The Ultimatum

[CaptainL]

Cynara Morgan had been hard at work behind the scenes. But she was not about to let the perfect opportunity pass her by.

She'd already cemented herself as something of a big deal in the wrestling world - not only drawing on her legendary career as a nigh-undefeated AHW champion, but also stepping back into the public eye in her new role as a manager. Her recognizable name, confident presence, and seemingly endless financial resources made for a powerful combination. If she so wanted, she could grant herself access to whatever she wished backstage, and if anyone told her no - well, it was only a matter of finding a big enough bribe for them to look the other way. Cynara was already pleased to know that people were talking about her again. But to know that she still had the authority to get what she wanted? That was the icing on the cake.

And it was because of those backstage connections that Cynara had learned of something that piqued her interest. As of late, LAW management was less than impressed with Nashi Dragneel. Although she had the name recognition from her successful idol career, Nashi had struggled in recent matches, leaving many to question if she really had what it took to maintain a competitive edge. Her name had been one floated for the chopping block - if she wasn't going to shape up, she stood the risk of being fired.

But to Cynara, this was especially intriguing news - because she and Nashi went back further than that. Nashi was a second-generation wrestler - part of a dynasty. And in returning to the wrestling scene, Cynara had seen fit to take down every wrestling family she could, to prove that the Morgans were the premier lineage in the sport. She'd made her presence known in an apartment match between Nashi and her daughter Mina - where she had exploited the more private setting to take the role of referee, and looked the other way when Mina caught Nashi off guard, delivering the idol a humiliating loss. Now, Cynara had the chance to really hit Nashi where it hurt - and she'd approached management with a proposal. A proposal that, with enough money behind it, they found it hard to refuse.

Now, it was time for the announcement to be made, and Cynara would be the one to do the honors. That, of course, was something she had quite specifically asked for.

Spoiler

Cynara stepped out from the curtains, tossing her hair back over her shoulders as she marched her way down to the ring. Cameras flashed all around her as she passed by - a sight that never failed to make her smile a little wider, knowing she could still hold the attention and the adoration of the masses. She climbed up the steel steps and through the ropes to get into the ring, taking a microphone. But in the other hand, she held a briefcase. And she knew what was inside.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen - and of course, a big thanks again for the warm welcome," Cynara said. "I'm happy to have the honors of announcing a big development in the lives of one of our friends here in LAW - a little someone by the name of Nashi Dragneel." The crowd cheered at her name - something that made Cynara roll her eyes before she continued. "But of course, who would need to hear this most but Nashi herself? Nashi, if you're hearing this right now - why don't you step up to the stage?"

[SRG]

Tonight Nashi didn't have any matches booked on the card but unfortunately was asked to still be present tonight in case she one wrestler couldn't make it for whatever reason. So, for the time being Nashi simply just sat in the locker room twiddling her thumbs away to help pass the time. In truth Nashi was starting to get worried, while her career in WOWW was taking off pretty well, her career in LAW was close to plummeting. She had been on a constant losing streak ever since the Double or Nothing Tourney and her failed attempt of claiming the middleweight championship certainly didn't do her any favors in the long run. It felt like any day now she was going to receive a call telling her to back her things or be forced into becoming a young lioness as a half-hearted attempt to start back from scratch in the company.

Just then the locker room TV came on full blast as Nashi's attention was drawn to it. The Idol slowly walked up trying to figure out who was on the TV screen before letting out a small but scared gasped from who it was, she saw. "No! Anyone but her!" Nashi stood back covering her mouth from the shock of seeing none other than Cynara Morgan. It had been just a year or two, but Nashi still remembered well what she and her daughter Mina did to her. Nashi still remembers that night she was competing for an unofficial belt against the heir to the Morgan dynasty and what should've been a fun fair bout turned into a handicap match as they pulled every trick in the book to score a dirty victory. So, when Cynara called out the Idol's name on live TV calling her down to the ring a fire lit in the pits of Nashi's heart as she knew she couldn't let Cynara showboat, she had to stand up to her. So, the fiery Idol pivoted her heel to turn around beginning to stomp her way through the halls of the LAW hallway letting out short huffs of anger as she made it to the gorilla.

Then as if on cue Nashi pulled the curtains back and came out to the arena with her eyes dead center on the blonde manager in the ring tonight. "Cynara..." Nashi grunted as while she heard some fans cheer her, she chose to ignore them for tonight. Nashi had her eyes set on Cynara and Cynara only in case she pulled out another dirty trick like before. As Nashi walked down the aisle, she made sure to say alert in case Mina, or someone else hired by Cynara came out to jump her as the Idol kept her gaze on the woman. She climbed up the steps and went through the ropes already having a mic in hand from someone backstage as she got into Cynara's face. "Well well well." Nashi let out in a pissed off mood. If it isn't Cynara Morgan. Last, I remember I was in a match against you're daughter for her belt and guess what everyone?" Nashi continued taking a second to swing her body around to gesture to the audience. "Cynara cheated, she acted as referee but helped out her daughter win when she is supposed to be a neutral party meaning that the AHW technically belongs to me!" Nashi continued swinging back around to face Cynara face to face giving her a little bump with her chest before the idol's eyes were drawn to the briefcase she had before her. "So what is that? The title I should rightly have or is another cheap trick you got up your sleeve!' Nashi finished in a bitter tone as quite frankly she was done with Cynara's crap as stood back to fold her arms waiting to see what Cynara would say so she can get this over with.

[CaptainL]

Cynara didn't even flinch as Nashi came marching down the ramp. The pink-haired girl might've been putting up a brave face, and she might've faced her with a steely defiance, but Cynara's composure never broke - she still stood right where she was, unflinching, with the smug smile never falling from her face. For as big as Nashi wanted to talk, Cynara knew full well how afraid she really was. She'd been face to face with enough women to know all their tells - the hunch in their shoulders; the twitch in their eyelids. She knew what it looked like when someone was biting back their fear. She'd been across the carpets from many a woman who was doing the exact same thing.

If anything, Cynara had to chuckle when she heard the defiance in Nashi's voice. She was trying to talk tough, acting like she was the one with the high ground - but she didn't know the trick Cynara had up her sleeve. In fact, Nashi went as far as to insist that she rightfully held the AHW championship - a provocative statement to be sure, and one that garnered a few gasps from the crowd. But Cynara wouldn't be rattled. When Nashi bumped her chest against hers, Cynara shoved back at her with her shoulders, refusing to back down. If Nashi was going to be that bold, Cynara would put her in her place.

"Oh, you feel like talking big, huh? That's cute, honey. Real cute. First of all, though, titles don't change hands on a DQ - I'd figured a second-generation wrestler would at least know that. But if you want to embarrass yourself in front of the world again, fine, be my guest. But let's suppose you were right? I was officiating that match, and per the rules of Apartment House Wrestling, the officiator has final say in all decisions. And I didn't disqualify anyone. But let's suppose it did go through the top brass, hm? Do you really think they'd take the title off their champion and give it to some nobody with her career on the line?"

At that point, Cynara held up the briefcase. It fell open - and there inside was a copy of Nashi's LAW contract. A gasp went through the crowd at the sight of it.

"I meant what I said. The promoters here at LAW have made their decision. Your idol career isn't going to save you if you can't win a match to save your life. If you don't win your next match, Nashi...you're fired."

[SRG]

Even though it had been a year or two since she last encountered the matriarch of the Morgan dynasty, the hatred she had for the blonde was still there and accounted for. Thankfully tonight Nashi would allow to vent out her frustrations towards the blonde manager with every word that came out of the Idol's mouth had a burning rage of conviction underneath it all. As Nashi went on and on it felt rewarding to her as she hated everything about Cynara from her attitude to the way she made her own daughter a mindless attack dog for opponents and how often she cheats and lies to get what she wanted, Nashi had to stick it to the "Queen" of the Apartment circle.

Once Nashi was finally done, she let out a sigh of relief as if a massive weight was removed from her shoulders upon her venting as she gave the blonde a quick shove to emphasize her determination. However as soon as she was done Cynara pushed Nashi back with a bump of her own causing the Idol to stumble back a few steps before catching herself. "I'll fight you right here if you want Cynara." Nashi muttered as her hands bawled up into a fist with her eyes narrowing like a fox about to attack a gazelle. Instead of a brawl Cynara decided to open her rich mouth and began to walk down to the Idol. Suddenly a bit of her confidence began to shimmer down just a tiny bit as she flustered a bit with embarrassment as Cynara reminded her that a title cannot change with a DQ, Nashi could hear some audience members chucking at such an obvious rule with the Idol's hair's rising up in her back. "HEY! I mean that..." Nashi shouted trying to counter Cynara's argument but right before she could the Idol stopped when she heard those words come from the heels mouth.[color=#BF80000]"give it to some nobody with her career on the line?"[/color] "Fired...?" Nashi let out softly in confusion as the whole world began to slow down for Nashi as she began to process what Cynara meant. "I can't be getting fired can I....?" Nashi asked herself as her eyes looked down at the canvas for a minute. Was it because I was losing too much? It couldn't have been as she was being booked in matches where she was in an unfair advantage and lost because of those unfair advantages the opponents had. All of those thoughts circulating throughout Nashi's brain until her head shot up once again looking Cynara as she heard the briefcase open and saw what was inside... A gasp came from Nashi's mouth as her body began to tremble taking a step back in fear upon what she just saw in Cynara's hands. "No, no, no, no, NO!!!!" Nashi began to cry out as there was no way this was happening it had to be a bad dream or something. "Ah!" Nashi let out after pinching herself to try and wake herself up but nothing changed she was still in the ring staring down at Cynara who held onto her contract as if it were a trophy of war. "I promise I will win my match just don't rip it I beg you!" In a flash all of Nashi's loudmouth and determination were swept under the rug as now she began to plead with Cynara asking her to not rip her contract under any circumstances but now the ball was in Cynara's court, she held all the cards and now all Nashi could do was stand there and hope Cynara had a shred of human decency underneath her cruel persona.