Ten Days of Chaos - (Horizons RP - Hard Ten Match)

[Sebastian Everett-Bryce]

December 3rd, 2022 - New York City, New York

Christmas had always been one of Seb’s favourite times of year. As much as he enjoyed the summer sun, there was something utterly delightful about the crispness of the winter months. Add to that the fun and frivolity of the festive period and it just made Christmas, as the song says, the most wonderful time of the year.

The moment that the clock struck midnight on the 31st of November, Sloane had squealed with delight and leaped into sudden action. She’d disappeared into her wardrobe and appeared moments later with a thick jumper adorned with images of Hedgies hanging from a Christmas tree like ornaments. She was like a whirlwind - and Seb couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought back to a year earlier when she’d done the exact same thing in Bastian’s hospital room.

Had that really been so long ago?

It felt like an entirely different life - the final days of his career as a professional wrestler were ticking away. The love of his life was entwined with someone else. His grandfather lay in his hospital bed in a coma. It had felt as though Christmas was going to be the worst time he’d ever had in his life…

And then…

This year, everything had turned around. From the moment that Bastian had knocked on Sloane’s door on Christmas day and announced to everyone that cared about him that death had been “terrified” at the idea of trying to take him on, everything had seemed to turn. The loss to Raven had slipped from his mind. Less than a month later, he and Sloane had finally found the strength to do what made them happy instead of what they thought was right.

An Empire of Chaos had been born.

Just two days after Hurricane Taylor had somehow managed to turn their New York apartment into an almost exact appropriation of the North Pole, Seb found himself alone. Sloane had taken an opportunity to head out for the fourth time after finding yet another something to add to their display - this time a nativity set, but each of the figures were based on characters from Star Wars - ‘Omg, Space Mom is Mary!”

He chuckled to himself as a knock took him out of his mild day dream about Sloane’s Princess Leia outfit that she had in the wardrobe upstairs. He shook his head clear and got to his feet, before heading over to the door. As he opened it, he was greeted by… Noone. He popped his head out of the door and looked around - but the corridor outside the apartment was entirely empty.

“Hmm…” He said, stepping backwards. As he started to close the door, he looked down. In the doorway lay a wooden box with a note on the top. He leaned down, and scooped up the offering and turned back into the apartment. As he walked towards the table slowly, the box in one hand, he opened the note with the other.

Sebastian,

Welcome to the ten days of Chaos.
Inside the box is a gift.
That gift will help you to remember your journey.
Open one each day, starting with today.
Countdown from ten.
Each door represents a contest.
Each contest represents your path
The path that brought you here.
The journey, not yet at its end.
Good luck at Horizons.

Yours, watching with anticipation

A friend.

Seb’s brow was furrowed as he placed the box upon the table. It was beautifully made, inlaid with the chaos star synonymous with the Engine of Chaos. Seb reached out and ran his fingers over the symbol, before pressing his hand against it and sliding the lid to the side. The flat wooden plate moved, much like a cigar box, out of the way. Beneath it was a bed of shredded newspaper and in the midst of the mulch was something wooden. Seb pulled it from the box and examined it.

It was another wooden box, but this was the chaos star in 3D form. It had been carved beautifully and intricately, and in each of the arrows that pointed away from the centre was a small door with a number carved into it. The numbers one to eight. The middle of the symbol was solid and had two remaining doors - the number nine was the same size as it’s eight brothers, but the tenth door was larger and sat just below.

Seb glanced at the note again before looking down at the door on the topmost arrow that read ‘10’. He considered who would possibly want to fuck with him this close to Horizons, but he had to admit his curiosity had been piqued. He reached out and pulled the tiny handle on the door which swung open on minute hinges. Inside there was a small wrapped note with something inside. Seb pulled it out and unfurled the paper.

Inside was a small top hat, with an “I” inscribed upon it - when he looked down at the paper, Seb felt a bitter sting.

____________________________

September 20th, 2021 - Chicago, Illinois

Seb slammed through the door of his lockeroom which swung open and collided with the wall. The force of the shove brought the door to a loud close.

“Fuck!” He shouted as he threw the long jacket he’d worn to the ring against the wall. “Fuck!”

Seb slowly began to pull the tape from around his wrists as his eyes filled with tears - he couldn’t believe it. He’d lost. It wasn’t that Montague wasn’t a worthy champion, or a dangerous competitor. It was that he’d been so sure that this run with this championship would be the one that forced the words back down the throats of everyone who sneered at him and his failures as a singles champion. Cross Hemisphere Championship, no defences. World Heavyweight Championship, no defences and now, what? One with the Chaos? He was a Grand Slam winner, but arguably the worst Grand Slam winner of all time.

“FUCK!” He yelled again as he hurled his boot towards the wall. It bounced off the door as he strode into the shower and turned on the water. He leaned back, his head against the wall, and slowly sunk to the ground as the water began to pour down on him.

They’d all be laughing. Montague. Tempest. Fucking Ragdoll. Even that War prick who showed up for a minute and a half after Carnage had closed. He could hear them all already - choked again, Seb. Had it all and fucked up again Seb.

And he still couldn’t find his fucking Battleground Key either.

He’d let himself down. He’d let Sloane down. He’d let Bastian down.

He felt a darkness creep over him - those little voices in the back of his head that told him that he’d never be good enough. That he’d always be one step short of a legacy he could be proud of.

Seb wasn’t sure how long he’d been sat there… Letting the water spill over him. But before he knew what was happening, he felt hands on his wet skin. He looked up into Sloane’s face. It was filled with pity… He hated that. She slowly helped to get him to his feet, entirely unphased by the fact that she herself was getting wet from the shower.

And as she led him from the shower back towards his gear, Seb felt a chill up his spine that had nothing to do with cold.

He’d failed.

---

December 4th, 2022 - New York City, New York

Once Seb had taken some time to think about everything that had happened in the wake of his failed defence against Montague, Sloane had returned to the apartment. As ever, she saw nothing but positives with the creepy mystery gift that seemed to foreshadow eternal doom. Instead, she saw it as something that could sit neatly between their advent calendars. For the record, Sloane’s advent Calender was Percy Pig, and Seb’s was M&S biscuits. Yes. They’d been imported.

It turned out that Sloane had, in fact, been quite put out by the fact that Seb hadn’t waited for her to return to the apartment before opening the first door. But that was all forgotten when Seb announced that she could open the second door.

“OhmygodcanIreally?!” She asked.

“Of course.” Said Seb with a smile. “Whenever you’re ready, love.”

Sloane squealed and clapped her hands as she walked over to the table and pulled open the second door.

“Hmm…” She said, pulling out the small rolled up piece of paper.

“What is it?” Seb asked.

“It’s a top hat, but it’s got a weird symbol on it.” She said. “I think it’s Greek.”

Seb climbed out of his seat and walked towards her and took the small metal object from her hand.

“The Omega.” Seb said with a small smile on his face.

“What does it even mean?”

“My first ever title defence.” Seb said with a smirk on his face. “Singles I mean - obviously you and I managed it together, but on my own until this match I’d never so much as look ed like defending a title I’d held.”

“Oh yeah - Monty and War.” Sloane said, looking at the small talisman. “That was a great match.”

“It was a challenging match - I knew very little about War, even though he’d come from Carnage. He talked a big game, but… Monty was the real threat. Proved it a few weeks later too.” Said Seb musing. “But this wasn’t so much about the opponents for me, it was the fact that I proved to myself that it wasn’t just luck. So much potential…”

“I remember how happy you were after that - you said that winning that match would shut everyone up. You thought everyone assumed you were going to drop the title at the first chance.” Said Sloane.

“I thought everyone assumed, or knew?” Seb asked as he rolled the small metal object between his fingers, and something felt familiar to him. “Oh my god, that was the thing with the dice!”

“The di… Oh my god the dice!” Sloane said with a small giggle.

“I remember I told you that I wasn’t enough… For you or for anyone…” Seb said quietly. “I guess I must have known what was coming, hmm?”

“No-one knows what’s coming, baby.” Sloane said reaching up and wrapped her hands around his neck. “That’s why it’s called chaos…”

“Oddly insightful.” Seb said with a smirk.

“Always the tone of surprise.” She said as she stepped up on her tip toes to meet Seb as he lowered his head. A few seconds later there was a heavy thud as the metal top hat dropped to the ground.

---

Decemeber 5th, 2022 - Somewhere between New York and Chicago

Flying from New York to Chicago had become something of a regular occurrence for Seb and Sloane. But this was a little different - given that Horizons was in Chicago and that Seb and Sloane had been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland with the Dukes, they’d had decided to take an elongated stay to have festivities early. Given the fact that they’d be in Chicago for a couple of weeks, Seb had made the decision to book a hotel. Sloane was, at first, confused as to why he’d made this choice, until he’d reminded her about her rule about “noise” when staying with her mother.

Sloane had quickly agreed.

He’d almost forgotten to pick up his gift from his mystery friend. Almost forgot to pack it. But he’d slipped it into his case, but not before opening a third door. Inside was not a symbol for an opponent, but for an event - a key. A single key.

____________________________

November 7th, 2022 - New Orleans, Louisiana

Seb felt little more but pain and heard little more than ringing in his ears. As he blinked, looking up into the ceiling of the arena, he felt something like a sinking feeling. He had no idea what had happened. No idea where he was, except for ringside. He tried to move, but wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. His back was spasming and twitching, his shoulder was aching.

He’d been unconscious.

On his back.

Looking up at the ceiling.

Fuck not again - so close to immortality and… He couldn’t have let it slip away again.

He tried to remember, to think back to the last things he could remember. He was out on his feet, using the ropes to hold himself up. He seemed to remember Chuck Rydell too. Ah christ, he hadn’t lost to not-Dave… Surely? He blinked as it slowly started to come back to him. No… No, because Chuck had gone for that brutal superkick, but he’d seen it coming and ducked… He remembered the Empire Kick… Remembered reaching for the rope to hold on but missing and… Had Ken caught an easy win? Had he fucked up?

Then the ringing died in his ears. And it was replaced by something entirely different.

“Here is your winner and…” Oh, please… Fucking Please… “STILLLLLLLLLLLLLL U-G-W-C Chaos Champion…. Sebastian Everett Bryyyyyycccceeee!!!!!!!”

The cheers in the arena broke over him, and suddenly all the pain in his body faded away. He felt the weight of the Chaos title being dropped laid across his chest as Hazel raised his arm… Seb blinked again, trying to take in what exactly was happening. He rolled over onto his stomach, and pushed up to his knees… He held the title in his hands for a second and then pressed his lips against it before raising it above his head.

“Congratulations!” Said Hazel in his ear. “You’re so close now…”

“To what?” Asked Seb as he grabbed the back of his head which had started to throb.

“To breaking the record… The Chaos title record.” She said, looking at him with confusion.

And then it came rushing back to him all at once… What the victory meant. He was the second longest reigning Chaos Champion of all time…

“Fuck…” He said. And he raised the title again, as Hazel laughed and went to check again on Chuck Rydell.

---

December 6th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

“So let me get this straight… Someone shows up at your door and leaves you a box, in a box, with tiny doors in and weird little trinkets… And your instinct is ‘Sure, let’s fly this across the country and keep opening it’.” Asked Kit. And if it was just Kit who had reservations, Seb would have passed it off as paranoia. Except when he glanced at the bewildered looks upon the faces of both Nina Taylor and his grandfather, he had to concede that perhaps, this wasn’t just a Kit problem.

“Well when you put it that way…” Seb said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

“Oh stop!” Said Sloane. “It’s fine - there’s nothing scary or weird about it. It’s just a box!”

“Nothing good can come from strange boxes…” Said Bastian.

“My past experience tells me that this isn’t always true.” Said Seb with a smirk. He looked around the room and quickly realised that he’d misjudged his audience. “Anyway, I think Sloane is right.”

“Mmhmm…” Said Sloane, slightly less supportive than she was earlier. She stared for a moment, before moving on. “Anyway. My point is that, someone is doing a thing here, and Seb’s started. And so far, it’s just been a cool little trip down memory lane.”

“If you think so, sweetie.” Said Nina, with only a hint of ‘oh my sweet summer child’ in her voice.

Seb looked down at the box and cleared his throat - he reached out and gripped the handle of door number six and pulled it open. He pulled out the roll of paper and when he opened it up, he found yet another top hat, this time with the II inscribed.

“What is it?” Asked Kit.

“Vindication.” Said Seb with a smirk on his face.

“Is that Monty again?” Asked Sloane. “You and him really have fought a lot over that title.”

“Tell me about it…” Said Seb with a smile. “I guess you could argue that, outside of Tempest he’s probably my biggest rival in UGWC. I didn’t beat him in our first match, I beat War. In our second match, he beat me - ended my reign. But this match… This was where I got my win back.”

“Why do you have a habit of throwing people from a height when you win your matches?” Asked Kit.

“Well they tend not to get back up.” Said Seb, simply. “And I win…”

“Well that makes sense.” Said Kit.

“This one was the one I needed - I needed to prove him beating me last year was the fluke, not the other way around. That he was the one who was out of his depth, and not me.” Seb said pausing as he rolled the small hat around in his fingers. “And I did… Monty was a great challenge, but that night I was better than he was.”

“And you threw him off something high.” Said Kit.

“And I threw him off something high.” Said Seb with a chuckle.

---

December 7th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

Seb awoke to find Sloane already up and out of bed - she text him to tell him she was going for a run, but then she’d head straight to her mothers. She asked him if he would meet her there with a list of things that needed to be picked up. In a follow up text, she hastily apologised that she’d been too impatient to wait, and she’d opened up door number six. Seb let out a chuckle and turned his head, he reached out to take the small talisman and the paper it sat upon. He looked down into the small metal bogeyman mask and allowed himself a smirk.

____________________________

August 29th, 2022 - Greenville, South Carolina

Seb moved quickly, this way and that through the halls of the local hospital that had been the recipient of several UGWC Superstars following the Run of the Mill Pay Per View. However, there was only one that Seb was looking for. In the wake of the firey end of their contest, JC had been immediately taken to a local hospital to be checked over - Seb, having only had minimal contact with the fire, had been checked by trainers and been forced to shower.

As soon as he’d dressed, he and Sloane had made their way to hospital - Sloane had waited in the waiting room as Seb searched the halls for his opponent for the evening. Finally, he dragged back a curtain behind which a grumpy sounding individual protested that he didn’t need any medical help.

Seb paused, curtain still in hand, as JC stopped his attempts to get up off the bed and merely stared at his visitor.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, no greeting nor sense of appreciation.

“I just… I wanted to see if you were okay. No-one could tell me anything.” Said Seb.

“You wanted to see if I was okay?” JC replied, before he grunted. “M’fine. Be out of here in no time.”

“Good… That’s good…” Said Seb. “Look, I just wanted to say…”

“Don’t.” Said JC, holding up a hand to the nurse to indicate that he wanted a minute. He climbed out of his seat. “Think you’d have beaten me without the flaming table?”

“I don’t know…” Said Seb. “Maybe.”

“Maybe isn’t good enough.” Said JC. “If you can’t think of a way you would have beaten me without using that table, then you’ve got nothing to apologise for.”

“Right…” Said Seb. “Right yeah. Good.”

He nodded and turned back towards the curtain, before pausing.

“Hey, Joe?” Seb said. JC paused at the use of a more familiar name. He turned slightly to face Seb. “Thank you… For the challenge. For the match. It was…”

“I know.” Said JC. He paused for a second before he extended his hand. Seb nodded and the two of them shook. “You’re on a short list now, Seb. People who get the better of me are few and far between.”

“Yeah well…” Said Seb with a smirk. “I’m one in a million.”

“Get out.” Said JC, pulling back his hand. Seb cleared his throat.

“Right, yes. I’ll do that.” He said, before stepping out and pulling back the curtain, another smile crossed his lips as he walked back to the waiting room.

---

December 8th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

Having seen off the challenge of Donovan and Konrad just a few days earlier with JC at his side, Seb had now switched to preparing for his match at Horizons. Hard 10 was no easy feat, and Horizons was no easy event. He was trying hard to ignore his record at the event - and when a six way match had been announced, he couldn’t help but worry that history could be repeating. He’d lost the Cross Hemisphere Championship three years earlier at the same event in Fatal Fourway.

The thoughts that plagued him were a distraction he didn’t need, and so he’d thrown himself into training. He returned back to the hotel late, to find Sloane waiting for him, the wooden Chaos star on her knee.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea.” He said, glancing at the box. “My head’s all over the place.”

“I know, but come on… This has been amazing so far. Showing you how far you’ve come. You can’t give up now - whoever did this has a plan for you, Sebastian Everett-Bryce and I’m a strong believer that if you start something, you’d better make damn sure you finish it.” Said Sloane.

“I’m fully aware of that when you grip me by the ears…” Said Seb. Sloane swatted him lightly. “Okay, okay!”

He smirked as he reached over and pulled open the door marked five. He pulled out the wrap and opened it up to reveal a tiny pair of silver boxing gloves.

“Tony!” Said Sloane excitedly. “Oh, you beat him… Oof…”

“That I did, love.” Said Seb with a nod. “I’d lost to Ragdoll for the Cross Hemisphere Championship… Travis had screwed up the Cooperative Championship match for us - I thought I was further away from championships than ever.”

“Then came Tony…” Said Sloane with a smile.

“Then came Tony.” Said Seb, leaning forward and kissing her on the forehead. “I was proud of that fight - the guy’s a machine - he won Outlast, like two weeks later. And as we all know, it takes someone very special to win Outlast.”

Sloane flushed a little, thinking back to her own victory the year prior.

“But that title wasn’t just about winning the belt - it was me coming full circle. I’d failed to be a Chaos Champion and that started off the worst few months of my life.” Seb said. Sloane squeezed his hand. “You and me were together, Bastian was all but better, and then beating Tony put me back where I’d been when everything went wrong.”

“And you’re still there now.” Said Sloane with a smile.

“Yeah… I am…” He said, looking down at her. “Thank you for making me do this.”

“Making you do things you don’t want to do is kind of my MO as your girlfriend.” Said Sloane with a smile. “Speaking of which, we’re going bowling with Kit and his girlfriend.”

“Bowling? Really?” Seb sulked. “Can’t we go and do something more fun, like get a test for Chlamydia?”

“Sebastian!” Said Sloane.

“Okay, okay!” He said. “Just… Let me get changed.”

And he continued to grumble all the way into the bedroom.

---

December 9th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

Seb had wondered when he would see this again - behind number four was that fucking hat again. He mused how it could be that one man could be so etched in his time as Chaos Champion - twice in his first run, and come Horizons, three times in his second. Montague Cervantes had become less sure of his capabilities to beat Seb with every challenge, and yet… Everyone seemed to become more important. Seb rolled the little top hat in his fingers, as he had so many times in the last few days, his eyes scanning over the III that was etched along the side. And then he closed his eyes.

____________________________

October 31st, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

“I feel weird…” Said Sloane, before letting out a small burp. Her eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god!”

Seb stifled a laugh.

“Weird how?” Asked Seb.

“Like… I feel like I’m drunk. Or at least, I was drunk? I guess I have the hangover without actually being drunk.” She said. “Also I have this strange compulsion to…”

She looked around the room and mouthed a word.

“What?” Asked Seb.

“To… swear…” She said again, almost silently.

“Yeah I didn’t…” Seb began.

“TO SWEAR!” She shouted, before looking around and turning red. “And I feel kind of aggressive…”

“Oh, good, hold onto that for the hotel room tonight….” Said Seb with a smirk, then he considered what Slaos had said earlier and felt queasy. “On second thoughts, maybe just be yourself, okay?”

“I’m trying…” Sloane said quietly. “But I’m really, really, really looking forward to watching you get in there with Montague tonight and you know, just…”

Sloane started making some rather wide gestures that seemed to depict the crushing of another persons skull. Seb was suddenly worried that perhaps Slaos hadn’t quite made the best job of fully depossessing his girlfriend.

“Well I’ll do my best, love.” Said Seb. “This is big though - I have to beat him.”

“You’ve beaten him before.” Said Sloane. “You’ll be fine, I believe in you.”

“He’s beaten me too, Sloane - and that’s the point. Right now, we’re 1 and 1 in singles matches. This is the one that proves whether I beat him because I’m better, or if I just got lucky.” Said Seb quietly. “The last thing I need is an Astro Creep lauding it over me that he’s the one that took the title from me.”

“Okay fair.” Said Sloane getting to her feet. “But I know you, baby. I can see it - you’re not losing that title tonight. Not on your birthday.”

“Got to love some extra added pressure.” Seb said clearing his throat, before standing up himself. Montague’s music started to play. “But I appreciate your confidence.”

He picked up the Chaos title and his jacket and pulled it over his shoulders. As he reached the door he turned to face her one last time.

“Back in a jiffy.” He said.

“Better be.” Sloane replied, as Seb smirked and turned pulling open the door, and heading out towards the ring.

---

December 10th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

The Saturday before Horizons was always crazy. There were fan events, meet and greets, tough questions and interviews left and right. The Champions always had more focus as they had the most to lose, but this year there seemed to be even more focus on him than he’d seen on other Champions. The reason became abundantly clear really quickly - everyone wanted to ask about the record. Seb had no problems talking about it, of course, but at the same time… It was just a lot.

As the day wound to a close, Seb and Sloane found themselves in a taxi on their way to dinner with Sloane’s mother and Seb’s grandfather.

“You didn’t open your door today.” She said.

“I know.” Seb said quietly. “I feel more dread with every single one - more expectation. And I know, I know… I feel way better once it’s done. But, everytime I think about it it just makes me think about how much there is to lose.”

“Isn’t that what you need? To remember what you have to lose?” Sloane asked. “For the record, I don’t think for one second you will, but still… Don’t you need to feel like you have something to lose in order to fight to keep it?”

“You’re wiser than people give you credit for.” Said Seb smiling.

“I think that’s a quote from My Little Pony.” Said Sloane, thinking. Seb shook his head and chuckled. “Here.”

“What’s…” he began, but the moment he looked down at the small wrapping in Sloane’s hand he knew. She wasn’t going to let him get away with skipping even one day. He let out a sigh. “Fine…”

He pulled off the paper, and what looked like a small comet fell into his hand. His mouth curled into a smirk - Lucy.

“My first Chaos Title… And the Grand Slam…” Said Seb, before biting his lip. “God, I remember this like it was yesterday. I was so excited - I beat Lucy Wylde, for the Chaos title. Took me about an hour to remember that I’d won the Grand Slam too.”

“Before me, hmm?” Said Sloane, calling back to the moment Seb had suggested that Sloane being injured created an opportunity for him to win the Grand Slam before her.

“I think you got your own back with that Scavenger hunt.” Said Seb, narrowing his eyes. “All day I was wandering around that park to find that Battleground Key.”

“Oof… And it was in my bedroom all along.” Said Sloane.

“A lot of things I couldn’t have were in your bedroom all along.” Said Seb.

“Could have had everything in there if you’d just had the courage to ask…” Said Sloane, her head tilted to one side. Seb opened his mouth to argue, but thought better.

“Alright, fair.” He said. “It was good for me though - speaking to Travis and Chaos and the Engine - they made me realise that I was chasing the Chaos Title for the wrong reasons. That it had to be about that title and nothing else otherwise it would swallow me whole.”

“You really love that title don’t you?” Sloane said with a smile.

“I do.” Said Seb. “I’ve been in love with it since the first time I held it over my head. Because it’s the one people think I have no business fighting for. But look at me now - one of the longest reigning champions of all time, all because I love that damn belt. If I lose that title, it’ll break my damn heart.”

“Because of the record?” Asked Sloane.

“Can’t be about a record, Sloane - has to be about the title itself.” Said Seb, sagely.

“Otherwise it’ll eat you alive..” Said Sloane, nodding as she considered what he’d said.

“The record would be a nice little bonus though.” Seb said, with a mischievous smirk upon his face. Sloane began to giggle as their car pulled up to the restaurant, and they spotted Bastian and Nina waiting for them outside.

---

December 11th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

As the days ticked down, Seb was finding more and more reason to be nervous. The Chaos division took few prisoners and over the year, niggles had become injuries that never had the chance to heal. Getting through Horizons would mean that he had the chance to rest over the holidays and be ready for the new year. It was the perfect plan, with a single hitch - the Chaos Championship wouldn’t defend itself. Sloane was in the shower when he heard it - a strange sound coming from the star that stood on the table near the door. He’d put off the next door all day, and little by little he’d heard the sound building. At first it was a hiss… But as it became louder, he could make out the word, repeated over and over.

“Arsonist…” It said. Seb climbed to his feet and walked slowly towards the wooden star. As he did, the word was clearer and clearer, that one word over and over. “Arsonist… Arsonist… Arsonist…”

He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the fourth door handle and pulled it open. The sound seemed to increase in volume as he did.

“Arsonist… Arsonist… Arsonist.” It taunted as he took the small package out. He opened it up and recoiled - a small silver spider lay motionless in his hand.

____________________________

May 30th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

“Arsonist…”

Seb turned on the spot, the chain still hanging from his wrist as if he were Kratos. The small, greasy Daedalus held up defensive hands.

“I come in peace.” He said quietly. “Quite the number you did on Tempest this evening.”

“He’s had it coming.” Said Seb quietly. “Frankly, you all have…”

“Now, now… I know you’re still upset about everything that happened with dear, dear Jessica…” Said Daedalus.

“No, haven’t you heard? It’s Sathariel now…” Said Seb quietly, his knuckles white against the chain.

“I think enough damage has been done for one night.” Said Daedalus. “Though if you wish to strike me down, I am powerless to stop you. I am not a fighter… I don’t have the luxury of defence.”

Seb grunted with recognition - he wasn’t cruel. He’d gotten his pound of flesh for now - there would be an end with Tempest, but it wouldn’t begin with this slimy little toad.

“What do you want?” Sebastian asked.

“Tempest has asked me to extend his sincere congratulations, and hopes that the two of you will have the opportunity to do it again.” Daedalus.

“Do you share his ambition?” Seb asked, with a half smile. “Do you want to see it again?”

“When Kings and Emperors collide, I am often left concerned for those who lay in their wake. Yours is an animosity that extends beyond the two of you - and I’m not sure either of you understand the true destructive power that the two of you possess when you meet.” Said Daedalus… And then he smiled. “But I can’t wait for the two of you to find out.”

“Me too.” Said Seb with a smirk. Daedalus nodded, and turned towards the door. He paused for a second and turned back.

“You’re different with that Championship, Arsonist. Chaos suits you.” The small man said. “Until next time.”

He pulled on the handle of the door, and stepped out into whatever lay outside - it wasn’t the corridor that Seb had come in from. Seb shook his head, and wrapped the chain once more around his fist, just in case he had any more unwelcome visitors.

Chaos did suit him.

---

December 12th, 2022 - Chicago, Illinois

The day had finally arrived - Horizons. Having arrived at the arena first thing in the morning, Seb had taken up residence in the stands looking down. The set had been built for days, with stages, lighting and pyro already in place. The ring, however, was one of the last things to be set up. He had watched diligently as little by little, the alter at which seventeen superstars would worship in front of almost thirty thousand fans who would accept nothing less than near perfection.

This was the time he prized most - sitting here where hundreds of thousands of people had sat over the years watching heroes and villains achieve their dreams or enforce nightmares. Where the legends of the Chaos Division had proven time and again that the Championship he held meant just as much as every other title in the Coalition.

He closed his eyes for a second and could almost hear the chanting.

A hand upon his shoulder made him open his eyes, and he smiled when he looked up into Sloane’s face. She slipped into the seat next to him, and slid the box into his lap. He looked at it, running his fingers over that number one etched into the wood and took a deep breath. She’d pushed him this far… In for a penny and all that.

Without speaking, he pulled open the final larger door. But inside, instead of the talisman he’d expected, he found just a folded sheet of paper. When he opened it up, the words had a familiar pattern.

The only difference was a final handwritten note beneath the title, in the same familiar handwriting which had written the original note.

Number One is yet to come. Look to your right.

He turned his head to the right, to where Sloane was sat with tears in her eyes. And in her hands was an envelope - he looked at her and then down at what she was holding as she placed it on top of the box. He picked up the envelope and slipped his finger against the glue that held it closed. As it opened, he pulled out a card. The front read simply ‘Good luck’.

He opened up the card and saw more writing - and suddenly the reason it had looked so familiar hit him all at once.

Sebastian,

I know you have so many doubts about so many things.
But I wanted you to see yourself how I do.
How we do.
You have been amazing this year.
And all the years before.
Good luck tonight.
Even though I know you won’t need it.

All my love…

Sloane xxx

He didn’t look up, knowing that neither of them would be able to hold back their emotion. And so instead, he flipped the page and his breath caught in his throat. In the middle of the page were the words ‘Good luck!’ and all around it, it had been signed. Bastian, Kit, Nina were the first names he’d picked up. But the rest he’d had to look at more closely and each one amazed him more. Good luck messages from Tony, from JC, even a cryptic something from Tempest. But even more amazing were the brief notes from Chaos, Ichabod, Rogan, Gabriel and even on one of the biggest nights of her life, one from Lucy too.

Each of them had signed - probably as much for Sloane’s benefit as for his. As he read the messages, he felt her stand up. She climbed over the seat she’d been sat on, and leaned forward to place a kiss on the top of his head. She squeezed his shoulder, and left. There would be time for thanks later. They always knew the right thing to do for one another.

Seb closed his eyes again, as the fire began to build in his chest. He was ready now.

“No-one believed. Not a single person believed when I won the Chaos Title back in April that I’d still be here today as Champion. They didn’t believe I had the will, the fire, the capability. They didn’t believe that I could play in some of the most dangerous environments that this business can throw at you. But they should have known better. I’ve been proving the naysayers wrong since before they were saying nay, they just refused to see it.” He said, slowly running his fingers over the large Chaos star that sat in his lap.

“And yet here we are - Horizons 2022, and Sebastian Everett-Bryce is one match away from breaking a record that no-one imagined was threatened. And I understand that, because it takes someone extraordinary to break a record like the one that’s held for the Chaos Championship - this year alone we’ve had five Cross Hemisphere Champions, five pairs of Cooperative Champions and Six World Heavyweight Champions. During that same time, we’ve had two Chaos Champions. Just two. And the reason that number is so high, is because I didn’t challenge for it at the end of last year. You want consistency? You want to see a Champion that values his Championship and the division he represents, then you come to me. You come to the Chaos Division. Because there’s no-one in this business who’s been more consistent than me. Don’t believe me? Ask the five people trying to be the one.”

“Except, that’s not the plan is it? How do you take a Championship from a Champion when no single person has been able to take it from? Easy - make it so he doesn’t have to be the one to lose it. Chuck and Ken tried that at Keeper of the Keys, and you don’t need an instant replay to know how that turned out. Me. Sebastian Everett-Bryce… Aaaaaaaaand still! So what do we do next? Easy - add in more bodies to the fray. Add in Monty and Kyra and Konrad and suddenly we have everyone I’ve already beaten this year. Some of them, more than once, isn’t that right Montague?” Seb asked with a smirk.

“But let me make something, to borrow a phrase, perfectly clear. I’m not going to be the reason Ken finally proves he can make it on his own in UGWC. I’m not going to be Kyra’s opportunity to piss off her husband in the wake of their lover’s tiff. I’m not going to be Chuck Rydell’s stepping stone to prove that he’s not just another Rydell who’s career is going nowhere. I’m not going to be Montague’s proof that he’s every bit as dangerous as our World Heavyweight Champion. And I am not, I am not, I am not going to entertain the idea that Konrad Raab even belongs in this contest.”

“What I am going to be, is entering this match as the UGWC Chaos Champion, and walking out of this match as the UGWC Chaos Champion. And when I do, I am going to be the one that everyone remembers when they speak of Chaos in UGWC. They’ll forget all about Chaos’s own Engine, and the Devil’s Favourite sons. They’ll even put aside the right hand of god. Because in their place will have risen an Empire of Chaos - one that will never fall.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is my Empire - population one. You’re welcome to visit, but you’re not invited to stay. I’ll be sure to make that perfectly clear tonight.” Seb said with a smirk.

“I’ll see you soon, friends.”

And with a final look out over the arena, Seb climbs to his feet, Chaos star in one hand, Chaos title in the other. The battleground for tonight a stark reminder of all that is to come.

The dawn of a new Empire, born at the Horizon.