If you want anything done right, you gotta do it yourself

[skip-stop]

The third floor of LAW headquarters. In the spacious gym, everything went on as usual. Newcomers and even some veterans were busy doing what is most typical for those who regularly attend the gym. Some worked out on exercise machines, the others practiced on mats and in the ring. Among them were three friends who usually preferred to train in another place, but today the circumstances turned out in such a way that they decided to train together here.

Dodging the punch, the blonde took a quick step forward, using both hands to throw a quick one-two punch combination. However, her opponent was not so simple, the pink-haired woman skillfully evaded both punches by first taking a step back and then a diagonal step back and to the left. This made the blonde smile, however, the next second the smile disappeared from her face as her opponent abruptly turned around her axis, raising her left leg in an arc.

“Grrrrhhh!!!” Came out of Astrid's mouth.

Astrid Arvidsson

Despite the fact that she managed to raise her hands and use the block, the pink-haired woman's kick was so powerful that it forced her to take several steps to the side, which created a free space between them. Damn. Among all the people she had to fight, no one had legs as strong as this Frenchwoman. The descendant of the great Vikings shook her arms, trying to get rid off the pain in her bones, and then smiled.

“It seems you haven't lost your knack, huh!" Astrid said, unclenching and clenching her fists several times.

“Why I should have?" Charlotte asked, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Charlotte Ravel'

Astrid shook her head and then put her hands down, thereby announcing a break in their training. Charlotte hesitated for a moment, but then she lowered her fists too. After all, it wasn't sparring, so they agreed that they wouldn't go too far. Astrid went to the window and took a bottle of water from the windowsill, Charlotte followed her friend and did the same.

“I know that you train if not every, then almost every day,” Astrid said after a few sips of water. “But after the match against Akari you didn't appear in the ring anymore, so...”

“Hmm...” Charlotte hesitated, after which she also took a few sips of water. “Well, you know, first I took a little vacation for my annual pilgrimage to the Shaolin monastery, and then...” the Frenchwoman put the bottle of water back on the windowsill. “Maybe it's just not the time yet, unlike you and Nerissa, I don't have a habit of making rivals for myself, so in this case I just have to trust Victoria.”

The Norwegian woman opened her mouth slightly as if she was going to say something, but in the end decided to remain silent. She had suggestions as to why Victoria was in no hurry to give Charlotte new matches. Moreover, she realized this relatively recently when their manager informed her that Alizeh would like to get a title shot, but before that, the green-haired woman wanted to test her strength in a match against another member of Victoria's team.

Given the fact that it was the openweight title itself, Charlotte would have been the most appropriate choice, but Victoria chose Lily instead. At first, Astrid did not attach much importance to this, but now she began to see the picture as it is. However... now might not be the right time to think about it.

“How is she?" The blonde asked, turning her head to the side.

“She...” Charlotte, who usually kept her cool in any situation, lowered her eyes. “She recovered.” The Frenchwoman took a deep breath. “Physically, but not mentally, and so far she refuses to talk about it, maybe she needs time...”

“Just so you know, I can hear you!” Nerissa said with a growl in her voice. “So you two can go fuck yourselves because I'm fine!”

Nerissa Labong

The Native American woman who was busy lifting a barbell looked at her friends with displeasure. After the last PPV, they looked at her as if she was terminally ill and it madly annoyed her. She's fine. She's totally fine. At least that was what she was trying to prove to everyone around her...

“She's not fine...” Charlotte said in a lower voice so that Nerissa wouldn't hear her.

“Don't tell me, I see,” Astrid's gaze changed because she knew exactly what Nerissa's changes were related to. “Listen, Charlotte, could you...”

“I'll talk to her,” Charlotte said ahead of her friend. “But not today and not here.”

“Maybe she just needs to let off steam, I don't know, maybe a new match would help her...” the blonde sighed heavily and shook her head, unable to find a suitable solution. “Okay, let's continue.”

Charlotte did not comment on her friend's assumptions about Nerissa and simply nodded. Moving away from the window, they returned to the mat and stood opposite each other. Nodding at the same time, Astrid and Charlotte continued their training, exchanging punches and kicks.

[Sigma Morgan]

Another day another trip to the gym. Yumie hadn't exactly had the best luck in recent times, starting with a second loss and a title match loss to the heavyweight champion Alaina Sanders and following that up with a lack of booking after the fact. It irritated Yumie but that wouldn't stop her from at least trying to better herself. This time she came to the gym with her friend Kimiko Bando, a young lioness and relative newcomer to wrestling.

"What did you want to practice Yumie? It feels like forever since we came here together" Kimiko asked as the two walked into the gym.

"Anything you want Kimi. I just want to keep you out of trouble this time" Yumie teased half jokingly. To Yumie what Kimiko and Alizeh practiced last time they were in the gym seemed more like Alizeh bullying the young Japanese woman and she wanted to try to keep her friend away from that no matter how much Kimiko insisted it was her friend trying to teach her and help her.

"Yumie, she was my fr- Never mind" Kimiko stopped deciding not to waste her breath or start an argument with someone she considered her best friend. Instead, the two walked over to some mats.

"How about some grappling?" Yumie asked with a smile setting her water bottle down on the ground next to the mat.

"Alright" Kimiko agreed before taking a sip from hers and setting it down near Yumie's before stepping onto the mat

Yumie joined her a few seconds later, raising her arms, and waiting for Kimiko to do the same before lunging forward, locking up with Kimiko. Kimiko gritted her teeth instantly, trying to struggle and at least hold her ground against her larger friend as Yumie bore down on her waiting for Kimiko's knees to finally buckle and bend under her strength before switching things up and getting an arm around Kimiko's head pulling it close to her chest with a side headlock.

"Nnnnmmmm" Kimiko let out, her hands pressing and pushing against Yumie's body as she tried to pull her head free to no avail as Yumie swept her legs out and took things down onto the mat while maintaining the headlock causing Kimiko to grunt.

Looking up and around the gym Kimiko saw two other women sparing, one looking very familiar from a poster and LAW television... it was the open weight champion. Yumie certainly was a woman with high aspirations, a match with her could be a good way to get her name back on the map, beating her and taking her title would burn her name onto the map and onto any table beneath it!

Release Kimiko from the headlock Yumie got back to her feet. "I'll be right back" she said walking over to the two women while Kimiko sat up and crossed her legs looking around the gym patiently waiting for her friend to do whatever she was doing so they could get back to sparing.

"Miss Arvidsson we have something to discuss" Yumie said as she approached the champion confidently.

[skip-stop]

Astrid went on the offensive. Using her boxing skills, she began throwing punch after punch at Charlotte, aiming at both the Frenchwoman's head and torso. However, the pink-haired woman was not so simple, she skillfully used both her speed and martial arts skills. Taking short steps, she deftly dodged the blonde's attacks, and in those moments when it was impossible, she used her own hands to block Astrid's fists. Slightly annoyed by this, Astrid decided to put more force into the next punch, but at the same moment someone called her from the side.

“Huh?” The Norwegian woman said, turning her head.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine as Charlotte didn't stop. The Frenchwoman's fist went to the champion's face and since Astrid was distracted, this punch could well, if not knock her out, then make her fall on her butt. Charlotte's fist stopped just a few millimeters from her face. When Astrid looked at her friend, the corners of the pink-haired woman's lips lifted slightly.

“Never get distracted during a fight, comrade.” She said, bringing her fists down.

“Wouldn't say better, huh!" Astrid replied, after which she turned to the woman, because of whom she could well have missed this powerful blow.

The lavender eyes of the Norwegian woman ran over the white-haired woman from head to toe. Being an experienced fighter, Astrid developed the habit of looking at the physical form of her interlocutor first of all when they met. And in this case, what she saw was certainly impressive.

“Do you know her?" Charlotte asked.

“Not personally,” now the corners of Astrid's lips lifted slightly. “Yumie Hayashi, right?”

They didn't know each other personally, but Astrid knew who the woman was. Thanks to Victoria, the blonde was aware of, if not all, then most of the fighters of the federation, who, according to her manager, have great prospects. Among the fighters of the heavyweight division, Yumie certainly deserved to be called outstanding due to her success in the ring.

“I'm Astrid Arvidsson,” the blonde formally introduced herself, then nodded at Charlotte. “This is Charlotte Ravel'." Then Astrid nodded to the side. “And Nerissa Labong." The blonde tilted her head slightly to the side, looking at the white-haired woman again. “Something tells me that I know what you want to discuss...”

Of course, it was impossible to exclude the possibility that Yumie had approached her for some completely random reason, but Astrid's experience and intuition told her that this woman wanted to talk, or rather, to demand just one thing. The thing that everyone in this federation has been wanting from Astrid for the past year. And although the champion has heard a lot about this woman…

“If it's about a title shot, then get in line and contact my manager, Victoria,” she said, which caused Charlotte to raise her left eyebrow slightly. “There are about fifty more people like you in the federation, so I see no reason to discuss this here and now...”

Turning to Charlotte, Astrid raised her hands and clenched her fists, as if preparing to continue sparring. At first, the Frenchwoman was a little unclear about her friend's behavior, because such words were unusual for Astrid. Yes, Victoria was their manager, but Astrid preferred to decide everything about the openweight title on her own. Unlike most of the others, Charlotte knew Astrid very well and therefore... aaaah... the Frenchwoman finally realized what it was all about. Having managed to suppress the urge to grin, the pink-haired woman took her fighting stance, preparing to continue sparring.

[Sigma Morgan]

As Yumie approached she watched Astrid throw punch after punch at a pink haired woman with the woman expertly dodging and blocking with impressive skill. Though it seemed Astrid wasn't quite so zoned in as she quickly became distracted by Yumie calling out to her. "Oh shittt" Yumie thought to herself seeing a fist flying towards the champion's face but breathed a sigh of relief as it stopped just in time so that it wouldn't make contact.

Yumie stopped right in front of the mat, placing a hand on her hip as she saw Astrid studying her form, the Japanese woman flashing her a smile as she did, thinking of something to say to tease the champion but decided not to, just yet at least.

"That's me." Yumie responded when Astrid verbally acknowledged her. It was nice to see how Astrid already knew who she was, but it begged the question. Who was on whose radar? One way or another Yumie had a chip on her shoulder after Alaina Sanders had beaten her twice, wanting to prove those matches as nothing but flukes on an otherwise decent record.

Yumie giggled when Astrid introduced herself, she already knew damn well who the woman was, it was why she was currently speaking to her. But Yumie played along nodding and glancing as the blonde introduced her two friends. "Pleasure" Yumie simply said, she didn't care about the other two women here but it was best not to be rude to complete strangers.

Astrid was completely right though, knowing exactly what Yumie wanted from her, but seemed bent on not giving her that. Yumie raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms, letting out a sigh and taking a moment to think as Astrid prepared herself to spar once again. The blonde woman's jab about there being fifty other people like her cut a bit deep.

"Well Astrid... not to be cliche but I'm not like other people" Yumie teased. "Besides, you already know my name, clearly that means something champ" she added thinking of anything to give the champion's attention.

[skip-stop]

Mind games weren't something Astrid liked to use on a regular basis. However, sometimes you can't trust only the information you've received from someone. Yes, she knew who Yumie was, but she was wondering how this white-haired woman would behave. No one likes to be rejected, but not everyone is ready to persevere in such a situation.

After Yumie's answer, Astrid looked into Charlotte's eyes for a few seconds, who definitely understood what the Norwegian woman was trying to achieve. After receiving a brief nod from Charlotte, the champion lowered her fists and turned to the Japanese woman, smiling at her. Astrid crossed her arms under her chest, once again measuring the white-haired woman with her gaze.

“Good answer, huh,” she said. “I love women who are used to achieving what they want, even despite the obstacles in their way.”

People are different. And even if you are a good fighter, it does not always mean that you have the qualities that a real champion should possess. Astrid knew that well. The Norwegian woman liked that Yumie did not back down, it showed that the Japanese woman was really determined. Such people deserve their chance, but…

“But it's one thing to demonstrate determination with words and quite another thing to demonstrate it with actions!" Astrid said, tilting her head slightly to the side.

At this point, Charlotte began to guess what her friend was up to. The pink-haired woman remained calm and did not say anything because so far it was only between Astrid and Yumie. The only thing she was worried about was what exactly the blonde would say next. After all, if she decided that…

“Nerissa!" Astrid called, turning her head to the side.

“No.” Charlotte said sharply, preventing the Native American woman from responding to Astrid's call.

The champion looked at the pink-haired woman. There was almost no emotion on Charlotte's face, but there was a steely steadfastness in her eyes. She wasn't wrong about exactly what Astrid was up to. However, unlike her friend, she was sure that it shouldn't be Nerissa. At least not right now.

“She's not ready,” Charlotte said in a slightly lower voice. “I'll do it.”

“What? No!”

Astrid's eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips, looking at Charlotte. The Norwegian woman was sure that she knew the reason for the pause after the match between Charlotte and Akari. Victoria tried to keep Charlotte away from the matches because she was well aware of what the Frenchwoman was aiming for. And now any wrong step could destroy everything that she had built with such great difficulty since the Apex event. Astrid knew she shouldn't let this happen, but then why did she look into her friend's eyes and see that she was eager to move forward?

“You shouldn't… not now...” Astrid began, but Charlotte shook her head.

“And what kind of fighter will I be then?" she asked. “I never doubted you, now I'm asking you to do the same.”

Astrid involuntarily clenched her right fist with such force that her knuckles turned white. Too many of the people she loved were involved in her title reign. First Lunara, then Nerissa and Lily, now Charlotte. But on the other hand... they all had something in common. Each of them wanted to be at the top and therefore none of them was afraid to risk absolutely everything for this. The blonde sighed and then smiled.

“It's settled then,” she said, then turned to Yumie. “If you defeat Charlotte in a fair match, you'll get your title shot, what do you say?”

[Sigma Morgan]

Yumie let out a soft sigh as Astrid turned to Charlotte as if she were silently communicating with one another. Yumie wished she was psychic, telepathic, or whatever other superpower would allow her to read whatever was happening in the two women's minds. Thankfully though Astrid was quick to turn back and compliment her causing the Japanese woman to smile. "Good so far" Yumie thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Kimiko watched from the other side of the room watching like a hawk. "What are they talking about?" Kimiko asked herself still trying to remain patient and wait for her friend.

Yumie was determined and hell bent on proving herself the best in LAW, even if her previous shot at a title had not gone well for her, it clearly didn't degrade her confidence and determination though as she went right back to wanting to challenge another champion!

Yumie raised an eyebrow hearing Astrid's words. What did she have in mind for a test of determination? What more did Yumie have to prove to a woman who already knew her name, oh right another match, but not against the blonde, against one of her friends. Yumie's attention immediately shot to the long haired woman before immediately shooting to Charlotte hearing the woman disagreeing. Yumie's eyes widened, even she was a bit surprised at Charlotte's intrusion. Yumie crossed her arms as the blonde and pink haired women talked amongst each other briefly before Astrid turned and spoke to her once again, letting her test known. It was going to be Yumie vs Charlotte, Yumie's title hopes rested on the outcome.

"Sounds fair to me champ" Yumie said shifting her focus to Charlotte. "Nothing personal after I beat you right?" Yumie teased the pinked haired woman with a chuckle, her confidence starting to border on cockiness but Yumie was going to need to be confident if she was going to beat Charlotte first and then Astrid after. Meanwhile Kimiko growing a little impatient started to get up and walk over to where all the women were standing curious to what was going on.

[skip-stop]

Yume agreed to the terms, which made Astrid nod. At least they got along without objections and other things that one would expect in a situation like this. It seems that this white-haired woman had a much more pleasant character than Astrid thought... but this impression quickly disappeared after Yumie's next words, which were addressed to Charlotte. Astrid looked at her friend cautiously, because she knew how much the Frenchwoman disliked such words.

Meanwhile, Charlotte was looking at the Japanese woman as if she was trying to look into her soul. Indeed, she did not like these words. Not only because she believed that a real fighter should not say such things, but also because these words were similar to what she had heard from Amy. That woman also believed that her victory over Charlotte was a foregone conclusion. And, unfortunately, she was right because that match ended in defeat for the pink-haired woman. Her first and last defeat in the LAW ring, after that she began her difficult ascent to what she wanted to achieve.

“Our match will be the judge of that.” She said in response to Yumie's cheeky words.

While the women were talking among themselves, Nerissa silently finished her exercises and headed to the locker room. She wasn't going to stay here for long anyway, and besides, she was completely uninterested in what her friends were talking about with this white-haired woman. She had her own worries, which she did not yet know how to deal with.

“Well, wonderful then, huh!" Astrid said, doing something like an official summing up. “Expect a contract for the match in the very near future, Victoria will take care of it.” She said, looking at Yumie, after which she cast a brief glance at Charlotte. “I guess your match will be scheduled for next week, so I'll see you there because I can't miss such a sight.”

[Sigma Morgan]

Yumie was a confident person bordering on cocky though at that moment, she fully crossed the line into cockiness, and it was pretty obvious to her that it ruined the mood with how Astrid's attention immediately went to her friend. Yumie remained quiet, she wasn't exactly worried, but she could tell by the way Charlotte was looking at her that she touched a nerve with the pink haired woman.

Yumie didn't exactly see an issue with her words and she didn't see friendly trash talk as an issue and wouldn't have been bothered if Charlotte had said something similar to her. Though instead, Charlotte remained calm even a bit cold in her response. "I guess it will be" Yumie replied as Kimiko approached, passing Nerissa on her way over, giving her a polite nod and a smile.

Getting over to the three women Kimiko stood off to the side and remained quiet, not wanting to intrude on a conversation that didn't involve her. Yumie glanced at her friend but didn't address her just letting Kimiko know she saw her as Astrid summarized things. "Contract?" Kimiko asked quietly but aloud. "Sure she should be able to find me pretty easy' Yumie said walking towards Kimiko noticing that she was keeping her friend waiting. "Any time and any place is fine with me Astrid. Thanks for the opportunity" Yumie added with a smile looking forward to proving herself for yet another title match while Kimiko was trying to piece together what was going on.