A Battle Betwixt Light & Dark: Eris Osbourne (D) vs Starlight

[Misfit_Alien]

The 'Harpy of Darkness', Eris Osbourne vs Starlight
Match Type: "Standard."
Win by scoring a pinfall of three seconds on the opponent, forcing a wrestler to submit, or knocking the wrestler out. Additionally, if a wrestler remains outside the ring for too long, they will be disqualified after a ten-count. Furthermore, if a wrestler performs an illegal move and is caught in the act by the in-ring official, they will be disqualified.
Standard rules - DQs, Count-outs, and the submission or pinfall MUST happen within the confines of the ring.

Spoiler

"...Entering the ring first, hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico...rising from the shadowy void in a plume of feathery despair...standing at 5'7 and weighing in at 155 lbs...the winged emissary of desolation...THE HARPY OF DARKNESS...ERIS OSBOURNE!!!"


As a kickass electronic metal anthem began to blare, a dark haze would fall upon LAW as the lights dimmed and black smoke filled the room, sounds of ravenous birds of prey filling the auditorium before a crash of thunder and a vicious screech sounded off, along with the imagery of a razor-sharp talon slashing across the screen on the video panels along the edges of the entrance. Through a veil of thick, pitch black smoke, SHE would appear...Eris Osbourne, the Harpy of Darkness, an eager and twisted smile plastered across her face as she made her way down the ramp and toward the ring, microphone in hand. She flashed looks at the audience members, intimidating some and scaring others, making her presence known and ensuring it was FELT more than anything else before slipping into the ring and addressing her newfound target: LAW itself...

"Greetings, PEONS...cower in despair and feel the weight of the endless void bear down on your pathetic shoulders! You stand before the unrivaled agent of chaos...the scion of darkness...the one who shall turn your hopes and dreams into anguish and nightmares!!!" Eris said, putting on quite the theatrical show as she pranced around the ring, certainly displaying a natural talent for character-work, albeit it was a tad heavy-handed. However, it seemed to be working, given how uneasy she was making the crowd, turning the atmosphere from awkward to tense as she commanded everyone's attention. Her over-the-top manner of speech still carried a dangerous attitude, making the young woman seem ready to lunge at the crowd like a ravenous wolf if they made even one wrong move.

So their only option was to wait...to watch...to listen...and to behave.

"I've come to your shores as a means of spreading my dark wings across LAW's landscape, drowning this entire organization in an ocean of true chaos and hopelessness. The veil of terror with which I seek to coat LAW in shall be one of fear, treachery, and absolute STRIFE. You think you've seen dark days before? You've seen nothing, yet-...but alas, I know that many would not stand idly by as I make these bold claims...these boisterous proclamations. And I invite any would-be 'champion' of the light to step forward. To meet this winged she-devil on equal footing right here, right now...to try and FAIL to defend you pathetic mongrels and this shoddy, would-be 'sacred' ring with their own two hands...but regardless of WHO steps forward, the result will ALWAYS be the same. You will find yourself crushed, humiliated, and cowering beneath my illustrious figure, serving as no more than a mere plaything for my enjoyment and as an example for everyone else~" She said, urging any potential challenger to step forward into the light and serve as its protector from her wicked machinations...or perish trying~...

Spoiler

[Parker]

For a few long moments after Eris’ final, haunting words, the arena held its breath. The darkness she had conjured, both literal and symbolic, lingered thick in the air, a haze rolling lazily across the stage like the aftermath of a storm. The Harpy of Darkness stood in the ring, still basking in the echo of her own dread proclamation, wings of menace spread across the minds of everyone watching.

Then, at the top of the ramp, something stirred.

A single streak of light split through the fog from top to bottom, slicing the gloom in two with surgical precision. Another followed crosswise, forming a gleaming cross that burned against the haze for a heartbeat before bursting outward in a dazzling flash of gold and white.

From the shimmering veil emerged a lone figure, diving through the brilliance in a bold tumble and landing hard on one knee. Her weapon, a polished shinai, struck the steel stage with a clean metallic clack, planted like a knight’s sword before battle.

Her head hung low, dark bangs curtaining her face, while her long black ponytail fluttered dramatically behind her in the stage breeze.

The lights shifted.

Her white-and-gold gear shimmered like starlight, the metallic fabric catching every beam as if she herself were a beacon cutting through the gloom Eris had left behind. Gold accents ran the length of her legs, a pattern of shining stars framing the confident set of her stance. She raised a microphone to her lips, the glossy red sheen of them glinting under the spotlight.

"You’ve flown so far…" she began, her voice steady but charged with energy.

The crowd gasped as the full light found her, illuminating her face as she lifted her head. Determination burned in her deep brown eyes, framed by the soft glint of her smile. With a sudden burst of motion, she sprang to her feet, the shinai spinning deftly between her fingers before stopping in a white capped point toward the ring.

"...just to fail!"

The crowd erupted, cheers, laughter, surprise, all washing together at once. She didn’t pause. Instead, she strode forward with the confidence of someone who’d rehearsed this speech a thousand times, and still couldn’t quite believe she was nailing it. The shinai lifted high, aimed toward the ceiling lights as if she were addressing the stars themselves.

"You speak of despair and chaos as though they were your treasures, but all I see is a coward, scared of the light you’ll never claim!"

She twirled the shinai again, fast enough to leave streaks of gold in its wake. "Well, Harpy, because tonight your darkness will greet the heavenly glow of those who tame the night skies!"

A grin broke across her face as she struck a pose, her free hand on her hip. "I, Starlight, have arrived to pierce your veil of shadows with the brilliance of truth, justice, and perfectly synchronized choreography!"

With that, she launched into a flourish, a single, showy slash through the air followed by an acrobatic no-hands cartwheel that drew an audible whoa! from the crowd. She landed light on her boots, spinning her weapon up onto her shoulder with a satisfied nod and a puffed-out chest.

"Surrender now," she declared, voice booming through the arena, "or be caged by my binding justice!"

She stood there for a long moment, chin high, eyes burning, grin bright enough to challenge the arena lights, as if she fully believed that the power of friendship, courage, and maybe a little glitter could conquer the Harpy of Darkness herself.

[Misfit_Alien]

When Eris' opponent arrived...no-...when STARLIGHT...broke through the shroud of darkness, bringing along with her that blinding ray of hope, the thing that Eris loathed oh-so much...the Harpy was simply left in awe, gazing from afar at the woman's magnificence. She was searching for an opponent, but before her came a GIFT...someone actually worth her time. Had the heavens themselves aligned to allow their finest champion to slay this winged emissary of darkness? Eris certainly hoped so, because looking at Starlight was like watching a goddess descend from the skies. Her hair, her look, her movements...She was perfect. She was divine. She was a HERO, she was-...

A RIVAL.

Eris' heart nearly stopped altogether with how often it skipped beating, too stunned at Starlight's presence. Fortunately, she was quick to find her composure as Starlight got closer, not wanting her sworn enemy to see how amazed she was by her performance...and she was impressed, make no mistake. All those flips and twirls of her shinai were thrilling...but there was certainly no way she'd be using it on her...would she? Some hero she'd be, while Eris was all unarmed, with only darkness to guide the hands of this avian agent of chaos. Internally, Eris was absolutely enamored, and her mind was swirling with questions...but the Harpy of Darkness had a job to do. However, when it came to Starlight's declaration...Eris had only one reaction in mind.

"Pft---pf-hah-...PFFHAHAHAHAH!!!" She said, bursting out with a laugh. "Surrender? To the likes of you? A theatrical little girl PLAYING hero? Your entrance was...amusing...my doll-faced foe...but just like a dying star, you'll be all flash and no substance...shining bright for but a single moment before fizzling out, leaving nothing but DARKNESS to fill the void you leave behind. Ohh, you should be ASHAMED of yourself..." Eris continued. "You're giving all these poor, PATHETIC, drooling, snot-nosed peons a sense of HOPE...and how tragic it'll be when they see that hope crushed and snuffed out in a mere INSTANT. You're getting them worked up for nothing, 'hero'...for shame, indeed-..." She said, taking a walk around the woman, watching her...studying her...admiring her...

"I don't need your TRUTH...I don't need your JUSTICE...and as entertaining as it seems, I don't need your 'synchronized choreography'...however, you were right about ONE thing...I'll never be able to claim my own LIGHT. I've adopted the darkness for FAR too long...But I made that choice willingly. I am no COWARD, Starlight...Disrespect me like that again, and I'll smother you in an abyss of darkness so bewitching that you'll never find your way out~...nor even the smallest glimmer of light..." She said, stopping in her tracks midway while glaring deep into the Korean girl's eyes before walking right up to her, coming chest-to-chest with her.

"I don't need my own light...not when I can gladly steal yours, oh brilliant warrior~...But first, I'll need to see if your precious 'light' is even worth taking. They say the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows, so we'll see if you're able to match my darkness...Or if you're just a few lumens short of lighting the way~...Give it your all, my radiant other half~..." She said, leaning in close for that last part, whispering right into Starlight's ears...letting the moment exist by itself, the sound of her voice and the softness of her breath lingering gently on Starlight's ears before Eris turned away, letting her veil of tailfeathers brush against the woman's legs before she sauntered away to her corner.

[Parker]

When Eris spoke, it was like thunder, dramatic, menacing, and dripping with that theatrical airs that needed to be witnessed which sent half the crowd into hush and the other half into awe. Starlight, on the other hand, just blinked up at her, the light catching in her eyes like reflections on a calm lake.

“Surrender?”
“Yep.” Starlight chirped brightly, her tone so chipper it might’ve made the question sound like small talk. Perhaps this would be easier than expected if Eris was already asking such pertinent details.

“To the likes of you?”
“Mhmm.” She nodded earnestly, that sunny smile never faltering.

“A theatrical little girl PLAYING hero?”
“A… little hurtful, but yes.” Starlight couldn’t help but pout a little, her lower lip jutting forward before she puffed up her cheeks, doing her best to look serious.

Eris’s voice rolled on, painting the air with shadows and venom.
"Your entrance was...amusing...my doll-faced foe...but just like a dying star, you'll be all flash and no substance...shining bright for but a single moment before fizzling out, leaving nothing but DARKNESS to fill the void you leave behind."

“Stars don’t generally fizzle, they go supernovae and explode. While it’s true they can become black holes, they can also become neutron stars which are even more denser bodies th–” she started to explain, voice taking on that eager, lecture-like tone of someone who’d been waiting all week for a science tangent… but she trailed off halfway through when Eris continued, scratching her cheek sheepishly as she realized she might’ve lost the moment.

The crowd chuckled, but Starlight only smiled wider. She made a face at Eris, her nose scrunching as the harpy turned her fire toward the audience. The rookie’s eyes followed, scanning the people she was supposed to be inspiring — people Eris was calling pathetic. That spark in her chest flared brighter.

She straightened, hands on her hips, chin tilted up defiantly.

“I will never be ashamed of bringing hope to the people. No matter what happens to me, my gift to them will live on. Long beyond you or me.”

Her voice rang with an almost musical clarity, not arrogance, but conviction. She didn’t flinch as Eris prowled around her; her head turned slightly, ponytail swishing as her eyes followed the dark-winged villain’s every step.

“Having some of my choreo would help. Pacing menacingly is a bit overdone.” she added with a teasing smile, trying and only half succeeding, to stifle a laugh. Her lips pressed tight, and for a second, she looked more like a mischievous student than a righteous champion.

“Maybe not a coward, but a quitter. Everyone has a little light inside them. Even now, as you stand here delivering a passionate monologue about how far gone you are… what do you think that passion is, that little spark? That’s not something born from negativity. It’s something you cherish, that you want to hold onto… and maybe even steal more of because you don’t know how to ever nurture it yourself.”

Her tone softened, no smugness, no mockery, just quiet, sincere warmth. Even when Eris stepped up to her, chest to chest, that warmth didn’t fade. If anything, Starlight leaned in too, matching her presence, meeting her darkness not with defiance but empathy. There was a truth in her eyes, something that felt less like kayfabe and more like a genuine belief in what she said.

“Bullies don’t frighten me, Harpy. Even if they have admittedly cool costume design. I will never yield. Never back down, and most of all, never be defeated. If you knock me down, I will just keep getting up. Because that is what hope is. That is what light is. And that is who I am. Starlight.”

Her nose wrinkled as Eris’s feathers brushed against her, a playful scrunch that almost broke the tension of the moment. She resisted the urge to touch them, barely, before stepping back with a little hop.

The referee’s approach gave her something to do; she moved to hand over her shinai, giving it a little twirl before passing it off to the staff at ringside. Once freed of the weapon, she rolled her shoulders, bouncing lightly on her toes as she made her way to her corner. Her eyes never left Eris, bright, unwavering, and completely certain that she could stand against any darkness.

[Misfit_Alien]

Even as Eris waltzed away, she couldn't help but feel a deep tinge of irritation searing inside of her. Like, SERIOUSLY!!! How DARE Starlight interrupt her magnificent and larger-than-life speech filled with grandiose villainy and a smidge of admitted struggles and heartache! Oh, how she would pay DEARLY for her transgressions. Even more than that, she dared to stand against her in blatant defiance instead of panicked cowardice and FEAR...and even though she complimented her outfit, the Harpy of Darkness would not allow such filth to be touted by a mere speck of light claiming to be a bright, brilliant...beautiful...uh-...STAR, yes-!!! For a moment there, Eris' train of thought wandered off.

She was just so captivated by Starlight's presence, and in a moment of thought...NOT WEAKNESS...her mind continued to spiral around the same image: Starlight standing tall, bathed in the rays of the arena's lighting, her outfit glittery and golden and perfect...just like her. The thought was tantalizingly sweet, but Eris tried to keep her head above water. GUH!!!! She couldn't believe herself. To have such a salacious thought mere moments after meeting a woman...this was quickly turning into her series of high school crushes and flings all over again!!! But this time-...Eris could see EXACTLY who Starlight was, test her in her own way, and see if her 'heavenly body' was even worth observing and 'discovering'...and GOD did she hope it was, stealing a glance before the bell rang, admiring how Starlight's pants and top clung nicely to her figure while she gave the referee her kendo stick.


DING DING DING!!!


The bell rang, and Eris immediately snapped back into character, giving her cheeks a light slap before turning around and facing off against Starlight, quickly surging forward to the center of the ring with a challenge to issue and a lot on her mind that she wanted to say. She stomped her foot down and raised her arms, inviting the would-be hero to come forward, to prove her mettle, to answer a call that no one else was brave enough to answer!!! A Test of Strength!!! Surely all those theatrics weren't just for show? Or was this star's vibrant light far dimmer upon closer inspection?

"Have at thee, o' starlit savior...if you're truly a woman of your word, let us see if you truly NEVER back down. Come closer, and let the two halves of the same coin clash at once!!! Your light...MY darkness...Let's see if you can light up my life...or if I'll drown you in my abyss~..." She said, wiggling her fingers in a taunting manner, standing at the center of the ring with a rather eager look in her eyes after delivering a lengthy call-out for what was a basic wrestling tie-up...plus an excuse to feel Starlight's touch, but that part isn't too terribly important right now-...

[Parker]

The crowd’s roar faded into something softer, a low hum that vibrated beneath the soles of Starlight’s boots as she stepped into the center of the ring. Her sleek black hair caught the arena lights with a shimmer, her breath slow, deliberate, the calm before something monumental. Eris stood opposite, hands already raised in challenge, the faintest curl of that taunting smile pulling at her lips.

Starlight didn’t rush. She took her time closing the distance, eyes never leaving Eris’s. Her gloved hand flexed fingers once at her sides before she lifted her right hand, palm open, inviting. For a heartbeat, neither woman moved, until Eris’s own hand came forward to meet hers. Their palms touched. White to black fabric.

The moment of contact was electric. The warmth of Eris’s hand pressed against her own, their fingers brushing before slipping together, lacing one by one, until their hands locked completely. Starlight’s breath caught. There was tension, not just the physical kind, but something charged, heavy in the air between them. The heroine’s jaw tightened as she slid her left hand up to meet Eris’s other one, the second connection closing the circuit.

The crowd might’ve seen only a test of strength. But up close, it was far more intricate than that, the faint tremor in their arms as they began to push, the shared exhale when their grips tightened, the smallest shifts of balance as each sought control. Starlight’s fingers squeezed around Eris’s, their palms slick from the heat of effort, wrists straining as their arms began to flex and rise.

For an instant, Starlight allowed herself to meet Eris’s gaze again, a flicker of firelight and defiance dancing in her deep brown eyes. "Hrm! Looks like this abyss of yours isn’t so deep after all…” she murmured, voice low, steady, almost intimate, "...good luck drowning me, I’m a great swimmer."

And then she pushed forward with everything she had. Muscles tensed, boots squeaked against the mat, and their hands trembled in that narrow space between dominance and surrender. To the world, it looked like two forces of nature clashing for control. To them, it was a silent conversation, skin, strength, and willpower speaking louder than words ever could.

[Misfit_Alien]

Their fingers laced together, slowly but surely...it was electrifying, more than Eris could ever imagine, let alone describe. She knew that Starlight would be a special challenge for her, but she never anticipated...THIS...When their palms connected, Eris' breathing staggered. The weight, the warmth...it was all so compelling. The way Starlight adjusted and adapted, fitting to Eris' rhythm. Or-...was it Eris conforming to her rhythm? Perhaps their innate differences, their discord, created a rather perfect harmony. As muscles tensed and relaxed, postures shifted and steadied, breathing fluctuated and settled, and the pair would be able to feel a deep connection between each other. Every movement felt through the reverberations of their skin. Every little pulse, every struggle, every bit of ground gained and lost...they'd be able to feel the other's triumphs and failures echoing through their clash.

And then-...their gazes met...and for a brief moment, Eris could see a flurry of dancing flames within Starlight's eyes, a vibrant band of colorful sparks roaring brightly. She wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. All the while, Starlight spoke of how the depth of Eris' abyss wasn't as intimidating as she claimed, a statement that brought the tan-skinned woman right back into reality as she focused, letting out an irritated 'Tch-' before she spoke.

"Don't speak too plainly of a darkness you don't understand...lest you be consumed by its all-encompassing shadow...overtaken in a single instant-...all that light, and then suddenly...NOTHING-..." She said, shifting their bodies closer and closer with every little pause for dramatic effect, their arms spread out as their bodies came closer. Eventually, their chests came into contact with each other, faces only inches apart as the margin for error grew ever so tight and narrow. The sensitive and delicate balance between light and dark must be maintained with razor-sharp precision, even as either side collided and clashed for control. A single slip-up could result in a decisive victory for the other. And Eris would NOT allow herself to lose this clash, certainly not after having the limits of her darkness be questioned by such a dreamy-eyed, confident pillar of light.

If she failed here, she could never call herself a true emissary of darkness. Starlight needed to be made an example of...fortunately, as a winged and wicked warrior of chaos and darkness, Eris was privvy to tactics unbecoming of a normal wrestler...much less that of a hero. Rules and restrictions that Starlight needed to abide by simply didn't matter to the Harpy, and she would teach Starlight that lesson immediately.

"All those jokes...making 'light' of me so soon? Pah-...You'll know your place VERY soon, Starlight...because I've already seen through you. You're just a fool cosplaying as a warrior, abiding by a code that will serve as your downfall. You're a few lumens too dim...and a few steps too late-..." Eris whispered, punctuating her statement by pulling back to throw off the balance they had created, demonstrating her dark and underhanded tactics by making a gap just wide enough for her to lift her leg and NAIL Starlight in her stomach with a stiff knee strike, wanting to knock the wind out of her opponent and make the would-be bringer of light crumble before her as she won their little 'opening contest' in her own way. She'd force Starlight onto her knees, still grabbing onto her hands as their fingers remain laced together. She'd press and shove more and more, forcing the Korean woman to bend over backward as she pushed her as far as she could go, all the while a wry smile crept onto her face, a look of amusement in her eyes as she spectated the ailing heroine, reveling in her struggles.

"What? Don't tell me you were expecting me to fight fair? A gal like you should know better-...You can stare into my shadowy abyss for as long as you like, and you can shine as bright as you possibly can...but you'll never see what's coming when dealing with ME, Starlight-..." She said, leaning in close, their faces nearly touching again as Eris stared at her, only for the Harpy of Darkness to pull back once more, this time aiming a swift Big Boot right at the woman's shoulders!!!

Spoiler

[Parker]

Starlight felt every tremor of Eris’ hands, every twitch of tension and shift of balance as their fingers intertwined, palms sealed together with the crackling heat of two opposing forces pressing into one another. Light against dark. Will against will. Fate against fate.

Eris pushed in dramatically, breath thick with theatrics, but Starlight pushed right back, steady, grounded, radiant. Her boots dug deep grooves into the canvas as if rooting herself, refusing to be moved. The clash of their chests, the tremble of their arms, it felt like an actual comic-book standoff, but Starlight never blinked. Her eyes stayed locked with Eris’.

And the heroine smiled.

“You really love your spooky monologues, don’t you?” she said through a strained breath as she gave her all to standing her ground, even as Eris' voice dripped venom and shadow. “But darkness can’t swallow the light, not while I’m standing!”

Eris' theatrics intensified, their faces so close Starlight could feel the cool air of each word brushing her cheek. But instead of flinching, she tilted her chin in defiance right back at the smirking Harpy.

Their fingers squeezed. Muscles flexed. Balance shifted-

And then Eris struck low.

The sudden knee hammered deep into Starlight’s stomach, burying itself deep into her exposed abdoman.

“Ghk!”

The breath blasted out of her in a sharp, pained gasp. Her knees buckled for an instant, the force of it thrumming through her core. Eris wrenched her downward, twisting their still-locked fingers to force the young heroine toward the mat. On her knees, the Harpy’s leverage proved far to great, and she was bent back, her arm shaking as she strained to keep herself from fully collapsing. The crowd hissed and jeered at the cheap shot, and Starlight could only grit her teeth as the villain pushed harder and harder.

The pain burned hot through her abdomen, the forced stretch of the frame only making the heat spread into her chest and hip as her body trembled in opposition. Even while fighting a clearly losing battle, she did not attempt to break away from the test of strength, refusing to admit defeat even as it loomed over her with a feathery shadow.

“Figuratively…” Starlight choked out between shallow breaths, “…the as long as I stand part was figurative.” she thought it was very important to clarify given the sudden shift in their dynamic.

“If your darkness was really as strong as you say…” she continued, voice strained but brave, “…you wouldn’t need to cheat to keep up.”

That was the last thing she got out before Eris pulled back and thrust her boot heel into her shoulder. The impact CRACKED against her body jolting her violently. Starlight was knocked clean off the partial bridge she had been forced into. She hit the mat hard, rolling onto her side with a startled cry as the momentum sent her tumbling twice before she came to a stop. Her hand flew to her shoulder, face scrunched in pain as she sucked in a ragged breath.