Bad Diplomacy [FWC]

The AFW crowd was actually a bit hyped...which wasn’t that unusual by itself, really. Tonight episode of Friction was looking to be a star-studded program, with title shots, a hardcore match, and, of course, a splattering of sexy hentai matches to round things out. Everything the average AFW could ever ask for.

But tonight promised something special, too. With the Friction World Cup in full swing, management had floated around a few rumors on Twitter, teasing the return of some fan favorite to commemorate the event. Alleged leaks were flooding the message boards, speculation was running wild. Some believed a certain sumo would be making her triumphant return, while others hoped the FWC would mark the return a long-missed Latina champion.

They came. They got in their seats. They waited.

But when this music began to play, their mood changed on the spot. They’d heard it before, enough to know who was coming, and the raging chorus of boos heralded their arrival.

Sure enough, the Won Siblings appeared at the top of the ramp.

Cindy and Bridget Won were well known for their time with the Wrestle Angels, famous - or, perhaps, infamous - for their effective and ruthless tactics in the ring. Their time in the AFW had been scant, but from all indications, they hadn’t changed their ways. Needless to say, they weren’t greeted warmly by their fellow Asians, and hate poured over them like a fountain.

They paid no more mind to the crowd than they would have gnats buzzing about their head. To the Siblings, that was all this Japanese rabble really were, anyway.

”Silence, dogs!” Bridget yelled back in her microphone as the two of them made their way up the steps. ”Silence, I said! You will show respect!”

The crowd seemed to grow louder with every word Bridget said. Cindy, the smaller of the two siblings, merely shook her head and sighed as she made her way into the ring, making sure to keep her nose upturned every step of the way. ”It is little use, Bridget. These peons are undisciplined lot - like so many of their countrymen, they have fallen prey to the wiles of the West, adopted their customs and styles. And with those trappings comes a similar arrogance, a similar rudeness.”

”You are, as ever, correct, dear sister.” The two siblings made their way to the center of the ring and swung about to face the ramp. ”They do lack discipline - but unlike them, we remain pure and untainted. It is that very purity which is at the heart of the announcement we have come to make today.”

”Indeed.” Cindy placed a hand on her hip and stood proud, practically glowing. ”I have come today to announce that I shall be participating in the upcoming Friction World Cup battle royal, representing the crown jewel of Asia, the People’s Republic of China!”

Those who thought the crowd couldn’t boo any louder were immediately proven wrong.

”I know this might come as a disappointment to many of you, since my sister is sure to win. But fear not. We are gracious, and will allow you to share in our glory, to make our honor your own. To do this, you need only do as we do, live as we live, and this starts with our great anthem.” Bridget pointed to the sound booth, where they’d made a few musical ‘suggestions’ to the crew, under possible threats of violence. ”Now! Begin the March of the Volunteers!”

The two sisters stood ramrod straight and waited for a piece of their homeland to wash over the crowd…

With a flowing CGI flag of China wafting majestically on the Titan-tron and the blaring trumpets sounding off to the beginning of March Of The Volunteers, a deflated Japanese audience reacted as you would expect from the nationalistic theme of their historical rivals. With either muted disinterest while they slumped in their chairs to check their phones, or scant boos amongst the dead silence of the practically comatose audience members.

For now they remained shackled to their chairs while they endured the assault to their ears from the songs lyrics...

"Arise! All who refuse to be slaves!...Let our flesh and blood become our new Great Wall!...As the Chinese nation faces its greatest peril,All forcefully expend their last cries...Arise! Arise! Ari-----..."

...at least before both it and the waving flag on the Titan-tron would be abruptly cut short with the subtlety of a record scratch. A sudden darkening of the arena also grabbing everyone's attention before thunderous rock music sliced through the barren silence, her name jaggedly projected from the Titan-tron before Blade bounded backstage in perfect sync with the lyrics kicking in. A roaring crowd recognizing the punkish grin and unmistakable eyebrows of Blade Uehara anywhere, the arena now illuminated from both the lights and her presence.

Blade rocketed up both her fists in the air with one wrist crossing the other, her trademark symbol that the crowd mimicked immediately before she started sprinting down the ramp. She hopped on the ramp and stood tall on the middle ropes next to a ringpost to further bask in the flashing cameras and jaw dropping astonishment of the audience seeing the Wrestle Angel veteran long thought retired. Blade grinned and took in the nostalgia-inspired cheers before stepping onto the top rope and hopping down. Blade snagged a mic from a nearby official and finally acknowledged the siblings in the ring by raising an index finger and winking towards them to indicate this wouldn't take long.

Blade then raising her mic in the middle of the ring once her theme stopped and the crowd finally settled down.

"...*phew*...I know, I'm surprised to see me too!!! WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE, BUT RISES AGAIN STRONGER, AMIRITE?!?!" Blade chuckled and lowered her mic to let that corny reference sink in, and reveal what she had been recently binge watching.

"I, uh...I honestly thought...I would never get to set foot in a Japanese stadium again. Certainly seemed that way at the time, anyway. The contract I signed seemed pretty iron-clad, and their wasn't much room for interpretation in that thing...or in how badly I got my ass handed to me. So...ya know. I packed my bags...said my farewells...and I was just...gone, man. I've thought about that match almost every day since and...uh..." Blade had a sincere tone to her voice as she lowered her mic, briefly lost for words with a passing lump in her throat before swallowing it back down and perking up with a wily smile.

"...But ya know what?! Alot of things can happen in a few years. Including Wrestle Angels going under. And I'll be damned...if I don't have...THE BEST GODDAMN CONTRACT LAWYERS IN THE WHOLE FUCKING WORLD!!!" Blade raised her fists in the air as the crowd bizarrely popped loudly for her lawyers, but they nevertheless got the gist of how Blade was able to make this comeback.

"...*phew*...Still getting used to all this again, and this place sure as shitfire ain't no Wrestle Angels. But the more things change, the more they stay the same." With that, Blade would turn around and stare down the Won Siblings. "Just like you two, huh? Still doing your little Thing 1 and Thing 2 comedy act, I see. But ya know what? You gals mentioned "The March Of The Volunteers", right? That got me to thinking backstage...Why don't I...MARCH down that ramp..." Blade extended her index and middle finger downward and wiggled them in a walking motion to emphasize her march. "...and VOLUNTEER, myself for a match against you, Cindy. I could use the warmup exercise and I'm sure "The Future Friction World Cup Battle Royale Winner" can handle a veteran with a few years of ring rust on her...Come on, Whaddyasay, huh?" Blade sneered cockily at Cindy while bouncing on left and right, the crowd starting to cheer wildly at the idea of witnessing a Wrestle Angel legends return match at a TV taping of all things.

For years, until their dying days, the Won Siblings would never forget this moment.

There they were, in the middle of the ring, basking in the glory  of their home country. The AFW was broadcast in China, but it hardly mattered. Their people were there with them in spirit, living nobly in their hearts. Wherever they went, China would follow them, its glorious rays shining the way through even the darkest paths.

The music played, the people ignored it, but Cindy and Bridget stood proud. Cindy even thought she could feel a tear welling up in her eyes. A rare feeling.

Then the music changed. The mood changed. Everything changed. There she was, standing at the top of the ramp, ruining their moment. A rat among the feast, spoiling all that she touched with her fetid claws.

Blade Uehara.

By the time she made it into the ring, the Won Siblings were both fuming, and Cindy had to hold Bridget’s arms to keep her from attacking outright.  She could understand her sister’s feeling, but  she wanted to be more patient with their vengeance. Best to let the witch say what she would say, then show all the price for her transgressions.

Cindy’s feelings changed, however, to amusement, as Blade announced the reason for her rudeness. As if such vulgarity could ever be excused.

”A match? Against me?” Cindy giggled and ran her fingers over her lips, eyeing Blade as if she were a fresh steak, ready to be consumed. Which she might as well have been. ”A poor choice. But then, you never were as sharp as your namesake, were you?”

Bridget huffed and turned to her sister, speaking in their native tongue. [“You are not seriously considering…”]

[“Do not be troubled, dear sister.”] Cindy’s eyes never left Blade. Not for a moment. [“I will take her apart and win the match. Afterwards, you may have your turn. Acceptable?”]

Bridget stared at Blade for a moment, as if she were a cockroach that had dared to crawl its way into the ring. [“Acceptable.”]

The younger Won Sibling stepped through the ropes and made her to ringside, as the referee came running down the ramp. Cindy turned to her opponent/victim and gave her a solemn bow, offering far more dignity that the lowly brat deserved. ”Prepare for the shortest comeback in history, Blade. You will pay for your arrogance, your rudeness, and your hamfisted Game of Thrones reference.”

*Come on, it wasn't that hamfisted...*

Regretful T.V. show references aside, Both Blade and the audience's reaction would be simultaneously jubilant from hearing Cindy's acceptance of her challenge after her little powwow with her sibling, the former W.A. pumping her fist high in the air to their thunderous applause. It was kind of rude to omit others from your private conversation when they were right next to you, but Blade knew she had a match to focus on and not whatever chit chat was going on between the sisters. In actuality, she kinda had to thank the obnoxious siblings. They gave Blade the perfect moment to make her long-awaited return back into the business. By practically saving the audience from their nationalistic pandering.

"Lady...I know I've made a career out of making shitty decisions and getting in over my head. But I get the distinct feeling that this ain't gonna be one of those times." Blade brashly retorted with an exaggerated bow of her own, windmilling her wrist around while curling one leg behind her. Cocky and confident as people remembered her for being, Blade would casually flick her mic to the referee and start circling the ring in tandem with Cindy until the bell would sound off. There was a carefree bounce to her step and wimpish grin to compliment her suddenly quickened pacing around the ring, Blade than using that fleet footwork to step up to Cindy for the prototypical lockup.