The Light in the Darkness vs. Team Desire

[Wisteria Waltz]

The first thing we see as we fade in is a close-up shot of the SCW World Tag Team Championship belts, resting proudly on a table. After a moment, we slowly pan back to reveal the newest owners of these particular title belts, that being the tandem known as The Light In The Darkness. Amelia Blythe and La Pequeña Luz sit beside the gold they hold once more out on what appears to be the balcony of their hotel room as we see the beautiful Seattle skyline in the background, their hands joined together beneath the table and visible enough that we can see Luz's thumb gently rubbing the back of Amelia's hand, almost as a way to reassure her of something. One would think that they would be all smiles considering they're back at the top of the tag team mountain now... and yet, that doesn't appear to be the case. They glance in our direction before looking back at one another in silent conversation, which leads to a nod from Amelia and Luz taking a deep breath before she begins.

“I bet this isn't exactly what any of you were expecting to see, was it? Not the fact that we're World Tag Team Champions again, although I wouldn't be surprised if some of you out there didn't bet on us to walk out of an event that's plagued us for the entirety of our SCW careers up until this year. No, you all probably expected us to be sitting here ready to celebrate and be in much higher spirits now that we are, in fact, champions again. Believe me when I say that we really wanted to be, especially considering not many teams even get to hold these titles once, let alone a second time. Truth be told, we were all geared up to do this with a more positive attitude, but then we got to thinking about some of the things we've seen and heard since Retribution and it kind of soured the mood.”

“Don't get us wrong, we're fully aware that holding these titles places a huge target on our backs and every team in the company wants a piece of us. We fully embraced that the first time we were champions, and that's not going to change this time around. What's bothering us, however, is the fact that whatever mutual respect we seemed to have tried to build up with some people within the past year is suddenly gone, all because those people are no longer seeing us as the competitors they shared the ring with but rather the titles around our waists and that's it. Individuals like Glory, Chance and Kelsai are acting as though we're the personification of evil and deserving of their vitriol and aggression... and for what? Glory because we ended her and Brittany's title reign? Chance and Kelsai because they think we're going to screw with them and tell them they can't be in the title picture like Twisted & Sadistic and Dark Fantasy tried to pull on them going into Retribution? If we were talking prospective future challengers like the European Fiery Nation or, to some degree, Team Desire—who we'll get into soon enough—then we'd be more understanding because that mindset's nothing new. But what on earth have we truly done aside from holding these titles that has people we thought we respected wanting to view us with the same hatred that most people normally reserve for Selena Frost these days?”

Amelia and Luz lock eyes, almost as if the former is hoping the latter has an answer to that question. Sadly, Luz can only shake her head, believing this turn of events about as much as her fiancée does.

“Glory, we know you're watching, waiting with bated breath to hear how we address what you had to say to us. The way you've taken to acting towards us after Retribution unfortunately tells us that no matter who I would have pinned on that night, you'd be acting more like an entitled brat than the kind of competitor we thought you were. Think back to the final moments of that match very closely... imagine, for a moment, if I had waited just a tiny bit longer and tagged Ravyn out instead of Brittany. I still land on both of them with Ilumina la Noche to break up Ravyn's pin attempt, except now instead of pinning her I just roll her off and pin Brittany instead. Same end result, except now Ames and I can truly claim to have beaten the reigning champions. Would you have accepted the loss then, or would you have still been furious with us just for proving that Twisted & Sadistic is not always the better team against The Light In The Darkness and try to claim it doesn't count just because a third team was involved?”

“As we said going into that match Glory, we could have very easily used our rematch to make it you and Brittany against us and that's it. Heck, we fully admitted we would've preferred not using our rematch at all and just starting over, knowing that by the time we got back to challenge the two of you we would be ready to prove your claims hollow. We did what we did because you, Brittany, Ravyn and Syren were all insistent on keeping us in the middle of your issues with each other, and we're in the wrong for making the decision to defend ourselves and end this the right way? Besides, you're forgetting that CHBK made it explicitly clear when he outlined his policy on rematches that because you lost the titles back to us on our rematch, he wouldn't be giving you one anyway to keep the challengers fresh. If the roles were reversed, we wouldn't be getting a rematch either, and we wouldn't have a problem with that because we know we can just earn our way back.”

“And that's not even getting into the fact that we know if we were to accept your challenge, Chance and Kelsai would take it as us disrespecting them because of what your issues with Dark Fantasy did to them in the crossfire as well and probably force their way into the situation one way or another, starting this exact same problem all over again. The fact that they stormed out to the ring and thought we, of all people, were disrespecting anybody when, contrary to what seems to be the popular belief, we barely have control over how things are decided around here is making us worried that the thought of being champion supersedes all else in terms of rational thinking, and even if we did have some sort of power to make those decisions, at this rate it's just going to get the entire division demanding we defend every single week against the entire roster until somebody ultimately gets what they want by any means necessary.”

“Before any of you start making assumptions like we know you're ready to do, we're willing to offer the only compromise we can think of to clear this up once and for all. We'll all be in action in one form or another this Thursday night right here in Seattle. At some point during Breakdown, Lulu and I will go have a talk with CHBK. We invite Glory, Brittany, Chance and Kelsai to join us so they can be witnesses. We'll make this as clear as humanly possible: us and Twisted & Sadistic, straight up, for the titles at some point before Taking the Leap, with a guarantee that Chance and Kelsai have the winners on that event regardless of what happens, no exceptions. Everyone gets what they want, no one is forgotten or overlooked, and we embrace the challenge of being fighting champions and proving, once and for all, that we deserve to be your World Tag Team Champions once again regardless of whoever steps up to try and take them from us. If CHBK refuses this idea... then that's between you and him Glory, because you won't be able to say we didn't try and accept your challenge.”

Amelia sighs and shakes her head, hating that this is how their second World Tag Title reign is starting off. Luz, however, brings her hand up and softly kisses it before their hands come to rest in front of their title belts on the table, which does get Amelia to smile a little bit as Luz returns it. They take this moment to quietly stare into each other's eyes before glancing out at the city around them, which would soon be playing host to SCW Breakdown and providing the couple with an actual in-ring challenge to take their minds off the situation they just had to address. As they turn back to face us, the smiles fade once more, this time replaced with looks of determination.

“Amelia said we'd be addressing Team Desire specifically soon enough, and that's because this Thursday night we'll be taking on the Stewards in a non-title match. I wouldn't be surprised if hearing those words doesn't exactly sit well with Katie, considering she hasn't been shy about feeling she's owed a title match and the chance to become a Supreme Champion in her own right. With everything regarding Dark Fantasy behind us now and Twisted & Sadistic a topic we'll hopefully have resolved this week, we would have been willing to consider her and Gigi as the next in line. They did win back at Body, Heart & Soul over two other teams, after all. Buuuuuuut... you two did fall short against Chance and Kelsai at Retribution, and they do have a rightful claim to being next in line based on that alone even if it wasn't for the past month and how they're choosing to take it out on us when we were just as much victims in that mess as they were.”

“Don't think we haven't been paying attention, though. Even if we didn't win these titles back at Retribution, that wouldn't stop us from observing and learning in order to keep getting better for whenever this match would have likely happened regardless. That's why we welcome this non-title match as a platform for you, Katie and Gigi, to prove directly to us that you have what it takes to hold these titles and succeed us as champions. Through this match, we'll get to see exactly how much this means to you and what kind of champions you'll be. And I'm going to make this clear right now: even though these belts aren't on the line come Thursday night, we have no plans on being used as a footnote in someone else's history a second time. Despite how she's choosing to address us, we can sit here and admit that Glory earned her right to be a Supreme Champion fair and square by defeating us and she truly saw these titles as more than just the last piece of that puzzle. If that was all she cared about, then I doubt she would even be demanding that we give her a rematch despite the terms of the triple threat. That begs the question Katie: do these titles truly mean something to you and Gigi? Or do they only matter because it's all you're missing?”

“On that note, it's nice that we get to cross paths again Gigi. I have to admit... you truly are a good person, regardless of anyone who may think otherwise, because it does take a lot to be so willing to put your own goals aside to try and help Katie achieve her goal, even if we fear that her desire to hold these titles clashes with our hopes to elevate this division and keep proving to the world that SCW has arguably the greatest tag teams in the world. It's an interesting contrast to the woman who was the first challenger to my Television Title reign some time back, but I can see in your eyes that same fire you brought against me on that night. It's honestly what I was hoping to see from you going into this match. Yeah, this may not be for championship gold like our last encounter was, but as Amelia told Katie, this is your chance to make a statement that Team Desire does deserve a shot at these belts. We can't say for sure when that opportunity would come because, again, we don't have this magical booking power that some people seem to think we do and we can only talk with the boss and see if he's on board, but nothing speaks volumes quite like a non-title win over the reigning champions. Just ask that one new guy, David Striker. He beat Kim non-title at her own game. Next thing you know, he's facing her again with the Underground Title up for grabs.”

“If you'd rather an example that pertains specifically to us, then how about the fact that we offered Diamond Steele and a partner of her choosing a shot at our titles by acknowledging that she did defeat me, even if we weren't too fond of the circumstances that brought it about. We have never hidden the fact that we want to be fighting champions, that we want to resolve any wrestling problems in a wrestling ring because that's what this business is all about at the end of the day. It's why we're so willing to offer a compromise to certain other individuals despite their attitudes, and it's why we'd be more than happy to add your names to that discussion if you can prove to us, two-on-two, that you deserve to be a part of it. Let your wrestling do the talking Thursday night right here in Seattle, and you both can erase any doubts that people may have about the both of you and your place in this title picture.”

“As much as we're encouraging you to give us your very best, make no mistake ladies: when we say we're not going to be the final footnote in someone else's Supreme Champion story, we mean it. We're not going to make this easy on you, especially not when we have a point to prove to so many others who want to cast doubt on our legitimacy as a championship caliber tag team.”

“Just as this is your big chance to make a statement and prove you deserve to be in the title discussion, this is both our test to see if you still have some more work to do—especially if Katie only cares for these titles that mean everything to us because of what winning them will mean and not what comes after—and our own statement to make that Luz and I are done being bullied and pushed around because so many people feel entitled to just have things handed to them as opposed to busting their behinds to truly earn them.”

“Say what you want about how our second title reign came about, because it doesn't change the fact that we overcame two of the best teams in SCW right now and perhaps ever to get these titles back.”

“And this time, we have no plans on letting them go that easily, not until we've pushed ourselves farther than we've ever gone before. Twisted & Sadistic, The Seekers, Team Desire... this is only the beginning of the hurdles we will overcome.”

“It's the only way we're going to keep pushing ourselves to get better.”

“And it's the only way that The Light In The Darkness will shine brighter than ever before.”

As they say the last few lines, Luz and Amelia have risen to a stand, their voices getting more intense as they make it clear just how much all of this means to them and how hard they will fight to be worthy champions, even if it means overcoming challenges from teams they've beaten in the past who are coming at them hungrier than ever before or teams they know they've struggled with but will not stop until they've proven they can overcome that challenge. As they finish, they reach down and grab their respective title belts, holding them up proudly for us as they give a look that clearly says 'come and take these from us, if you dare.' On that silent challenge to the entire SCW tag team division, we fade away.