Christy Matthews vs. Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

Either which way, she did not expect to end up in the arms of Nicodemus, who caught her falling form before it could hit the stone. 

“Selena? SELENA!” he called out, doing his best to pull her frame up to sit against against the massive slingshot. 

Selena's breathing was harsh as her heart beat wildly in her chest – the truth picking her apart piece by piece. “Kill me.” she whispered.

She could sense Nicodemus stop and lean back in alarm. “What?”
“Kill me.” Selena repeated, but her voice shook and, from her closed eyes, tears began to fall. “I am a Frost. You are a Dragon-Slayer. That is what you do! Slay the dragon! DEATH TO THE DRAGON! TOD DEM DRACHEN!” she shouted, repeating the Dragon-Slayer's motto from the war that she had learned.

“Stop it!” Nicodemus implored, holding the Snow Queen by her shoulders against the wood of the slingshot. This was a far cry from the strong woman that had been standing before him mere moments ago. In the span of a breath, she had crumbled before his very eyes, shattered into a million pieces... “I don't understand what is going on?”

“Of course you don't!” Selena barked, finally opening her eyes. “You don't because it's so damn simple! You killed them – you killed Frost and Frostmeres and now they want to kill you! It's revenge! Pure and simple!  The simplest thing in the damn universe! Well... here I am, leader! Take your revenge!”

“Revenge? For what?!” the leader asked, in shock.
“For everything! It's all on me!” Selena laughed, almost madly. “Put the pieces together, Nick! Who did you let in and spill your guts too? Who, besides Deanna and me did you reveal your identity too? Who in the Frost clan? Who in the Frostmere clan?”

Nicodemus said nothing, merely staring at Selena.

“You...” Selena half-cried, holding her palm to her left eye to rub away the tears. “You gave me the tools to try and free my wife and I from Evangeline's control. And I failed...”

Removing her hand, the Snow Queen gazed up at the kneeling leader of the Dragon-Slayers. “I tried to beat Evangeline the same way I beat Malcolm. I tried to blackmail her! Use the secret you gave me against her! Did you not ever find out what happened to that secret?”

Slowly, as if realization was dawning within his mind, Nicodemus' mouth hung open.

“When did you find out, Nick?” Selena asked, sniffling as she wrapped her arms around herself. “When did you find out that your daughter – your brain-dead Sirus – was all dead?”

Slowly, Malko's mouth moved. “I received word a month after I met you.”
“And you never wondered how or why?” Selena laughed. “Wow – I come from a life and work with shitty fathers, but you, sir, you might just be the worst.”

A loud sniffle came from Selena before she spoke. “I told Evangeline about where Sirus was. Deanna and I met her there to reveal her to Evangeline and Brachiss. We told her how we knew that she had married a dragon-slayer and sired a child with him. And she knew... I could see it in her eyes. She knew what that meant. What that would do if we told the clan!”

Another maddening chuckle came from Selena as she relived the start of this great nightmare of hers. “And just as she was about to give in... Brachiss ordered her to kill her. To 'finish the job'.” a pale hand reached out, reenacting part of what Selena's mind was seeing. “He held a knife to Deanna's neck and demanded to know how I knew about Sirus. Evangeline did the same. And when I didn't tell them, Evangeline figured it out. Figured out your name: Nick Daily.”

“And as soon as I saw the cut in my wife's face from Brachiss knife... I caved. I told her she was right. And then, Brachiss once more demanded DeWinter to kill Sirus. She... she smothered your daughter with her own pillow. And all I did was stand there...and let it happen.”

Her confession complete, the Snow Queen took a deep breath as she sat crumpled on the floor. She could not draw upon the cold in her bones to empower her. The death of one person? She could battle that for her own sanity. But...

“Do you get it? Your daughter? Them knowing about you and the ensuing witch-hunt? The eighteen people killed because of it?” she smiled sadly and shrugged her shoulders. “It's me. It all started with me.”

She turned her head to see Sirus standing there in the far corner where Nicodemus had once been sitting. Her eyes were narrowed in an accusing glare at the woman crumpled by the ancient, wooden weapon, yet she didn't scare Selena, for the Snow Queen could only look at her phantom sadly. “And I think the worse thing is that I will never see them like I see her. I'll never know their faces, never be haunted by them, never be reminded of who I am – what I really am...”

It made her heart clench and her body crave the release of her addiction. Without a word, and with a sudden strength she didn't realize she had, Selena burst past Nicodemus, bolting out of the room and down the stairs. She heard him yell her name loudly but she kept running, running out of the tower and into the cold of the winter.

That's it! Sirus implored. Run to it! Run faster!

Her bruised leg didn't even register in her brain as she sprinted across the trails of stone tiles, the cold winds of winter picking up to beat against her – as if trying to stop her – the winter season trying to protect the Snow Queen.

Protect you? Sirus laughed. What about those eighteen others? Who protects them from you?!

She kept running, ignoring any and all sounds around her, except the taunting voice in her head. The phantom that, once, could not stop inside the beautiful castle, but was now EVERYWHERE within it! She had been a fool to think a few weeks in Nome would bring her a sense of power to control her demons! They had MONTHS of thriving within her! YEARS even!

Her feet hit the stone steps of the Maisonette entrance and she threw the door open, rushing inside as the snow on her form fluttered off. She didn't care. She just kept moving until she was inside her bedroom...

And saw the glass bottle on the window sill.

TAKE IT! roared Sirus. DRINK IT ALL! That will shut up all nineteen voices, I'm sure!

She was across the room in a second, taking the bottle in her hands, pale fingers scratching and clawing at the seal around the neck. “Come on!” she begged. “Come on!!!”, but her shaking hands made the task harder than imaginable. Still, the paper/plastic seal eventually gave, leaving just the cork and metal wires wrapped into it-

“NO!” the cry came but before Selena could really hear it and register it, she was tackled from behind, her body being sent to the floor and the bottle being knocked out of her hands from the impact. 

“No!” cried the Snow Queen as she lay on her chest, her closest hand reaching out to try and get the bottle, only to be stopped by a hand – someone else's – grabbing her by the wrist and pinning it down onto the carpet.

“No, please, Selena!” begged the woman on top of her. “You promised! You promised me!”
“I can't!” Selena cried. “I can't shut them all up by myself! I can't! I can't!”

She cut fighting, kept trying with all her might to get the bottle, regardless of the resistance. Her fingers just grazed the green glass of it before she was suddenly flipped over onto her back, the shock of the movement giving her attacker enough time to grab her arms and pin them above her head.

It was then that Selena was able to stare into the emerald eyes of her wife.

“Stop...please...” the redhead begged. “Don't go back to before.”
“I have to...” cried Selena.
“No you don't!” Deanna implored, refusing to give her wife any ground to overcome her. “You're not that person anymore!”
“YES, I AM!” Selena yelled. “I'M WORSE! You're married to a murderer!”
“No, I'm not!” Deanna yelled back. “It wasn't your fault! What happened to Sirus-”
“Nineteen!”

The number, yelled by Selena, silenced Deanna, but did not make her move. 

Selena cried further. “Nicodemus said that eighteen Dragon-Slayers have been killed because Brachiss and Evangeline are looking for him! And they found out about him because of me...”

Despite herself, Selena turned her head to gaze into Deanna's eyes. “Me, Deanna. Nineteen people are dead because of me...”

Deanna's mouth hung open for a second. She didn't know what to say or do – she had been terrified of confronting Nicodemus because she was afraid of being seen as a killer in Selena's eyes based on the redhead's parents. She never imagined him turning the tables on Selena...

“Move.” came the authoritative voice, causing Deanna to turn around. Before her, as if she had conjured him up simply by thinking his name, stood Nicodemus. His expression was cold, like a general in the middle of war. Behind him stood Gunther, confused and scared of the scene before him.

“I said, 'move'.” ordered Nicodemus, stepping over to pull Deanna off Selena with relative ease, with surprised the redhead given the man's age. Despite being free, Selena did not have time to get to the bottle on the floor as Nicodemus bend down to pick it up.

“NO!” Selena cried out, rolling onto her side into the fetal position, a few sobs escaping her as she covered her ears with her hands, trying to silence the different commands from Sirus.

“She's...” Deanna tried to explain, hesitating only because she feared Nicodemus' reaction. “She's been tormented by your daughter's death. So much so that she's been seeing her. Everywhere. Like a phantom. She's tried fighting it and she's come so close!” Her eyes grew suddenly wild, as if realizing the origin of the change. “What did you do?! What did you tell her?!”

Nicodemus said nothing at first, merely moving over to Gunther and handing him the bottle. “Deal with this.” he ordered. “And hold her back.” he motioned to Deanna. “THAT is an order.”

“Aber...” Gunther started, shocked as much as Deanna was. “Du hast es versprochen...”
“Follow the damn order, private!” commanded Nicodemus before he reached down to hull Selena up to her feet.

Before Deanna could do anything, Gunther had his arms around him, the bottle on the nearby nightstand. “No!” screamed Deanna. “You promised no one would be hurt, Gunther! You said not all Dragon-Slayers were bad!”

Despite himself, Gunther did not release Deanna. He merely watched as Nicodemus placed Selena into a nearby chair, the Snow Queen offering no resistance of any kind.

“So...” he started darkly. “You say you are responsible for killing my daughter? And the eighteen people that your clan destroyed?”

Selena raised her head a little to gaze at the white-suited man before nodding her head.

“I see.” was all Nicodemus said before his movement became a blur. Had Deanna of blinked, she would have missed the way his hand flew through the air, connecting with her beloved's cheek with a hard 'CRACK'!

“YOU BASTARD!” shouted Deanna. “I'm going to kill you!” she shouted, struggling against Gunther's strength. “Selena! Stop it! Fight back!”

“Do you want me to kill you?” Nicodemus asked when Selena did not give any response to Deanna's pleas. “Hmmm?”

Slowly, Selena's mouth moved, a whisper of “Yes” filling the room.
“No!” answered Deanna. “You did nothing wrong!”
“Tell me, Selena.” replied Nicodemus. “Why should YOU get off so lucky? Because if I did that, I'd really be tormenting your wife – who's innocent – while you would be blissfully free in death.” 

Slowly, Nicodemus' dark gaze turned towards Deanna. “No. See, if we truly wanted justice here – if you truly wished for justice – then I should kill your wife.”

Everyone in the room froze at that, even Deanna and Gunther, both too scared at what was just said.

“It seems the fairest punishment. I have to leave with the loss of my daughter. You should live with the loss of your wife.” Nicodemus shrugged as he took a step towards Deanna. Instantly, Gunther's hands released Deanna, tossing her aside to stand between her and Nicodemus, ready to defend the girl that had, unintentionally, become like a second daughter to him.

“No.”

The voice did not come from Gunther, though he was thinking it. Nicodemus turned towards the source to see Selena standing there, her eyes cold as the snow outside. The change had happened again, as it had in the tower, only in reverse. The shattered Selena, all the pieces of her, had seemingly frozen back together into the woman that stood before Nicodemus.

“No?” Nicodemus asked, tilting his head up a little. “You don't think I deserve justice? Or Sirus? Or the eighteen people that are dead because of you?”

The Snow Queen took a deep breath, exhaling before taking another. “You want to kill me? Fine. You just said she's innocent. I don't care what happens to me. Lay a hand on her... and I'll make it twenty!” she vowed, her hands cracking as she tightened them into fists.

Nobody saw the slight grin appear on Malco's face at this sight. “You want another way then? For peace? For justice?”

He didn't wait for an answer, merely leaning closer to Selena, his gray eyes boring into her sapphire ones. “Then stop moping and get over it!”

It was not the answer anyone in the room was expecting, least of all the platinum-blonde. “What?” she asked.

“When I first met you, you were this strong woman, desperately looking for a way to protect your family from this great evil. And I'll tell you something: I believed you.” Nicodemus stated. “I believed that you were going to all within your power to change things. To end this war that's nearly a hundred years old! To free us all and give us peace. I believe you, Selena. And when I came here and I saw you standing in that tower: defiant, brave, ready to take me on if it came to that – I believed in you again. You could lead armies into battle with that kind of power!”

Turning back to look at Selena, he pointed his finger at her accusingly. “But what? I tell you a few people died along the way and you get the weepies? Is that it? You lose your nerve because of nineteen people dying?”
“You don't get it.” Selena stated. “They are dead because of me...”

A laugh came from the old man. “I don't get it?” he held his hands to his chest in slight amusement but the hurt was clearly in his voice. “I don't get it? Come on, of course I get it! What, you think you're unforgivable because you were helpless in saving Sirus? You think you can't be saved because you had a part, unintentionally, of the people dying? You think that makes you a monster?”

He pointed his hand at Selena, his jaw tightening. “You are just a sad child trying to run away from your pain! You are no monster, Selena! I was a monster, Selena! I did worse things that you could ever imagine yourself doing! You want to beg for death after nineteen? How about you times that number by a million or so and then come talk to me! How bout that?! How bout you come talk to me after you can't remember all their names or faces, no matter how hard you try. How about you come to me when your dreams are filled with thousands of screaming voices from the gas chambers! HOW ABOUT THAT?!”

His breathing was becoming ragged, but the elder pressed on. “And unlike you, child, I DID do it! It was me that pulled the trigger! Me that flicked the knife! Me that pulled the lever and released the gas into those chambers! I chose to kill over and over and over again! Try living with THAT for eighty-seven years!”

Selena said nothing, she couldn't. Compared to the man before her, what she had endured was a bad dream, nothing more. A bad day from stubbing your toe or missing an appointment or losing a game you loved to play.

“You hate yourself, don't you?” Nicodemus asked, though he wasn't looking for an answer. “Do you know what you do with that anger? You hold it. You keep it as a memory to hold yourself accountable. You keep the demons in your memory and you vow that until they are all gone and at peace, NO ONE will have to suffer like this! No one! Not as long as I am here and I am breathing!”

He stood there before her, the elder of the Dragon-Slayers – the man Selena was sure was going to kill her, and yet... he was far more broken than her, but also so much stronger than her as well. He probably dealt with that wish every day – wanting to die but knowing to do so would be too easy. A disservice to those that he had killed. 

Living was his punishment. Living with the pain and the memories and seeking to change the world for the better. That was his atonement. 

And now, he was asking Selena to do the same.

“I'm...I'm sorry...” she whispered, staring into his eyes with all the understanding she could show.

Slowly, and knowingly, a tired smile broke across Nicodemus' face. “You said that already, when you first saw me. I forgave you then, and I'm forgiving you now. And I will every time you ask for it.”

She felt her heart slow, the voices fade from her mind and her senses return to their normal functions. She was finally able to see Deanna, standing to the side of the room, her emerald eyes never leaving her wife. 

“Can't imagine you drinking this anyway.” Came the sudden voice of Gunther as he, once more, held the bottle in his hands. “Verdammtes Wasser pissen. Come, General. I believe we have put these two through enough for one day. You can crash on the couch in Louisa's and my quarters. None of the other rooms are prepared.”

Nicodemus said nothing, merely nodding his head and turning to follow his comrade out of the room, down the hall and out of the section of the castle. Neither Selena nor Deanna watched them leave and it wasn't until they had heard the doors closed that they fell into each other's arms again.

“I'm sorry.” Selena cried against her wife's form. “I broke my promise to you.”
“Almost.” Deanna whispered. “But you didn't.”

The two looked around the room as they continued to hold each other. “What do we do?” Selena asked. 

“What we promised we would do and needed to do when we started all this.” Deanna answered, taking Selena's hands into hers before sitting fully on the floor. “We are going to talk...”
___________________________________

The camera fades into the scene after the title graphic of “Frozen Central” is played, yet it is not the usual scene that comes with such a segment. There is no wrestling ring in sight. No mist or arctic blue lights. Rather, before the audience is a large wooden archway with doors, all decorated with vine-like designs of green, orange, red and blue. On the floor, a blue carpeted space, is a large, silver snowflake of beautiful design. Just beyond the door is a backdrop, and it is that backdrop that gives the viewer a sense of location.

For that backdrop is an image of a familiar ice castle of a familiar movie. And should anyone still have issues with this clue, the woman standing by the left door is the final nail in the coffin. Her back is to the audience and she wears the iconic blue and silver outfit of the Disney Princess.

They say in this magic kingdom that 'when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true...'

Slowly, the woman turns around and while everyone is expecting the princess to appear, ready to sing of letting it go – they are stunned to see the last person that would ever want to be associated with this character. 

For wearing that Elsa dress is none other than the Snow Queen of SCW, Selena Frost!

Surprise! the new United States Champion declares with a shrug of her shoulders. What do you think? Finally embraced it or something? Gone to the 'dark side' or whatever? Selena shrugs playfully. No, actually, I wore this dress years ago as a charity in Kentucky. Get this – they wanted me to pretend to be... you know who... and pretend to be arrested by the local police because of all the low temperatures that had hit most of North America that year. It was for charity and all that, so... I said yes. And they let me keep the costume... actually surprised it still fits.

With a little spin, Selena checks over her dress before looking back up at the camera.

I imagine an explanation of sorts is in order. First, let me welcome you to the North Pavilion of the Epcot Center here in Orlando, Florida! That's right, Disney World! And don't worry, people, I'm filming this VERY early in the morning with approval from the park – before it opens. So, it's all good! Selena gives a thumbs up to the camera.

I guess I'll start off with what I was saying. 'Wishing upon a star...'. Yes, that's true. Because that's what I did. I wished and wished and worked and worked and, despite being told it was impossible, that it would never happen, that someone wanted it more than me?

Well, it happened. Selena smiled brightly. I think that's the perfect way to start this “Frozen Central” off. With a loud, 'WE DID IT, TRUE-BELIEVERS!'! We won the United States Championship!

Selena takes a deep breath to calm herself. And I know, already, there's been claims. Things that a certain former champion has been saying. Truthfully? I don't want to talk about that right now. If she wants to make a fool of herself, she can. If she wants to make more promises that she'll suddenly decide not to keep, she can. Me? I'm hoping this all gets worked out, because I want to fight her again. Because if she gets THIS bent out of shape after losing to me clean, imagine what would happen if I do it again!

While such a remark would usually elicit a bright smile from the Snow Queen, the new champion, instead has a saddened expression.

But out of the oven and into the frying pan, right, True-Believers? Because, while the night was a success for us... I can't say that it was a successful night for SCW. she holds her hand up. First, let me say again 'thank you' to the amazing men and women that fought for all they had for this company. Every single one of you were beyond amazing, win or lose, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Because, yes, we have a temporarily new person in power. Someone that can decide the matches and decide who is given the opportunities. Is it bias? It certainly is. Is it fair? Most wouldn't think so. But people, SCW loyalists, moments like these should not break us. They should define us! her voice is imploring. Do we shatter under such rule? Or do we rise above it and maintain the standard that Mr. D. set for this amazing federation over fifteen years ago? Do we grovel for favour with the woman that fired a superstar simply because 'he lost his match'? Do we bow to the child that orchestrated vicious assaults on unsuspecting superstars? Do we simply lie down and take it?

Or do we show why we are Supreme Championship Wrestling?

Raising her hands, Selena allows a moment for her viewers to truly think of an answer for themselves.

Because I am drawing a line in the sand, right here and right now, and I want to know where everyone stands! You want to hide for the next few weeks until hurricane Katya passes on through? Or do you want to face that storm and show what happens when the arrogant and proud take us on?!

Because I'm not afraid of you, Katya. I see you for what you are.

See, that's why I'm here, dressed like this. In front of the set that so many people have associated me with. It's for you and it's for the person you've hand-selected to be my 'destroyer' of sorts. And I have to admit, you certainly chose well.

I mean, let's face it, nobody has taken more titles from me than Christy Matthews. Nobody has ended my reigns more than Christy Matthews. And while I may have beaten her more times than she has beaten me, I am not going to fool myself into thinking that the odds look good for me in this kind of scenario. 

But... Selena holds up her index finger. There's the word for that – 'look'. Appearances. And I know how you're being viewed, Katya. I know people see you as merely a puppet of Ravyn, CHBK and Syren. I know people think you're mindless because, let's face it, this game of 'follow the leader' has been your biggest trick since you played it with Red Rayne a few years ago, right? Just the leader that's changed.

But I don't see a puppet, Katya. I don't see a person with strings on them. 

What I see... is an ungrateful brat throwing a temper tantrum! Selena's eyes narrow at the screen. Were you expecting praise? For us to find 'common ground'? Not going to happen, Katya. Because I don't respect people that cower and hide under fascades like you do. I don't respect people that need to lie and cheat and backstab others to get what they want. And, I'll admit, I'm a gullible woman. Like your turn that got Syren her title shot and your plan with Christy, I didn't see any of it coming. I was fooled by appearances.

I was fooled by what your father saw.

Oh yes, I'm bringing him into the picture. Know why? Because, unlike you, I respect what your father is. Not just the boss. Not just the creator. Katya, I respect O. Dracheywch because he is a father. A father that has tried to do right by you. Whether you will admit it or not. You talk about how 'he wasn't there' and 'has favourites'-

Well, let me be clear on this, Katya. The only reason you have your power is because he is still trying to do right by you! Do you think if he didn't care he would have given you and Sasha that chance at power at Making Things Right? You think he'd entertain such a notion if he didn't want to do right by you?

Let me remind you of something else, because I was there, okay? I saw Mr. D. turn his whole damn company upside trying to get you back from Red Rayne. I saw him put himself in harm's way to protect you. I saw him BEG – BEG, Katya! - for your safety! For you! You think you have power now? Imagine that and more for fifteen plus years! And yet, there he was, begging for you!

With shake of her hand, her iconic braid, hers and not some wig, moving a little, Selena crossed her arms over her chest.

I lost my father when I was twelve. Do you understand that, Katya? You look at me and see a rich woman, but the truth is, I came from nothing. I earned everything I had and you want to know why? Because my father taught me to never give up on what you believe in. And when he was gone – while you were throwing your tantrums just to get your father's attention, I was visiting my father's tombstone, wishing, just once, I could hear him call me 'Snowflake' or 'Snow Angel' again.

For a moment, Selena wipes a tear from her eye before continuing. 

When I won the United States Championship a few weeks ago, it was as much for my father as it was for me and all the amazing people that you sneer at. The people that believe in your father's vision – in SCW! So, I'm not going to run from what you throw my way. I'm not going to hide from whatever 'plan' you've got. Now, I'm going to deal with this the same way your father would.

Fight it head on...

Lifting a hand, Selena runs it through her platinum hair. Which inevitably brings me to you, Christy. The 'game-changer' of sorts. You know, it's actually funny because that's what Syren was talking about last week. That all of this? All that she and Ravyn and CHBK and Katya and you have done is for 'change'. Yeah, she talked about wanting to change SCW, give opportunities to those that deserved them. She spoke about the 'risk' you all took because if you failed, you'd never get chances again – maybe even fired.

Is that what you're going to hit me with, Christy? Will that be your driving force? That you want to 'change' SCW for the better, is that it? That you want to have opportunities that you never had before?

Selena shakes her head.

What a bunch of crap.

But let me go back a bit before I explain why. Last time you and I fought, Bound by Blood, I didn't air a promo. Not a 'Royal Letter', not a 'Frozen Central' segment. Know why? Because I heard your words first and I was stunned. Oh, I'll admit it, Christy. I was completely confused! I mean, aside from some multi-man matches, all of which I won, you and I had not fought one another since, what? 2016?

Yeah...that year. The Year of Selena Frost. The year you beat me in the first round of the Adrenaline Tournament, only for me to beat you in the semi-finals and go on to win the whole tournament. The year you attacked me from behind during our match while the official was checking on me. The year that, until recently, was the last time you ever beat me.

Three years later, there we were again. Set to face – and for me, Christy, it was like I was going back in time.

“Selena is a fake!”
“Selena is lying to all of you!”
“Selena only cares about herself!”
“Selena's a fool pretending to play a Disney Princess!”

It was like I had stepped into a time machine and gone back to 2016! Selena shakes her head. I mean, Christy, did you not see me defend the World title with a fractured rib? Did you not see me uphold the standard of SCW by wrestling in every match? Refusing to use the cheats you and Syren and Ravyn use now? Did you not see me take a damn monitor to the head for this company?! How about a crate getting dropped on my foot just because I stood up to the group, much like yours, that was terrorizing SCW?

I couldn't believe it – and believing is my THING! How could someone so experiences - the second woman to ever hold the World title! - How could such a veteran not changed a bit in three years?

At first it baffled, because I've spent months trying to get out of the shadow of 2016 Selena Frost, to do what she couldn't do. To be better than what I was. Yet, there you were, acting like it was still 2016. It baffled me. So I said nothing. I didn't want to. Because, all that stuff you spoke about before – defending Amy Chastaine, being a mother – I didn't want to make this match personal simply because you, I figured, fell into old habits with an old foe.

A sad laugh escapes the United States Champion. Yeah, you really fooled me, Christy. I actually believed that you didn't want Crowe to come in and hand you the match. I actually believed that my abilities had proven how much better and different I was than how you perceived me.

But it wasn't me that was pretending, was it? It never was...

It was you. All along.

You were the fake.
You were the one lying to all of us.
You were the one only caring for herself.
You were the one pretending.

Lifting her arms, Selena shrugged. And for what? For a chance at a title? Or is it because I have it and you can't stand that, Christy? Because, even back at Bound for Blood, you were talking about it. You were salivating. “I beat you and I want a United States Championship match”. Just like in 2016...

That is when it all made sense to me, Christy. That was when I saw Syren's explanation and your words for the crap that they are. Because none of you want things to 'change for the better'. No, your world champion – your 'leader' – spoke about it. The days of Infamous, of Pinnacle – especially Infamous. Where world bowed down in fear to the likes of Syren and Christy Matthews and Ravyn and Lucas Knight. Where no one dared challenge Christy Matthews in the ring. Where no one dared to stand up to them!

You don't want to chance SCW to be 'better', Christy. You want to change it 'back'. Back to where you were the talk on everyone's lips. Back to where you were seen as a dominant force. Back to where you, Christy Matthews, were the top of the food chain. 

But instead of scratching and clawing your way there, earning it and truly 'standing out' like your group claims they want to do – you did the same thing Syren, Bree Lancaster, Sienna Swann, and gods know how many other women did. You made deals backstage and you hid behind people rather than settle in the ring! Why? Because it worked in Infamous and that is what you want to happen again, isn't it? And because it's, truly, risk-free!

Selena scoffs. Yeah, you heard me. I said 'risk-free'. Syren wants to sing a song that I'm sure you're going to copy like a parrot in-between your typical repertoire of insults – that talk about 'risking careers' and 'never getting opportunities again'? 

Is that what happened after Infamous failed to take down SCW? Did you get fired? Did you get no opportunities? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't all those Adrenaline title reigns and quick rematches after you lost them to me and Casey Holliday happen AFTER you had been in Infamous? Didn't you headline Rise to Greatness using your Trios Contract at some point after Infamous? What about just recently? Despite you being here and there with CHBK at first and then with Alexis Quinne and Punk Hazard, didn't you just get a shot at the Adrenaline title?

So... if you got all of that, after being part of Infamous and if Syren has what she has gotten after Infamous and Pinnacle and Ravyn JUST became Supreme champion after such factions... what risk of loss is there?

Selena shrugs her shoulders. Tell me, Christy! I really want to know. What risk are you going through! Because, far as I can tell, you've managed to get quite a list of accolades IN SPITE of your choices to destroy SCW and change it to your liking. Know why? Because Mr. D. lives by one rule. If you are good for business,  then you have a place here.

And despite how I feel about you as a person, Christy, despite what you've done, you ARE, indeed, good for business.

Biting her lower lip, Selena exhales through her nose. This match? It is good for business, but not because of Katya. Katya wants this because she wants all the titles in her camp – the power in her camp – and she's picked you, the kryptonite of 2016 Selena Frost, to do it again.

And you are so blinded, clearly, Christy, that that is who you think I still am. That's why I'm dressed like this... Selena spins slowly in her Elsa dress. This is who you see. This is who I know you will be talking about. The Selena Frost you want to use as a stepping stone. The Selena Frost you stole titles from.

But what did I say, Christy? From the beginning. Appearances.

And just like I was fooled by what I saw in you, you have been fooled by what you see of me! Because I am not 2016 Selena Frost. I am not the hesitant, nervous, “I'm not good enough to be the World Champion” Selena Frost. I am so much more! And you want to know the biggest difference?!

Selena's expression softens as she looks off camera before lifting her hand beckoning someone with her fingers. Immediately, four people walk into the camera shot. One is a woman with red hair, holding a young baby in her arms. The other two are a girl, seven-years old and a boy, around two. They all wear Disney World shirts, the boy even sporting a fine pair of Mickey Mouse ears! Standing by them Selena rests one hand around her wife and the other around her son.

You didn't really think I would come to Disney World and not bring the family, did you, Christy? That's something 2016 Selena Frost didn't have. A family. Children. She wasn't a mother. Not yet.

Whispering to her children, the two scamper off camera while Deanna, baby Amiliah in her arms, leans in to kiss her wife's cheek. She whispers softly, Kick her butt.
I will. Selena vows as Deanna walks off camera.

Selena watches them go for a moment before turning back to the camera, her eyes cold as ice.They are the reason you're not facing 2016 me, Christy. They make me so much stronger, faster and better – not just as a wrestler but as a believer that I am more than the filth you have spewed now for three damn years! 

And being a mother is the reason that I am going to humiliate you at Breakdown!

Don't get me wrong, I know I am in for a fight. Hell, I know you're going to cheat and con your way like a champ – probably to the point it would put the delusional Bree Lancaster to shame! But I don't care. Because last time you and I faced? I kept quiet. I didn't want to make it personal...

Bound by Blood? It was business to me. Competition.

Now? I see you for what you are: the desperate woman living in the past, but more than that, the woman that used her own child to get ahead. The Snow Queen's jaw clenched and her hands tighten.

At Bound by Blood, you looked into the camera, looked into my eyes and told me that you were doing all of this for your daughter. That you wanted to be the inspiration, the standard, the shining example that she could aspire to be. You wanted her to believe in you, her own mother, as the brave, strong, woman that fought for what was right. 

And again, you fooled me. I believed you. I respected you for that. It was the one thing about all you said that I actually could understand and respect and it's why I gave you everything I had that night as a competitor.

Now? I'm going to give you all I have as a mother.

Because all along, all that stuff you said about your child, Christy, it was nothing but more filthy lies you used to get ahead. To continue the fascade. Because what is it you want your daughter to learn, Christy, huh? That it's better to make deal rather than to fight? That it's better to settle than reach for the stars? That it's better to have someone else do the work for you?

It is clear merely thinking about such things further angers the Snow Queen, her hands paler than usual due to how tight they curled into fists.

Whatever other reasons you want to spew at me and SCW, Christy, I don't care. You spit in the face of everyone in SCW with your fascade, and more than that, you spit in the face of what it is to be a parent. People like me, like Amy Chastaine, like Chris Cannon and so many others now and before. You chose yourself over your own child, Christy. 

So when I say I am going to humiliate you, I don't mean I'm going to dominate you. I know what you're capable of. What I mean is, first, I am going to take off this costume- Selena raises her hands to indicate the Disney-Princess costume she wears. I am going to step out of this Disney World, get into my ring gear and I am going to enter my world, the SCW ring...

Second, I am going to take every thing you can throw at me and everything Katya can throw at me, and everything the rest of your group of desperate cowards can throw at me and SCW! And then I am going to get up and tell you to give me more. And when you can't give me anymore, I am going to beat you, even if I end up with more stitches in my head, and make your selfish betrayal exactly what it deserves to be seen as, Christy...

All for nothing!

Selena takes a slow breath.

Breakdown, Christy, I will be emerging still the United States Champion – and I am going to do it not just for me or my family or even for SCW... 

But for your daughter.

Because if you're too spineless to show her how to really fight for her dreams... then you better believe that I won't hesitate to show her how it's truly done!

Believe it, Christy... and welcome to 2019!

The Snow Queen gives a smile as the camera fades...