Ruination 29

The bell sounds and Mephisto throws his hands out to the side in celebration as “The Dark Horse Always Wins” picks up again. The crowd hurls down boos and insults as the still-reigning Iron Fist Champion laughs as he’s handed the title. Mephisto raises the title into the air slowly, soaking in the hate of the crowd.

Dutch Harris: Well, it was a valiant effort from Electryk Tyger, and maybe Mephisto was a little surprised, but he’s the Iron Fist Champion for a reason, and winning 2 falls straight? Proves that.

Scott Kamura: No offense to Tyger, but he was out of his depth here.

Mephisto lowers the title and stares into its golden faceplate, mesmerized. He’s quickly shaken from his hypnosis when…

5 Out of 6 by Dessa

Lexi comes out from behind the curtain to loud cheers from the crowd, dressed in her gear. With a mic already in hand, she makes her way down the ramp and looks at Mephisto as she does so. She ascends the steps and gets in the ring through the bottom rope, then walks over to him and waits for her music to die before speaking while still keeping eye contact. 

Lexi Gold: Congratulations, champ. That was an impressive win. I watched the entire thing backstage, and while you are a great champion and earned your stripes here in SHOOT Project, you sure have an attitude that just bothers me, much like Blaze Claymore. I’m not going to run down your entire history and say I know everything about you, because I would be lying to myself and to these great fans here tonight, so who pissed in your Cheerios and made you despise the world?

She isn’t trying to be his friend. In fact, it’s quite the opposite of that. She’s curious, at the same time unafraid, should he choose actions over words.   

Mephisto watches Lexi as she speaks, his head tilting slightly. He takes a step back and tosses his head back, laughing. He motions for a microphone of his own before turning back to Lexi.

Mephisto: Would you just look at this! Lexi Gold, ladies and gentlemen.

The fans cheer for Lexi, but continue to boo Mephisto as well.

Mephisto: Let me guess. You’re out here to lay down a challenge for the Iron Fist Championship. Before you answer, you should probably hear this. 

Mephisto shoulders his title, looking Lexi in the eyes.

Mephisto: You showed real guts coming out here and confronting me face to face. IAM didn’t get in the ring with me. Hell, he didn’t even speak. Haskell Payne? Sure, he talked a big game. But you? You came down here and got right up in my face.

Mephisto smirks. He holds up a placating hand before Lexi can speak again.

Mephisto: First, you compared me to Blaze Claymore, of all people. Don’t make that mistake, dear girl. I’m far from a cut rate, discount Corey Lazarus.

The crowd boos loudly, but there’s a smattering of laughter from the more nostalgic fans in attendance.

Mephisto: But you’ve made a mistake. You see, by your own admission, you don’t know much about me. You come out here full of gumption and demand to know my motivations? You really should have done your research. Let me give you a run down. I have been ‘Mr. Sin City’ after submitting one of the SHOOT Project’s most terrifying competitors in history, Sammy Rochester. I’ve beaten legends, including one whose name is synonymous with the SHOOT Project World Heavyweight Championship in Donovan King. Twice. Lexi, I’m not just another opponent for people. I change people, Ms. Gold. I took Azraith DiMitri, hall of famer and one of the most feared men in this industry to his limit. I break people. I end careers. Ask David Miller or Takuma Sato. Who? Exactly. So, Lexi Gold, what makes you so special? What makes you think you won’t be forgotten like those others? What makes you worthy of another shot at gold?

The smirk is gone from his face, replaced with a blank, emotionless look, though hellfire flashes in his pale, gray eyes.

Lexi raises her microphone, but pauses. And then she slaps Mephisto right across his face. Mephisto’s head snaps to the side and stays there, the Iron Fist Champion taking in what just happened as he slowly turns his head back to look at Lexi Gold, who has absolute defiance in her eyes.

Lexi Gold: I may not be all those names you mentioned, but one thing I am is a fighter. For years, I’ve been put through the wringer more times than anyone could count, but I got up and chose to fight again and as long as I am still alive and breathing, no one, not even you is going to take away my chances of succeeding here or anywhere else in the world. I sacrificed too much to allow some ego driven maniac such as yourself take my dream and passion away, from me.  

Mephisto smirks again. He shakes his head slowly.

Mephisto: You’re a fighter. You just keep getting back up every time you get knocked down. You’re the plucky never say die type, aren’t you?

The smirk never reaches those cold eyes, where bad intentions reside.

Mephisto: You know what you are, Lexi Gold? You’re a dime a dozen. You’re a cookie cutter. Your dream and passion? Everything you’ve sacrificed for? That dies if you come for this.

Mephisto taps the title on his shoulder.

Mephisto: You’ve got a future in the SHOOT Project, Ms. Gold. You’ve shown that much by holding onto that Shut Up and Fight Championship as long as you did. So, I’m going to give you one last chance to survive this. Walk away. Go home. Live.

Mephisto makes a dismissive motion with his hand, his face deadly serious.

She paces the ring back and forth, considering his option carefully before stopping and going nose to nose with him.

Lexi Gold: Nah, I am fine right here where I need to be. Your threats are useless and make it seem like you hold all the power within the company. What? Because you are the champion? Or is it because you took down some big names. That’s the difference between you and me, at least when I was Shut Up and Fight Champion I didn’t allow my success to turn me into an unbeatable monster. You are taking the cake with that position. You talk big and mighty. I have a new offer for you, why don’t you put that title of yours on the line against me soon, and see who could come out on top, unless you are scared… 

Mephisto looks at Lexi for a long moment. He raises his hands up, a placating gesture, and takes a step back. Mephisto nods, and then hauls off and swings at Lexi! But, the former Shut Up and Fight Champion ducks, anticipating the attack!

Lexi launches forward and nails Mephisto with a STIFF forearm, staggering the Iron Fist Champion backward as the crowd lets out a cheer!

Dutch Harris: Lexi Gold is NOT afraid of Jacob Mephisto and she’s taking it to the champ right now!

Scott Kamura: Mephisto tried to take a cheap shot, but Lexi was not having it!

Dutch Harris: She better be careful though. Where Mephisto goes, so goes The Family!

The crowd hurls down a series of boos as The Montgomery Twins come sprinting to the ring! Decius charges forward first, but Lexi ducks a clothesline and knocks him to the canvas with a standing enziguri.

Scott Kamura: Lexi Gold is a house of fire. She just dropped Decius Montgomery – OH!

As Lexi pops back to her feet she turns right into a face full of Black Mist from Patience Montgomery! Lexi clutches at her eyes, unable to see!

Dutch Harris: It looks like Patience has picked a little something up from her father.

Mephisto shakes the cobwebs out and stalks Lexi as she tries to feel her way around the ring. The crowd shouts down warnings, but they’re all jumbled together and mixed with boos.

Mephisto steps directly behind Lexi, speaking without the microphone, but loud enough for a nearby camera to pick up his voice.

Mephisto: I warned you…

Lexi hears his voice and whips around to face him, but Mephisto is too fast. He ducks down and hoists her up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry!

Dutch Harris: He’s gonna put her down with that fireman’s carry lungblower, the Memento Moris, his tribute to former tag team partner Sean Boden! WAIT A MINUTE!

The crowd explodes with cheers as Ignatius Albert Martin and Haskell Payne come sprinting down the ramp, steel chairs in hand. Mephisto drops Lexi and bails from the ring, the Twins close behind, Patience snagging the Iron Fist Championship on her way out. She hands the title to her father as the trio backs up the ramp.

IAM and the Colonel check on Lexi, who is wiping black gunk out of her eyes, the three would-be challengers to The Patriarch’s title glaring up at The Family. Mephisto slowly raises the title high in the air as we cut away.