Snowslide

The AFW crowd let out a cheer as Edge of The Moment began playing over the speakers, signaling the arrival of Frictions new Entropy Champion, Silver Ace.

Ace walked out, clad in a Journey shirt and black pants, shiny Entropy Title belt around her shoulder, began making her way down the ramp, slapping the hands of fans as she headed for the ring. She couldn't help but be excited. It had taken almost an entire year, but the crowd had, for the most part, finally accepted her. They had seen her at her lowest, at her absolute worst, and had seen her at her best and highest so far, and after being uninterested in her, and at times even outright hating her, they had finally seen what she was made of, and had finally respected her.

Sliding into the ring, Ace got up and had one of the ring crew hand her a microphone, taking a few moments to let her music keep playing, deeply enjoying Neal Schon's amazing guitar solo, before signaling to have it cut.

Raising the microphone, Ace grinned, starting to speak.

"So...as everybody knows, Avalanche is soon to be upon us, coming from loving Geneva, Switzerland, home of delicious chocolate!"

Her eyes sparkled a little, licking her lips as the crowd chuckled.

"So as Entropy Champion, it falls upon me, the awesome Silver Ace, to name my own challenger for a title match at Avalanche, and believe me, I love a good fight, and I have the perfect opponent in mind to give you guys a match that will steal the show!"

Ace began pacing, accepting the cheers from the crowd. They weren't huge cheers, not giant Akashi/Taylor sized uproars of love and belief, but they were still a fair amount of cheers, and more importantly, they were cheering for her. No wonder those girls acted the way they did, it was a damn powerful feeling being cheered for like this, it went to your head.

"Now, you guys have seen a lot of my past opponents. Jocelyn, Valley, Nikolette, Akashi, Taylor, Miss USA, The Crimson Daze, Iron Maiden. All of them great, all of them tough....But none of them are getting a shot at me at Avalanche.

You see, The Entropy belt has a pretty....odd legacy. You've had great wrestlers hold it, like Taylor and Lady Lakota, but then you've also had some really stupid crap happening with it.  That Brittany girl that beat Taylor only did so because Taylor was fighting with broken ribs like a dummy. Then the belt got stolen by some Kawaii girl, the adorable Wells Quinn...who in her first defense, lost it in a shame of a match to my old manager, that worthless pervert Tai, who got tricked by Akashi into doing a match he couldn't win, then she shamed both herself and him by using his libido against him to win the belt, then lost it the same damn day in a battle royal to that bitch Kelly somehow. Then Kelly lost to Lady Lakota, who was the first girl since Taylor to bring a little credibility to it. Sadly, while a great wrestler, Lakota didn't get to have world class competition."

She stopped and took a breath, shrugging her shoulders.

"So, given that the title's history has been full of ups and downs and downright stupidity, I want to start things off right, by facing a world class competitor, and making sure we get the best Entropy Match ever for Avalanche. Who do I pick you ask? A girl with an almost spotless record, a girl with incredible skill in grappling and submissions, a girl who, an Avalanche ago, you all watched go through the fight of her life, putting her career on the line in the process. She's someone who I've been compared to unfavorably for a long time now, and I've been wanting a chance to get in the ring with her and prove myself against her for a long time now. So I hope you guys are ready for a bad ass match, because the opponent I pick, is going to be the best young talent in Friction today, beside's myself of course, CASSIE ELLIOT, COME ON DOWN!!"

Ace yelled, giving a little showmanship to the situation as she waved towards the entrance ramp.

Cassie was not having a good day. Her body still ached from her match against Kelly, and the loss still weighed heavily on her mind. She wasn't in much of a mood to act tough.

Her music heralded her arrival at the top of the ramp, but she couldn't match its energy. She paced out into view, arms at her sides, clad in black leggings and sparkly silver Ugg boots and a light sweatshirt. Even in her unimpressive state, the crowd cheered for her, and she was quickly blushing. She managed a shy wave that only egged them on.

In one hand was a microphone. She bashfully raised it to her lips.

"Um..." She said, the sound reverberating through the arena. The volume of it took her by surprise, and she lowered the mic before trying again. "Hi, Ace. I'm really flattered that you picked me. If you want a match with me, I'd be..." She hesitated. The crowd waited. "That'd be okay. I'd be happy to have the chance to compete with you."

She didn't know what else to do, so she took a small, respectful bow.

Okay......okay!?

"Cmon Cass! Show a little spirit! I know your great, but that doesn't mean your so far above me I can't compare. We're talking about one of the best title matches in AFW history! I mean, cmon, who here wouldn't want to see Cassie try to take this belt away from me!?"

Ace yelled, letting the crowd's overwhelming cheers answer her question for her. They certainly liked the submission specialist. Ace smirked, shaking her finger.

"Well, not that I would make it easy for her or anything, I can guarantee I'd give Cassie there the biggest fight she ever had! All that's left to decide upon is what kind of match I get to beat her in! It's Challenger's choice, and I'm willing to take whatever match I have too in order to prove myself. So cmon Cassie! What kind of match do you think will give you the best shot against me?"

Ace finished. She hoped she didn't come off too arrogant to her opponent, but damnit, she had been wanting this match for some time, and she felt it deserved all the hype it could get.

Cassie blinked in surprise. Her, above Ace? She thought it was the other way around. Ace had fought top competition, won and lost, but always been competitive. Cassie hadn't.

"Yeah, um..." She hesitated. The match type. Right. "Uh... Just a standard match would be fine, I think. That'd be nice." She nodded. "Um... Is there anything else?" She raised her eyebrows and stepped on her toes with her other boot.

Ace raised an eyebrow.

"You uh....you alright Cass?"

Ace asked, noticing Cassie's rather....un-excited reaction to getting a title match at AFW's biggest show.

Unfortunately for Ace, she wouldn't be able to get an answer, as some strange music Ace wasn't familiar with began playing over the PA system, causing Ace to look at the entry way, a confused look on her face.

Accompanying the grandiose trumpeting, the Titantron above would display a CGI royal blue flag with a gold-colored cursive “P” in the middle and flapping in the non-existent breeze. Soon afterwards the party crasher herself would saunter out from behind the curtain in her cobalt blue dress suit ensemble’, standing tall and shining brightly with a smug grin. The beaming regality of her posture would be a direct contrast to Cassie mousey demeanor, whom she now stood shoulder to shoulder with atop the ramp.


Once the audience recognized the golden curls, Gwendolyn’s typical reception of boos and thumbs down reigned supreme. AFW fans were apparently still harboring resentment towards Gwendolyn for her record breaking dispatching of another fan favorite at this years’ SummerSplash, a controversial victory to say the least that swirled in rumor mills as to whether any devious play was at hand in that match. The heiress repeatedly tapped the mike in the palm of her other hand like a hammer, biding her time with a smug expression until she found a chance to speak once her music stopped playing and the crowd got the jeers out of their system for the time being.

“Ah....such nostalgia~. Why not too long ago I stood in this exact spot explaining my actions towards yet another puerile upstart...though her name escapes me for the moment…Oh, forgive my intrusion Haley, but I felt this painfully awkward interplay was in desperate need of a mediator to set the record straight and speak on dear Cassandra’s behalf.” With that Gwendolyn would place her free hand on Cassies shoulder, glancing downward towards her before returning her hazel gaze returned back to the ring.

“You see, I’m afraid Cassie here is in hardly the shape necessary to perform at the level required of an Entropy Title match. And it’s certainly no wonder why, after such a humiliating and debasing loss to Kelly Conway of all people. Failing to defend the honor of her compatriot Taylor Parker. Tapping out in utter disgrace and shattering your 8 match submission win streak in the process...I'm afraid the Cassie you see before you is merely a hollowed out shell of a human being at the moment. Though it may have been heartbreaking, such a caustic defeat may have brought to light a hidden truth.  That, perhaps Cassandra…may…just….not….be…good enough for the Entropy title.” Gwendolyn grip tightened as she really let the impact of that loss sink in. Looking back down towards Cass with the odd juxtaposition of a snide grin and a supportive arm wrapped around her as she finished her little diatribe, Gwendolyn’s final impactful words would in fact be quoted from Cassie herself during their recent training spar, thrown right back at her in front of the world.

Ace blinked several times as she got a good look at this new girl, who promptly insulted Cassie and talked down to her about her recent loss. Ace, admittedly, hadn't followed it, being too focused on winning her belt and dealing with Valley again. It would explain Cassie's attitude though. Raising her microphone, Ace prepared her reply.

"So First of all...who the fuck are you?"

Ace asked, getting a laugh from the crowd. Ace honestly didn't know who the girl was, but the crowd certainly didn't seem to like her very much. After the way she just talked to Cassie, Ace didn't care much for her either.

"Second of all...What kind of gall does it take to come out here and talk shit about a girl like Cassie? Have you not seen what she can do? This girl fought people that kicked my ass and made them look like chumps! She's probably the single best submission wrestler AFW has ever seen!

Now I dunno what happened between her and that bitch Conway, but if that's the reason for her looking so down right now, then frankly she needs to get over it. One loss hardly makes a wrestler worthless! I mean honestly, no offense to her, but everyone's lost. Me, Taylor, Akashi, everyone. It happens, learn what you can from it and move on."

Ace said, taking a second to breath while looking at Cassie, hoping the girl didn't think she was being cruel to her or anything. From their limited meetings, Ace honestly liked Cassie, but every time they met, it seems something happened to make Ace look like a bitch.

Moving past that, Ace focused on this newcomer in her fancy blue outfit, raising the microphone again.

"But this is hardly the place for that, so why don't you tell me, miss blue dress lady, just what it is you want out here. My guess would be you want some of the shiny sitting on my shoulder, what say you?"

Gwendolyn stepped forward to the edge of the stage and literally put Cassie behind her as Ace made the bold decision to make the heiress the center of attention now, wondering to herself if it was always this easy to manipulate others into doing what you want in this league. She crossed her arms under her bust while Ace let the sailor language fly towards Gwen and defend Cass with impassioned words that riled up the audience in ardent support of the downtrodden grappler, especially when Ace made the ”single best submission wrestler AFW has ever seen” remark.  Once Ace had concluded her rousing speech Gwendolyn raised the mic to her mouth, a quaint chuckle escaping her lips before firing back.

“Ah, excuse me Haley. it’s just so wonderfully rare to encounter someone so wistfully ignorant and uninformed as to not have the slightest inkling of who I am…..It’s Gwendolyn....Gwendolyn Dupont Bettencourt~…” With her charming introduction the heiress would bow gracefully, bending her knee behind her and raising the sides of her dress in a curtsy. Raising herself up from the elegant gesture, Gwen placed a hand on her chest over her heart with an utterly captivated expression, fighting back faux tears.

“…*sniff*…Such stirring articulation of your ardent respect for a fellow competitor. An unabashedly genuine symbol of friendship in the darkest of times...*sniff*….although~…” With that Gwen’s countenance would devolve back to the devious smirk she was reviled for. “…I fail to see how Cassandra’s conquest over those who have bested you can be seen as an accomplishment. I mean….how difficult of a task can it be to triumph over someone such as yourself?...*giggle*...”

“However, an Entropy Title match you say? Pour moi? My oh my, a tantalizing offer~…..but I’m afraid I must decline your ever so enticing temptation. You see, your fascinating history lesson about the Entropy Title’s sordid past has been most educational. And I would be absolutely beside myself if I contributed to its tumultuous history by having the title switch recipients so soon after coming into your…capable hands. Trust my judgment; you’re better served looking for a safer bet. Perhaps that entirely 'age appropriate' sweetheart of yours, Valley, I believe her name is. I hardly doubt it's difficult in the slightest to get her on her back~...” With her humble refusal, Gwen would spin in place and initiate a slow waltz back behind the curtain...

"Excuse you!?"

Ace replied, glaring at Gwendolyn. Insulting her was one thing, but insulting Valley...that was too far. While she hadn't spoken to her ex since their recent match, she was forced to admit to herself during it that she still had feelings towards her ex. Having her friend, her ex, and herself insulted, Ace now had a change of heart as she raised her mic, calling to the retreating girl.

HEY! Hold it! Get back here damnit!"

Ace yelled, one rich girl yelling at the other. Cassie had left while Gwen was giving her speech and, while Ace felt bad for the girl, she was going to have to take back her original choice.

"Gwendolyn! Today's your lucky day! I wanted a match with my first choice, but you know what? You've gone and pissed me off now! So tell you what, I am hereby picking you, Gwendolyn Betten-whatever, to be my opponent in an Entropy Title match at Avalanche! Even better, you get to pick the match yourself. So do me a favor, and please, please, pick a match where I can have fun kicking the pompous, egotistical crap out of you!"

Ace finished, the crowd letting out a cheer, the night proving more surprising than they thought.

Gwendolyn’s wistful stride towards the backstage area would stop on a dime once her blatant baiting achieved the desired outcome, twirling back around to meet Ace’s fiery rhetoric head on. The audience had practically broke into a frenzy at the announcement and Ace’s sudden declaration to deliver the heiress a Grade A beating.

She noticed Cassie had slinked away in the shadows soon after Gwen stole the spotlight away from her. It was not without a certain smug satisfaction that Cassie was the one Gwen ended up robbing of a title match. It was a stage she clearly wasn’t ready for, and Gwen was more than willing to have yet another opportunity to tear down the distraught grappler when she was at her lowest.

“Weeell….if you insist~.” Gwen tilted her head to the side with a wholly innocent smile as if she wasn’t just then peppering Ace with incessant insults a few seconds ago. “If you wish to be relieved of that heavy burden on your shoulder so fervently than I would be glad to alleviate you of the Entropy Title. Being in the hands of one such as myself would elevate the title to an exalted level of prestige and sophistication not yet seen before in this league...” Gwen pondered while tapping her cheek with her index finger and glancing skyward before looking back towards Ace.

“Hmm...What say we keep matters simple. In honor of this years Avalanche being relegated to Switzerland and it’s mountainous landscape...a ladder match seems most apropos. A treacherous climb to unnerving heights for the cherished prize high above us all. No disqualifications, and no one to blame but yourself when you lose that gaudy accessory. Just you...me...and 14 feet of steel steps...does that suffice?~”