Post by Lord Hastings on Dec 11, 2021 20:44:45 GMT -5
Donovan storms through the curtain after Synergy has gone off the air, a look of fury on his face.
Hastings: BURKE!!
The Head Referee stops, looking back at Donovan.
Hastings: What kind of chop shop operation are you running here? There’s mayhem out there, bodies flying everywhere, I’m very sure I never even heard a bell, extra people crashing the party, and you go ahead and count a random three? This kind of half-assed nonsense is what got you demoted to Chill years ago, you hack!
Orson: Subtle bemusement.
Donovan turns and glares at the current Creative Director, who leans on a wall watching Donovan with his arms crossed. Burke takes the opportunity to slip away.
Hastings: I’m sure you think this is all pretty funny. I’ll bet you have something to do with it too, don’t you? You’ve either got no control or you’re completely in control. I’m a week away from once again main eventing the biggest show of the year, you’ve got a blockbuster trios main event to finish off Synergy, and you let it go all to hell. You should be protecting your main event, not allowing for distracting elements. What happens if Sloane comes out there and distracts me and Tempest gives me a concussion?
Orson: Perhaps the fans will find comfort in the confirmation that we still have a main event for Horizons, after what you tried to do to Sloane earlier.
Hastings: And then there is whoever else is out to get me. I’ve got to prepare for the main event of Horizons, meanwhile there’s some glorious bastard that I’m sure is your doing stalking me all night, showing up to threaten me at the end of the night? What do you have to say about all this?!
Holden appears amused.
Orson: ...scoff.
He walks away, leaving Donovan in a fury.
Grey Coppi sits behind a desk, facing the camera.
Coppi: Hello there, and welcome back to Making Coppis. I’m Grey Coppi, and we are continuing our preview of Horizons XV, and while it may well be one of the most stacked and personal cards in history, it’s all going to come down to the main event, for the World Championship with Donovan Hastings defending against Sloane Taylor. After the events of this past year, this may well be one of the most anticipated Horizons main events in recent history, and joining me now is the reigning champion, the Lord of Pain, Donovan Hastings
The camera pans back to show Donovan sitting in a guest chair.
Hastings: Grey, as usual, the pleasure and the honor is yours.
Coppi: We are just days away from what is surely one of the biggest matches in your career, it’s been quite the career revival for you in 2021, what can you tell us as you head into Horizons?
Hastings: I think it’s very obvious that you’re witnessing perhaps the greatest championship reigns in UGWC history unfolding before your very eyes.
Coppi: That’s an awfully bold statement.
Hastings: But true. Ask a common fan about the greatest World Championship reigns that they’ve seen, and tell me that what I’m doing currently isn’t better. Tyvola beat Travis Pierce and spent most of his reign fawning over Gabby Montgomery. Travis Roberts, longest reign of all time? How could it not be when he spent it defending against the likes of Dredd, Cynric, Ichabod, and Holden Orson. Holden might be the flavor of the year as the current Creative Director, but he never exactly lit it up as an in-ring talent. Vain gave him a shot for three months in a row, and that accounts for the bulk of his big reign. You want something recent? Angie Vaughn defends against Kenzi, Bordy, and actually takes a Pay-Per-View off from defending the title. Sarah Lacklan defends at Horizons against the same person that’s featured this year in an “Interview-Off.” You want the most dominant reign in our history? How about one that featured four straight defenses against former or future World Champions?
Coppi: You’re referring to your own reign in 2014, and the four defenses were against Remi Monroe, Eden Morgan, Moss Edwards, and Jet Somers.
Hastings: You’re not going to find a reign with a higher quality of competition than that one, up until now. Hide Yamazaki. Rogan MacLean. Angelica Vaughn. And now, the main event of Horizons, and Sloane Taylor. Once again, four World Champs in a row, and we’ve even got the main event of Horizons as a part of it.
Coppi: I think we all pretty much know the bulk of your thoughts on that, but at this time we’d like to bring on another guest with a different perspective on the matter.
Hastings: Hold on, you didn’t say anything about another guest.
Coppi: We’re very excited to have him, please welcome to Making Coppis, Kit Taylor!
Hastings: You’ve got to be kidding me.
Kit waves as he walks onto set and shakes Grey’s hand before sitting in a vacant seat adjacent to Donovan.
Coppi: Welcome to the show!
Kit: Thank you for having me, I’m really excited to be here!
Hastings: It’s like you’re aspiring to be a PMN show at this point.
Kit: You know, speaking of Travis Pierce…sorry, I don’t mean to get us off track before we even get underway.
Coppi: No, go ahead.
Kit: I just think that whole Interview-Off thing he’s got with Johnny sounds pretty fun, I’m looking forward to that at Horizons.
Hastings: It’s a fluff segment to give people a bathroom break!
Kit: You know that “Piercing Questions From the Fans” recurring bit that they used to do? Pierce actually read one of my questions on air once.
Hastings: That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Coppi: Kit, it must be a very special time for you, seeing Sloane about to compete in the main event of Horizons.
Kit: Of course it is. Obviously there wasn’t a lot of suspense regarding whether this was where we were headed. Even before the Keys to the Kingdom match, everyone knew what Sloane was going to do. Tyvola is probably lost somewhere in a cave, and he knew what Sloane was going to do. Travis Roberts is probably off in some Tibetan monastery, and HE knew what she was going to do.
Hastings: You don’t get to talk about Travis Roberts.
Kit: You know I actually got a Cameo from him? It was actually just his shoulder though, and he was mumbling something about trying to get his good side.
Hastings: So you would be the one.
Kit: But as obvious as it was to us, I think it was even more obvious to Sloane. She’s known what she wanted to do with her key ever since the day that Donovan attacked her and put her out of action.
Hastings: It’s “Lord” to a peasant like you.
Kit: Hastings called me a peasant to my face! That’s actually a little cool. But yeah, things were scary there for a bit, we didn’t know if she would recover, but I’m telling you, Sloane knew. She knew she’d be back, and that she had to win the match at Keeper of the Keys so she could finally set things right.
Hastings: Sloane was a disgraceful champion that got what she deserved. She embarrassed UGWC at Incursion and her reign is a black spot on our history.
Kit: She won the Outlast Tournament! Grey, that epic reign you guys were talking about back in 2014, with all those high caliber defenses? Do you remember how it ended?
Coppi: It ended at that year’s Outlast Tournament.
Kit: Which Jet Somers won. That was awesome!
Hastings: I made him quit and won it back the next month!
Kit: Followed by the fastest five minutes of your life. I mean, that was a great time for me as a fan. UGWC was churning out epic show after epic show.
Coppi: You mentioned Jet Somers, and that’s definitely something that we should address here, that the Hall of Famer will be in the corner of Sloane Taylor at Horizons.
Hastings: It’s a Cage Match. Put the entire Hall of Fame out there, it’s not going to matter.
Kit: I think Lord Hastings should be very worried that Jet Somers is in Sloane’s corner, because it’s not just for the match. He’s in her corner the whole way, psyching her up backstage, watching her back, helping her prepare. I’ve seen all your matches, but Jet was actually IN a lot of them. He faced you twice at Horizons, both main events. Nobody knows you better or how to BEAT you better than Jet Somers.
Hastings: He won that Outlast Tournament after I got stabbed in the back, let’s be clear about that. Now, you say you’ve seen all my matches, I appreciate that, obviously you’ve all the times I faced Jet one on one on Pay-Per-View.
Kit: Yeah.
Hastings: Can you name them?
Kit: Of course. I can even give you the stips. Horizons 2010, Four Corners of Doom. WrestleStock 2014, unified the UGWC and PPW titles. Should have been a classic PPW guy, but I digress. Sin City 2014, I Quit Match. Horizons 2017. In Your Hands 2020. With the exception of that last one, all main events, all for the World Heavyweight Title.
Hastings: Well done. And the exception of that very first one, all victories for me. Jet beat me once, one time, and I adjusted. He never beat me again when it was one on one, and as you just outlined for us, he had many shots at it. So if you’re telling me that the person in Sloane’s ear is the person that never could figure out how to beat me? That sounds to me like she’s done me a favor by including him. I welcome it, in fact the chance to indirectly beat Jet Somers one more time might just make this entire diversion worth my time.
Kit: You don’t think that the main event of Horizons is worth your time?
Hastings: I don’t think that Sloane Taylor is worth my time. I’ve beaten Sloane before, I should be on to other things, and the only “fan” that wanted this to be the main event of Horizons is the one sitting next to me.
Kit appears to take a deep breath before speaking.
Kit: Well this “peasant” means no disrespect, but they say that pride comes before the fall.
Donovan turns sharply to Kit, startling him.
Hastings: This…peasant…if he is as well-versed as he claims, also knows full well that there was a time I would have dragged him through the arena in chains simply because I could. I would have left him in a pile of his own bile and vomit and left him as a warning for someone that actually mattered. You should be grateful for the fact that I’ve evolved over the years. That’s something else that I accomplished that Jet Somers never could. Now, if you’re smart, you won’t look me in the eyes, you’ll lower them in deference as you should, but then you’ll fall on your knees and you’ll thank me.
Kit: For…for what?
Hastings: For tolerating you. And you’ll do it in the hope that I’ll spare Sloane at Horizons, that she might still have a career afterwards. I might see fit to promise you that. Or perhaps I’ll just finish what I started last summer, and this time she’ll literally not be left with a leg to stand on.
Kit looks to Grey for help, but the host simply sits silently. Donovan stands, causing Kit to noticeably flinch.
Hastings: On second thought, don’t bother. I think I’d like to leave you with some suspense after all.
Donovan walks off the set.
Gabriel is tired from a long day and eager for a moment of peace, but he enters his study to find Donovan laying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
Baal: I thought you were all taking a ride to see the holiday lights.
Hastings: Eden took the girls. I thought perhaps you and I could take a moment. I have need of your services.
Baal: I keep telling you, I’m not an Owen.
Hastings: Well I certainly don’t need what Eden uses you for. No, I’m here on the couch for a reason.
Donovan gestures towards his own posture.
Hastings: I need the doctor to see me now.
Baal: I’m not in the mood to be mocked.
Hastings: Well it’s a good thing I’m entirely serious then. I’ve got stuff I need to talk about that needs a professional.
Baal: You want a therapy session? How quaint. I might suggest it’s not particularly ethical under the circumstances for me to take you on as a patient.
Hastings: Yes, you’re known for your ethical standards. I don’t need the full forty-five minute hour, but if we could get started I’d appreciate it.
Gabriel sighs and sits in his chair, taking out and opening his notebook and clicking his pen.
Hastings: It’s about a dream I had. One that I can’t shake.
He stares up at the ceiling.
Hastings: I just remember being in the woods. There are a bunch of children playing a game, it’s some cross between the Hunger Games and Squid Game. I can’t remember the specifics, but Katie is standing in front of me, and she…
Donovan hesitates.
Hastings: ...she lost. And I know what that means. She doesn’t, though. She just looks at me and she smiles. There is a person standing behind her. I can’t make out the face. It’s an adult. They’re standing, and they’re waiting. They’re waiting for her, because it’s time to take her away. She lost. She lost and I know what that means.
Silence.
Hastings: So I get down on one knee and I hug her, I hug her the tightest I ever have, and it’s because when I let go…
Donovan’s voice cracks slightly.
Hastings: When I let go they’re going to take her and I’m never going to see her again. So I hold her and I don’t let go, and then I hear her voice. “It’s okay, Daddy,” she says, “I had fun.”
Silence.
Hastings: The last thing I remember, as I refuse to let go, is looking up at this faceless person that is waiting to take my baby away from me. That’s where it ended, the moment that I woke up, but every time I close my eyes since then, I can see it. I can feel her in my arms.
Donovan closes his eyes, and a single tear escapes them.
Hastings: Every time.
There is a lengthy silence. Gabriel closes his notebook, having not made a single note, and puts it aside.
Baal: Your dream isn't uncommon. The specifics, the games you mentioned? They represent the world around you, and the degree to which you want to protect the girls from its horrors. The scenario in question is representative of you being scared of letting Katie down. She's your biggest fan, Donovan. It's only natural that you would be concerned that you're not going to live up to her expectations.
Gabriel pauses for a moment, before leaning forward.
Baal: And yet…that faceless person waiting to take her away from you… It could represent an extension of the dangers of the world around or it could be something more.. Specific. Donovan, I hope you’re not worried that it’s us.
Hastings: No, of course not. I meant what I said at Thanksgiving. What you and Eden have been for my family, what you’ve done for the girls…that exists outside of everything else. I trust you with them.
He sits up on the couch, swinging his legs around to the floor.
Hastings: The World Heavyweight Title is a different matter. I imagine you wouldn’t mind seeing me lose that. Probably wish you were the one I was facing at Horizons, yourself.
Baal: No, not at all. Believe it or not, I very sincerely hope you win at Horizons. I hope you go on and complete your list, that you get to beat Seb, that you beat everybody you want to beat. I hope you make it a full year, and that you break T-Rob’s record. I hope you’re able to do whatever brings you contentment that you’ve established yourself as the best ever.
Gabriel smiles.
Baal: And then I want to be the one that beats you.
You are a ruiner, Sloane. I do suppose that every party needs a pooper. That must be why we’ve invited you.
I imagine that there are people who feel this is a fitting place for us to have come to, people beyond your naive brother. After all, you are a talented competitor. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. A WrestleStock Cup winner who went on to climb the ranks. Cooperative Champion. Chaos Champion. The Final Girl. The World Champion.
A pity you ended up to be such a disappointment. You don’t belong here, Sloane. It isn’t that you don’t deserve to be in the main event of Horizons. That may have happened down the road, life is full of possibilities. You just don’t belong in a World Title match with me. Not here. Not now.
You had your chance. My plan was perfect, the path laid out was pristine. I saw you for the flawed champion that you were at Incursion. You were placed in the perhaps unfair position of standing for us all, and you couldn’t handle that. You let us all down, you did that. I resolved then that I would be the person who took the championship away from you. Not only did you need to be stripped of the title, but it coincided with my mission to establish myself as the superior Entertainment Professional of every era. Beating UGWC’s newest darling to win back my title was perfection, destined to be a chef’s kiss moment to be put alongside a career of iconic moments.
The problem is that you once again simply couldn’t hold up your end, just as you couldn’t at Incursion. You couldn’t even keep the title long enough to face me for it. With our match scheduled, the tickets being sold, the fans eager with anticipation, you went and lost the title on Synergy to Gabriel Baal. You disappointed everyone. You disappointed me. Again.
What followed was necessary. I put you out of our collective misery. I gave you a way out. You should have made the most of that and ridden off into the sunset. Or been stretchered into it. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. Your time should have been over.
I went on to WrestleStock and my date with destiny. I am the UGWC World Champion again. I said that I would prove myself the greatest World Champion in history, and I have done that. They even had a whole show about it before Keeper of the Keys. I said that I would face the other former World Champions that I had never beaten, and I would add them to the list. Yamazaki. MacLean. Vaughn. My task was nearly complete, there was only one name left to cross off.
Sebastian Everett-Bryce. The Third.
It should be Seb that I’m facing at Horizons. I didn’t need to face you, Sloane. I’ve beaten you before. I needed to face Seb. That’s how this story is meant to end, with me completing my mission and taking complete possession of my destiny. It should have been Seb that won the Keys to the Kingdom match, and it should be Seb challenging me at Horizons. I’ve no doubt he’d have thought of something more imaginative than a Steel Cage.
Instead, it’s you. You decide to come back from the edge, and you won that match. You took it from Seb, this person you’re supposed to have such care for, you took this from him. From me. And look at what has happened to him as a result. He’s barely holding on. Seems to have simply given up, lost his way. You did that. What a good friend you are.
You’ve stolen so much from all of us. You stole UGWC’s pride at Incursion. You stole Seb’s dreams at Keeper of the Keys. You’ve stolen my rightful moment at Horizons. This is as far as it goes, this far and no farther. They call you the Final Girl, but you are not my final chapter. My journey is not over.
Yours might be.
At Horizons there are no more distractions. No hooded man or cryptic masks. Jet Somers on the outside, but he does matter. Just you and me inside the steel. A final moment between us, and then you can go off and lick your wounds again. By the time you return again, my task will be complete, my legacy etched in eternity, and not even you could ruin it.
It is inevitable.
Hastings: BURKE!!
The Head Referee stops, looking back at Donovan.
Hastings: What kind of chop shop operation are you running here? There’s mayhem out there, bodies flying everywhere, I’m very sure I never even heard a bell, extra people crashing the party, and you go ahead and count a random three? This kind of half-assed nonsense is what got you demoted to Chill years ago, you hack!
Orson: Subtle bemusement.
Donovan turns and glares at the current Creative Director, who leans on a wall watching Donovan with his arms crossed. Burke takes the opportunity to slip away.
Hastings: I’m sure you think this is all pretty funny. I’ll bet you have something to do with it too, don’t you? You’ve either got no control or you’re completely in control. I’m a week away from once again main eventing the biggest show of the year, you’ve got a blockbuster trios main event to finish off Synergy, and you let it go all to hell. You should be protecting your main event, not allowing for distracting elements. What happens if Sloane comes out there and distracts me and Tempest gives me a concussion?
Orson: Perhaps the fans will find comfort in the confirmation that we still have a main event for Horizons, after what you tried to do to Sloane earlier.
Hastings: And then there is whoever else is out to get me. I’ve got to prepare for the main event of Horizons, meanwhile there’s some glorious bastard that I’m sure is your doing stalking me all night, showing up to threaten me at the end of the night? What do you have to say about all this?!
Holden appears amused.
Orson: ...scoff.
He walks away, leaving Donovan in a fury.
Grey Coppi sits behind a desk, facing the camera.
Coppi: Hello there, and welcome back to Making Coppis. I’m Grey Coppi, and we are continuing our preview of Horizons XV, and while it may well be one of the most stacked and personal cards in history, it’s all going to come down to the main event, for the World Championship with Donovan Hastings defending against Sloane Taylor. After the events of this past year, this may well be one of the most anticipated Horizons main events in recent history, and joining me now is the reigning champion, the Lord of Pain, Donovan Hastings
The camera pans back to show Donovan sitting in a guest chair.
Hastings: Grey, as usual, the pleasure and the honor is yours.
Coppi: We are just days away from what is surely one of the biggest matches in your career, it’s been quite the career revival for you in 2021, what can you tell us as you head into Horizons?
Hastings: I think it’s very obvious that you’re witnessing perhaps the greatest championship reigns in UGWC history unfolding before your very eyes.
Coppi: That’s an awfully bold statement.
Hastings: But true. Ask a common fan about the greatest World Championship reigns that they’ve seen, and tell me that what I’m doing currently isn’t better. Tyvola beat Travis Pierce and spent most of his reign fawning over Gabby Montgomery. Travis Roberts, longest reign of all time? How could it not be when he spent it defending against the likes of Dredd, Cynric, Ichabod, and Holden Orson. Holden might be the flavor of the year as the current Creative Director, but he never exactly lit it up as an in-ring talent. Vain gave him a shot for three months in a row, and that accounts for the bulk of his big reign. You want something recent? Angie Vaughn defends against Kenzi, Bordy, and actually takes a Pay-Per-View off from defending the title. Sarah Lacklan defends at Horizons against the same person that’s featured this year in an “Interview-Off.” You want the most dominant reign in our history? How about one that featured four straight defenses against former or future World Champions?
Coppi: You’re referring to your own reign in 2014, and the four defenses were against Remi Monroe, Eden Morgan, Moss Edwards, and Jet Somers.
Hastings: You’re not going to find a reign with a higher quality of competition than that one, up until now. Hide Yamazaki. Rogan MacLean. Angelica Vaughn. And now, the main event of Horizons, and Sloane Taylor. Once again, four World Champs in a row, and we’ve even got the main event of Horizons as a part of it.
Coppi: I think we all pretty much know the bulk of your thoughts on that, but at this time we’d like to bring on another guest with a different perspective on the matter.
Hastings: Hold on, you didn’t say anything about another guest.
Coppi: We’re very excited to have him, please welcome to Making Coppis, Kit Taylor!
Hastings: You’ve got to be kidding me.
Kit waves as he walks onto set and shakes Grey’s hand before sitting in a vacant seat adjacent to Donovan.
Coppi: Welcome to the show!
Kit: Thank you for having me, I’m really excited to be here!
Hastings: It’s like you’re aspiring to be a PMN show at this point.
Kit: You know, speaking of Travis Pierce…sorry, I don’t mean to get us off track before we even get underway.
Coppi: No, go ahead.
Kit: I just think that whole Interview-Off thing he’s got with Johnny sounds pretty fun, I’m looking forward to that at Horizons.
Hastings: It’s a fluff segment to give people a bathroom break!
Kit: You know that “Piercing Questions From the Fans” recurring bit that they used to do? Pierce actually read one of my questions on air once.
Hastings: That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Coppi: Kit, it must be a very special time for you, seeing Sloane about to compete in the main event of Horizons.
Kit: Of course it is. Obviously there wasn’t a lot of suspense regarding whether this was where we were headed. Even before the Keys to the Kingdom match, everyone knew what Sloane was going to do. Tyvola is probably lost somewhere in a cave, and he knew what Sloane was going to do. Travis Roberts is probably off in some Tibetan monastery, and HE knew what she was going to do.
Hastings: You don’t get to talk about Travis Roberts.
Kit: You know I actually got a Cameo from him? It was actually just his shoulder though, and he was mumbling something about trying to get his good side.
Hastings: So you would be the one.
Kit: But as obvious as it was to us, I think it was even more obvious to Sloane. She’s known what she wanted to do with her key ever since the day that Donovan attacked her and put her out of action.
Hastings: It’s “Lord” to a peasant like you.
Kit: Hastings called me a peasant to my face! That’s actually a little cool. But yeah, things were scary there for a bit, we didn’t know if she would recover, but I’m telling you, Sloane knew. She knew she’d be back, and that she had to win the match at Keeper of the Keys so she could finally set things right.
Hastings: Sloane was a disgraceful champion that got what she deserved. She embarrassed UGWC at Incursion and her reign is a black spot on our history.
Kit: She won the Outlast Tournament! Grey, that epic reign you guys were talking about back in 2014, with all those high caliber defenses? Do you remember how it ended?
Coppi: It ended at that year’s Outlast Tournament.
Kit: Which Jet Somers won. That was awesome!
Hastings: I made him quit and won it back the next month!
Kit: Followed by the fastest five minutes of your life. I mean, that was a great time for me as a fan. UGWC was churning out epic show after epic show.
Coppi: You mentioned Jet Somers, and that’s definitely something that we should address here, that the Hall of Famer will be in the corner of Sloane Taylor at Horizons.
Hastings: It’s a Cage Match. Put the entire Hall of Fame out there, it’s not going to matter.
Kit: I think Lord Hastings should be very worried that Jet Somers is in Sloane’s corner, because it’s not just for the match. He’s in her corner the whole way, psyching her up backstage, watching her back, helping her prepare. I’ve seen all your matches, but Jet was actually IN a lot of them. He faced you twice at Horizons, both main events. Nobody knows you better or how to BEAT you better than Jet Somers.
Hastings: He won that Outlast Tournament after I got stabbed in the back, let’s be clear about that. Now, you say you’ve seen all my matches, I appreciate that, obviously you’ve all the times I faced Jet one on one on Pay-Per-View.
Kit: Yeah.
Hastings: Can you name them?
Kit: Of course. I can even give you the stips. Horizons 2010, Four Corners of Doom. WrestleStock 2014, unified the UGWC and PPW titles. Should have been a classic PPW guy, but I digress. Sin City 2014, I Quit Match. Horizons 2017. In Your Hands 2020. With the exception of that last one, all main events, all for the World Heavyweight Title.
Hastings: Well done. And the exception of that very first one, all victories for me. Jet beat me once, one time, and I adjusted. He never beat me again when it was one on one, and as you just outlined for us, he had many shots at it. So if you’re telling me that the person in Sloane’s ear is the person that never could figure out how to beat me? That sounds to me like she’s done me a favor by including him. I welcome it, in fact the chance to indirectly beat Jet Somers one more time might just make this entire diversion worth my time.
Kit: You don’t think that the main event of Horizons is worth your time?
Hastings: I don’t think that Sloane Taylor is worth my time. I’ve beaten Sloane before, I should be on to other things, and the only “fan” that wanted this to be the main event of Horizons is the one sitting next to me.
Kit appears to take a deep breath before speaking.
Kit: Well this “peasant” means no disrespect, but they say that pride comes before the fall.
Donovan turns sharply to Kit, startling him.
Hastings: This…peasant…if he is as well-versed as he claims, also knows full well that there was a time I would have dragged him through the arena in chains simply because I could. I would have left him in a pile of his own bile and vomit and left him as a warning for someone that actually mattered. You should be grateful for the fact that I’ve evolved over the years. That’s something else that I accomplished that Jet Somers never could. Now, if you’re smart, you won’t look me in the eyes, you’ll lower them in deference as you should, but then you’ll fall on your knees and you’ll thank me.
Kit: For…for what?
Hastings: For tolerating you. And you’ll do it in the hope that I’ll spare Sloane at Horizons, that she might still have a career afterwards. I might see fit to promise you that. Or perhaps I’ll just finish what I started last summer, and this time she’ll literally not be left with a leg to stand on.
Kit looks to Grey for help, but the host simply sits silently. Donovan stands, causing Kit to noticeably flinch.
Hastings: On second thought, don’t bother. I think I’d like to leave you with some suspense after all.
Donovan walks off the set.
Gabriel is tired from a long day and eager for a moment of peace, but he enters his study to find Donovan laying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
Baal: I thought you were all taking a ride to see the holiday lights.
Hastings: Eden took the girls. I thought perhaps you and I could take a moment. I have need of your services.
Baal: I keep telling you, I’m not an Owen.
Hastings: Well I certainly don’t need what Eden uses you for. No, I’m here on the couch for a reason.
Donovan gestures towards his own posture.
Hastings: I need the doctor to see me now.
Baal: I’m not in the mood to be mocked.
Hastings: Well it’s a good thing I’m entirely serious then. I’ve got stuff I need to talk about that needs a professional.
Baal: You want a therapy session? How quaint. I might suggest it’s not particularly ethical under the circumstances for me to take you on as a patient.
Hastings: Yes, you’re known for your ethical standards. I don’t need the full forty-five minute hour, but if we could get started I’d appreciate it.
Gabriel sighs and sits in his chair, taking out and opening his notebook and clicking his pen.
Hastings: It’s about a dream I had. One that I can’t shake.
He stares up at the ceiling.
Hastings: I just remember being in the woods. There are a bunch of children playing a game, it’s some cross between the Hunger Games and Squid Game. I can’t remember the specifics, but Katie is standing in front of me, and she…
Donovan hesitates.
Hastings: ...she lost. And I know what that means. She doesn’t, though. She just looks at me and she smiles. There is a person standing behind her. I can’t make out the face. It’s an adult. They’re standing, and they’re waiting. They’re waiting for her, because it’s time to take her away. She lost. She lost and I know what that means.
Silence.
Hastings: So I get down on one knee and I hug her, I hug her the tightest I ever have, and it’s because when I let go…
Donovan’s voice cracks slightly.
Hastings: When I let go they’re going to take her and I’m never going to see her again. So I hold her and I don’t let go, and then I hear her voice. “It’s okay, Daddy,” she says, “I had fun.”
Silence.
Hastings: The last thing I remember, as I refuse to let go, is looking up at this faceless person that is waiting to take my baby away from me. That’s where it ended, the moment that I woke up, but every time I close my eyes since then, I can see it. I can feel her in my arms.
Donovan closes his eyes, and a single tear escapes them.
Hastings: Every time.
There is a lengthy silence. Gabriel closes his notebook, having not made a single note, and puts it aside.
Baal: Your dream isn't uncommon. The specifics, the games you mentioned? They represent the world around you, and the degree to which you want to protect the girls from its horrors. The scenario in question is representative of you being scared of letting Katie down. She's your biggest fan, Donovan. It's only natural that you would be concerned that you're not going to live up to her expectations.
Gabriel pauses for a moment, before leaning forward.
Baal: And yet…that faceless person waiting to take her away from you… It could represent an extension of the dangers of the world around or it could be something more.. Specific. Donovan, I hope you’re not worried that it’s us.
Hastings: No, of course not. I meant what I said at Thanksgiving. What you and Eden have been for my family, what you’ve done for the girls…that exists outside of everything else. I trust you with them.
He sits up on the couch, swinging his legs around to the floor.
Hastings: The World Heavyweight Title is a different matter. I imagine you wouldn’t mind seeing me lose that. Probably wish you were the one I was facing at Horizons, yourself.
Baal: No, not at all. Believe it or not, I very sincerely hope you win at Horizons. I hope you go on and complete your list, that you get to beat Seb, that you beat everybody you want to beat. I hope you make it a full year, and that you break T-Rob’s record. I hope you’re able to do whatever brings you contentment that you’ve established yourself as the best ever.
Gabriel smiles.
Baal: And then I want to be the one that beats you.
You are a ruiner, Sloane. I do suppose that every party needs a pooper. That must be why we’ve invited you.
I imagine that there are people who feel this is a fitting place for us to have come to, people beyond your naive brother. After all, you are a talented competitor. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. A WrestleStock Cup winner who went on to climb the ranks. Cooperative Champion. Chaos Champion. The Final Girl. The World Champion.
A pity you ended up to be such a disappointment. You don’t belong here, Sloane. It isn’t that you don’t deserve to be in the main event of Horizons. That may have happened down the road, life is full of possibilities. You just don’t belong in a World Title match with me. Not here. Not now.
You had your chance. My plan was perfect, the path laid out was pristine. I saw you for the flawed champion that you were at Incursion. You were placed in the perhaps unfair position of standing for us all, and you couldn’t handle that. You let us all down, you did that. I resolved then that I would be the person who took the championship away from you. Not only did you need to be stripped of the title, but it coincided with my mission to establish myself as the superior Entertainment Professional of every era. Beating UGWC’s newest darling to win back my title was perfection, destined to be a chef’s kiss moment to be put alongside a career of iconic moments.
The problem is that you once again simply couldn’t hold up your end, just as you couldn’t at Incursion. You couldn’t even keep the title long enough to face me for it. With our match scheduled, the tickets being sold, the fans eager with anticipation, you went and lost the title on Synergy to Gabriel Baal. You disappointed everyone. You disappointed me. Again.
What followed was necessary. I put you out of our collective misery. I gave you a way out. You should have made the most of that and ridden off into the sunset. Or been stretchered into it. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. Your time should have been over.
I went on to WrestleStock and my date with destiny. I am the UGWC World Champion again. I said that I would prove myself the greatest World Champion in history, and I have done that. They even had a whole show about it before Keeper of the Keys. I said that I would face the other former World Champions that I had never beaten, and I would add them to the list. Yamazaki. MacLean. Vaughn. My task was nearly complete, there was only one name left to cross off.
Sebastian Everett-Bryce. The Third.
It should be Seb that I’m facing at Horizons. I didn’t need to face you, Sloane. I’ve beaten you before. I needed to face Seb. That’s how this story is meant to end, with me completing my mission and taking complete possession of my destiny. It should have been Seb that won the Keys to the Kingdom match, and it should be Seb challenging me at Horizons. I’ve no doubt he’d have thought of something more imaginative than a Steel Cage.
Instead, it’s you. You decide to come back from the edge, and you won that match. You took it from Seb, this person you’re supposed to have such care for, you took this from him. From me. And look at what has happened to him as a result. He’s barely holding on. Seems to have simply given up, lost his way. You did that. What a good friend you are.
You’ve stolen so much from all of us. You stole UGWC’s pride at Incursion. You stole Seb’s dreams at Keeper of the Keys. You’ve stolen my rightful moment at Horizons. This is as far as it goes, this far and no farther. They call you the Final Girl, but you are not my final chapter. My journey is not over.
Yours might be.
At Horizons there are no more distractions. No hooded man or cryptic masks. Jet Somers on the outside, but he does matter. Just you and me inside the steel. A final moment between us, and then you can go off and lick your wounds again. By the time you return again, my task will be complete, my legacy etched in eternity, and not even you could ruin it.
It is inevitable.
