Henry. “I truly had high hopes for all three of you... and now I'll have to save this world without any of you to pass it on to.”

“Good luck trying to do anything of the sort from a prison cell,” a voice furiously called out, and in a matter of moments, Avery had appeared with their gun drawn, flanked by Darius and Evie as well as several other FBI and NCA agents. Every firearm was trained on Caleb, every possible way out he could take was blocked off, and several agents had even moved in front of the trio to make sure he didn't try to take anybody down with him. His eyes were darting around wildly in desperation, but even he began to realize the futility of his situation.

“Caleb White, you are under arrest,” Darius stated with a finality that ultimately had Caleb actually drop the dagger and raise his hands in surrender.

Everything that happened after that was a blur to the couple. They know they helped the agents get Henry out so his wound could be treated, confirmed that while the cut was bad it wasn't anywhere near fatal and would, at worst, simply be another scar he could add to the collection. Their loved ones were all relieved to see that the couple was alright and unharmed, which they honestly had to thank Henry for. At the end of the day, Luz and Amelia could walk away knowing that despite every single valid point that Caleb made, every word out of his mouth that was laced with enough truth to make them believe that his offer was the solution to all of their problems, they had stood their ground and refused to compromise what made them who they were... even if it could have very well cost them their lives.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Luz had a feeling her father was looking down on her from Heaven, proud of the little girl he'd brought into this world and the connections she'd forged that had guided her and her beloved through the darkest of moments and past the greatest of threats.

There was no guarantee that it would result in them parlaying all of this into getting their World Tag Team Titles back at Retribution, but at least for now, Luz and Amelia could take comfort in the fact that they were finally free. Caleb White had lost... and no matter what the true end result would be come the pay-per-view, The Light In The Darkness were going to walk away with their heads held high, knowing that they'd won in one form or another.

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We open up to find ourselves looking at what appears to be an entire wall of televisions, each one playing something different. As we take a closer look, a theme becomes apparent as every single match or interaction that's playing involves some combination of Twisted & Sadistic, Dark Fantasy and The Light In The Darkness. After a moment, we pull away from this video wall to find ourselves in a room that's illuminated only by the golden hue of the sunrise outside that spells the beginning of a brand new day in the city of Glendale, Arizona, the sight of the 2024 incarnation of SCW's Retribution pay-per-view. Two familiar individuals are seated before the video wall, studying every last bit of footage in great detail. Decked out in their wrestling attire, Amelia Blythe and La Pequeña Luz display a familiar focus, and yet, something about it feels more intense than we've usually seen. Maybe it's the desire to get their titles back, or maybe it's something else entirely. Whatever the reason, their focus only breaks when they stand up and push the chairs aside, turning and waiting for us to reposition ourselves so that their backs are to the wall of monitors, the footage continuing to play out as they stand there, bathed in that golden hue of dawn, looking ready for war.

“Coming into this year, The Light In The Darkness was on top of the world, there is no denying that. World Tag Team Champions, named the Tag Team of the Year for 2023, Luz had her Television Title reign she was also in the midst of... last year, we overcame a lot of hurdles just to get to that point. We had several opportunities that we'd fallen short of, we had moments where we could've made a name for ourselves slip through our fingers, we even willingly chose to isolate ourselves from any consideration to even challenge for the World Tag Team Titles again for a time, willing to put our fate in the hands of someone who we respected, someone who had personally challenged us to prove how much we truly wanted this and how hard we were willing to work to earn it.”

“Even when we finally reached the top of the mountain together, becoming the World Tag Team Champions at long last... that wasn't the end of the journey. I kept pushing myself with my Television Title reign week after week, just as we put ourselves out there for all comers to step up and give us their best shot so that we could be the kind of honest, hard-working, fighting champions that tag team wrestling deserves to have. We fought our hearts out to get to that point in only our first year back in this company... not bad for a tag team that had their confidence so rattled by serious injuries sometime before that we honestly felt the best course of action was to step away and rebuild ourselves to try again.”

“That said, we are not standing here as the World Tag Team Champions at this moment... several weeks ago, after we managed a successful defense in a rematch against Dark Fantasy, we were bested by Twisted & Sadistic. We're not ashamed to admit that they were the better team on that night, nor are we ashamed to admit that, for the most part, they've had our number any time we've crossed paths. Plain and simple, we embrace the fact that there is someone out there we just haven't really been able to beat because it gives us a goal to aim for, another reason to just keep pushing ourselves to get better with each and every match so that we can continue to elevate ourselves, chasing that challenge and leaving our own mark on the pro wrestling industry.”

“The problem is... we've found ourselves in the crossfire of a war between two teams who have a lot of issues with one another, mostly stemming from a past that had been dragged back to the surface. Now, if this had stayed a civil affair regarding who challenged us when while we were still champions, then maybe we wouldn't be here right now. Perhaps we would have cleanly beaten Dark Fantasy once again only to fall to Twisted & Sadistic, and that would have been the end of it. In that scenario... as odd as this might sound to all of you considering CHBK has made it a point to honor rematches of former champions, which is partly how all of this began in the first place given that Dark Fantasy had the rights to such against us, we would have actually opted not to have ours honored. We would have taken our loss to Glory and Brittany and accepted that we need to go back to the bottom and earn our way back to the top, and maybe if they were still there by the time we reached that goal, we would have grown and evolved enough to finally be able to overcome that hurdle that kept tripping us up and take our titles back.”

“That, however, is not the scenario we're in... therein lies the problem, the whole reason we ultimately opted to ask for this in the first place.”

“And, to be perfectly honest... you, Brittany, are one of the biggest reasons why this hasn't turned out the way you wanted it to.”

The couple exchange glances as the monitors behind them suddenly shift, all of them now focusing on playing clips focused on Brittany Lohan during the past few months, namely her penchant for simply trying to break others for even the most minor of slights against her or even Glory. Luz and Amelia actually glance behind themselves at this, sighing and shaking their heads before returning their focus to us.

“We get it Brittany, we really do... you hate Ravyn Taylor with a burning passion, you want nothing more than to be the one who proudly says you ended her career, got one over on her. If that's what you desire, then as much as we disagree with the idea of resolving wrestling issues in a non-wrestling fashion, we have no right to stop you. The problem is that you think you have any right to just tell everyone in SCW that this is what you want and that's exactly how it's going to happen, or else. You, despite knowing Ravyn as well as you claim, were the one who fell for her obvious bait when you tried to boot her in the face and caught me instead before Body, Heart & Soul... even then, we didn't hold that against you because we knew that a win over Dark Fantasy would give us the chance to pay you back for that the right way.”

“Instead, you decided that you just had to send a message to Ravyn by interfering in our match and ensuring that Ames and I won... not that you cared about tainting an accomplishment of ours because it had nothing to do with what you wanted. Yet again, though, you played right into Ravyn's hand, giving her a reason to pull the stunt she and Syren did that ruined Glory's moment of achieving Supreme Champion status even at our expense. Your actions gave them an argument to stay in the title picture even when they rightfully should go to the back of the line... and what bothers us the most is the fact that you have no problem with rubbing that in our faces, thinking you have any right to tell us what we can and can't do, thinking that we're going to just stand there in the middle of this crossfire and become victims all because of your selfish desires even when, in the back of your head, you know full well that what you want can and likely will ultimately cost Glory everything you offered to come back and help her accomplish. And yet... you don't care, because in your mind, there is nothing you can't handle.”

“I hate to say it, but I honestly feel bad for Glory, I really do. Truthfully, she's just as much of a victim here, only wanting to reach the point she finally achieved weeks ago and keep pushing herself to defend those titles and be the best champion she can possibly be. And yet, because of your actions, her moment was ruined and she's found herself doing things she's clearly not comfortable with doing all because she's a good friend who's hesitant to tell you that you've crossed a line and need to stop and think for a moment. As far as the two of you are concerned, she's suffered the most through all of this... Brittany can say she's doing this because of what happened to Glory, but can we honestly say that it even would have happened in the first place if Brittany hadn't started it in the first place?”

“Make no mistake Glory... we do respect you, and we respect the fact that you knew this triple threat match at Retribution was ultimately going to be the only way this was going to have to be resolved. Instead of taking issue with it like Brittany clearly has, you've embraced the challenge you know will come with this environment and welcome it with open arms, ready to step up and try to prove yourself once again. If we had won on that fateful Breakdown and remained champions, we would have done the same, embracing the inevitability of this storm that has locked all three of our teams together to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who truly is the best at this moment in time. Maybe you have an issue with how we're addressing Brittany, and we understand how much you care for her... but you'll also have to forgive us if we feel that she's taking this whole thing a little too far and don't want you to crash and burn with her.”

Luz sighs, taking a moment to adjust her mask as Amelia takes a moment to quietly say something to her in Spanish. Luz responds in the same, whatever personal thought crossed her mind in that moment seeming to fade as she's alright. Amelia nods, understanding that they've both had their own issues with toxic individuals over the years and can only do so much to offer a hand if someone needs it. Almost fittingly, the monitors flip from one team embodying that aspect to another as clips of Dark Fantasy, namely Ravyn's plots and schemes over the past several months, become the main focus.

“On that same note, we're worried about you, Syren. I've been in your position once before in my life, being pushed too hard because I had to be the absolute best according to my parents just as you have to solidify your place as the absolute best according to Lexy Chapel. I respect your acceptance of her plan to try and push yourself to earn the right to challenge for the World Title again—even if I'm not fond of Lexy's rationale behind it—just as I respect the fact that you acknowledge the need to pull off ten wins in a row to even have that right and embrace it as opposed to trying to plot to find a way around it. Despite the questionable motives and tactics of those around you, you have stayed true to the competitor you want to be, just as Glory has done as well. That is not an easy thing to do these days, especially given how much SCW has changed in the past year alone, but that is proof of how strong and dedicated you truly are to this business even when, just like Glory, you arguably have nothing more you need to accomplish, and yet you still seek out opportunities because you want to.”

“That said, I'd like to apologize to you, Syren, for my involvement in everything that happened during your match with my fiancée on the last Breakdown. That brings us to arguably the biggest crux of this whole issue... Ravyn, I can understand and respect looking out for your partner and worrying for her well-being. Given how concerned you claimed to be about our relationship leading up to our first clash back at Under Attack, I would think you know full well how much Amelia and I care for one another and will always both offer support and watch each other's backs. The fact that you came out and instigated that whole mess because you were concerned about Syren while she was in the middle of a match speaks volumes about how much faith you have in her... yes, accidents can happen in the ring, we know that firsthand given that it's how our first run came to an end at this very show coming up, but we respect this sport and everything it represents far too much to ever go out of our way to intentionally hurt anyone, even if they maybe deserve it.

Go ahead and criticize what I did if you want, but consider this for a moment... you're allowed to defend Syren because of what Twisted & Sadistic did to her, and Brittany is allowed to defend Glory because of what Dark Fantasy did to her. If I'm not allowed to defend Amelia when she's threatened all because she's just trying to do her job, or vice versa, despite that... I think the hypocrisy is painfully obvious.”

“It wouldn't surprise us, though, given the whole story here, according to certain individuals, is that Dark Fantasy and Twisted & Sadistic want to kill each other for several reasons instigated by Brittany and Ravyn while Syren and Glory are kind of along for the ride... and Lulu and I, despite being caught in the crossfire and disrespected at every turn all because our place in this mess was being the initial champions both sides were gunning for, are supposed to just take the bullying and manipulation and silently accept our place as victims in this story. Unfortunately for both sides, The Light In The Darkness aren't here to just quietly accept being threatened and pushed around because of a few overly toxic individuals who want to reignite a blood feud from ages ago. That's not who we are, and that's not what we stand for.”

“Like it or not, the world doesn't just hand one person everything they want on a silver platter all because they say so. If you want something, you have to be ready to bust your behind to earn it. We understand that, Syren and Glory understand that... we thought Ravyn and Brittany would understand that, but apparently not. That is exactly why Retribution will see our three teams go at it to settle this once and for all with the World Tag Team Titles on the line. We didn't campaign or manipulate anything... CHBK made his stance on rematches clear, and if we really wanted to, we could've simply asked for this to be our proper rematch against Glory and Brittany. We could have, and honestly wanted to as stated earlier, actually forego the option altogether and fight our way back up. But neither one of those solves the problem here... that's why we stand by our decision to up the ante, using our rematch to resolve this wrestling problem in a wrestling ring, fin de la historia.”

At that, Luz and Amelia start to walk around as we pan after them, the two ultimately leaving the video wall and opting to stand in front of the window where the sunlight is pouring in, creating a breathtaking silhouette of the couple as they slowly reach out and take one another's hands.

“We are The Light In The Darkness... we both grew up in this business, but we found our own meaning in it and in each other. No matter how much things change or evolve, we will do the same. Unlike others who have lost their way, however, we will never lose sight of the people we truly want to be in this world, no matter what threats are thrown our way or how many times we get knocked down and have to pick ourselves back up.”

“A great actor, playing one of the greatest fighters in movie history, once said: 'It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.' If our light were to ever go out, that would be an admission of defeat... that's the beauty of why we forge ahead despite any setbacks or obstacles we may face. At the end of it all, if we can accomplish anything without having to compromise who we, La Pequeña Luz and Amelia Blythe, truly are, then the struggle was worth it. If we can't do that, even if the world were to turn against us, then what's the point of the fight in the first place?”

“We've both been there growing up, we've faced those hardships, and we ultimately overcame them. We drew strength from one another to find the best possible versions of ourselves, and we're not letting go of that.”

“That is why we will walk into Retribution in the State Farm Stadium right here in Glendale, knowing full well this event has not been kind to us in our last two outings, and we will walk out of this event with our heads held high even if we don't reclaim our World Tag Team Championships... because we were the ones who took the initiative here to end this once and for all.”

“And if any of you have a problem with that and feel you were entitled to us just being kicked around and thrown out of this fight without a fair chance to defend ourselves, then we'd like to remind both Dark Fantasy and Twisted & Sadistic of a phrase that Glory knows quite well.”

Amelia and Luz exchange smiles before leaning in closer for the exclamation point.

“Sic semper tyrannis.”

With that, the two of them pull back, standing defiantly against the dawn as they look to rise along with it back to the top of the mountain. Are they ready to stand there once again so soon? Do they truly deserve it? Those are questions that can only be answered in time, but the couple will happily embrace the challenge of figuring it out and conducting their business on their terms, resolving this issue the right way, because someone has to. And if fate dictates that they need to be World Tag Team Champions once more so the division doesn't fall into chaos, then they will fight with everything they have to make that scenario a reality, like only they can.