New Marzia, New Challenges

[CaptainL]

It had been some time ago that the wrestling world had seen the new Marzia Servelli for the first time. No one could deny that the Italian girl had a natural talent for grappling, and her command of technical submissions had wowed many with her work in LAW and in several other promotions across her career. But for Marzia, merely being a good wrestler wasn't enough. There was always something else holding her back - her hesitation, her shyness, her timid nature keeping her from reaching out and achieving her full potential. Of course, that had all changed, thanks to Gail Whittaker. Under her training, Marzia had learned to shed her old nice-girl ways and embrace cruelty and brutality, and while she had her reservations about doing so, it left her feeling that much more powerful - and more successful - than she had ever been before.

If she was going to get anywhere with this new side of her, she could leave no questions about who she was, or what she could do. She needed to tell LAW, on no uncertain terms, what the new Marzia was all about. And tonight, she had a few words to say to that effect.

Spoiler

As the lights dimmed, hard-hitting rock music blared over the speakers as Marzia stormed out from the curtains. A few camera flashes went off as she passed by, but she shot glares at the fans snapping photos before slamming her foot against the railing to silence a few cheers. Despite her and Gail having worked as a team before, this time Marzia was here on her own. She wanted to show everyone she didn't need to hide behind a partner to realize her true potential. She could do this all by herself!

Lifting herself into the ring, Marzia snatched the microphone from the ring announcer with more force than she was used to, and, as she stormed over to the corner, she jabbed a finger into the stands accusingly. "LISTEN UP, LAW!!" she shouted. "Yeah, it's me again - and if you thought this was all just a prank, a gag, or a one-off thing, you're damn wrong! The old me was never going anywhere, anyway. I used to be so...so weak. So pitiful. That was why I never got anywhere, no matter how hard I tried, or how hard I worked!" She kicked at the ropes, venting her frustrations. "When I started realizing that I was eating loss after loss, when my best match was a goddamn DRAW - that's when I realized the problem was me all along! I needed to toughen up if I wanted to survive. I couldn't be weak any more! And you know what, now? You know what?"

Marzia took a step back, leaning in toward the crowd to give a pause for her words to sink in. "Well, it worked! I didn't expect it to be that easy, but it was! Little did I know, all along, all I needed to do was to stop letting everyone else walk all over me, when I could be the one walking on them instead! God, I honestly feel so stupid for never getting that through my skull - but it doesn't matter any more, and you know why? Because I've hit my stride. I'm better than I ever was before. Hell! I'm actually winning now!"

A grin lit up Marzia's face for only a moment before it dropped back into a scowl, her fingers clenching the microphone tighter. "Only that's not how it ends, is it!? No! Because YOU assholes STILL don't believe I can succeed, even when I have to take it by force!" The boos started coming, but Marzia continued. "Don't believe me? Look around, idiots! Even after Gail and I started working together, what have I had to show for it? Barely any time in the ring, and then you just put me up against opponents who aren't worth my time!"

Conspicuously missing from Marzia's speech was her rematch against Alizeh Midori, one that had been an intense and even match that left both combatants giving it their all and pushed them to their limits, and that had been well-received for the emotion and effort Marzia put into it, even if fans were less supportive of her methods. Her eyelid twitched after she finished her sentence, and as she glanced back up she bit at her lip. It was almost as though she didn't want to acknowledge it - but still, she continued.

"The way I see it, either you don't think I've got it in me - or you're just too scared of me to give me more time on the show, and y'know what? You damn well SHOULD be! But I'm fed up with waiting around. I'm fed up with being thrown bottom-of-the-barrel low-card tomato cans! I didn't go through all the training I did to be languishing in obscurity. I'm here to make a name for myself, dammit! And I'm gonna do that one way or another!" She pointed her finger directly into the camera. "You idiots can't stop me now! You can't keep me back now! I'm going to make myself clear, here - you give me an opponent worth my time, someone who can really challenge me, or..." She paused a moment, her fist clenching and unclenching as she searched for the words. "Or I'll have to do something I'll regret!"

[Pegasus]

Jonathan was a big star and it’s not like he hasn’t been around the world, but this has a different ring to it. His first actual match in Japan and he honestly couldn’t remember when he did international shows that often. Ever since coming back to the indies, he’s taken gigs like crazy keeping money coming in to support his family. LAW took notice and offered him a job as a coach for their younger generation, but they also gave him a clause saying he could wrestle part-time on matches Jonathan wanted to. The pay was worth it and Jonathan found himself getting set in the locker room watching the plasma TV as he donned a white hoodie with a gold trim to the sides. He saw Marzia storming around the ring berating the company she worked for and even the tag partner she teamed up with who lead her down this path in the first place.

Jonathan knew Marzia for a very long time when she did shows in America and they became fast friends. He always liked spending time and training with the Italian wrestler when she was her shy, but exhilarating self. What the hell happened to that girl? Where did this new attitude come from? Jonathan figured it had something to do with this Gail girl, but it may just be something deeper he may have to root out. Well, time to play the game and see where his chances lie as he put his hood over his head walking to gorilla.

Jonathan did a few air punches getting himself in gear and he wore some simple black tights with black combat boots. Underneath the hoodie, a simple sleeveless white shirt stuck to his chest as his theme music started up before he went out of the black curtain.

[media] [/media]

A countdown initiated from 5 to 0 as smoke started pouring from machines covering the entrance ramp as Jonathan made his way out onto the stage with the lights going black and blue giving off a mysterious aura. Jonathan walked down the ramp and then when a certain portion of his theme hit, he threw back his hood and golden pyro rain down form the rafters. The crowd cheered him on with some recognizing him as Jonathan smiled brightly coming down letting fans take all the pictures they wanted in contrast to how Marzia treated them. He hugged fans of all ages before stopping and staring down Marzia with his own eyes. He shook his head looking her up and down taking in the new attire she donned.

Jonathan shrugged and came up the steel steps before turning his back to Marzia, but he gave quick looks before locking his arms on the top rope leaning back as more golden pyro rained down from the rafters. He gets in and goes to one corner hopping up as he looked out into the cheering crowd smirking as he got down before turning around seeing a very shocked look on Marzia’s face and it looked like the life was sucked right out of her.

He asked for a mic and grabbed it bringing it to his lips quickly.

“Hello, old friend. How’s it hanging?”

[CaptainL]

At the sound of the music coming over the speakers, Marzia spun back around to face the source of the noise. She huffed, standing taller and crossing her arms. "Oh, would you look at that," she muttered, "looks like they're sending someone right now!" Despite having her demands answered, Marzia nevertheless hung her head, shaking it with a grumble. Still she wasn't satisfied. "And of course, it's just like them to send someone out there without telling me a word in advance. Good to know I mean that little to them that they can't be bothered-!" She spat at the ground, leaning back against the ropes.

As her opponent made their way out from behind the curtains, Marzia looked up to study the scene before her. She didn't recognize the music, and she couldn't make out any details about the hooded figure coming down the ramp, bathed in dim light. That made her raise an eyebrow curiously. Was this some newcomer wanting to make their debut against her? If so...that was even more insulting. She belonged where she could go up against the best, not being some throwaway preliminary wrestler they could feel confident putting unproven talent against! Either that, or it was someone already on the roster trying to make their appearance a surprise. Marzia didn't know what would annoy her more - she just wished they would get on with it. "HEY!!" she cried out, cupping her hands to her mouth as she leaned in toward the new arrival. "Why don't you show your face already and quit fooling around!?"

But when the hooded figure lifted their hood, and showed their face...it hit Marzia hard.

There, standing across from her...was Jonathan Steele. Someone she had looked at as a friend and a mentor. She had a modest career in the indies before coming to LAW, but when it came to perfecting her skills she owed Jonathan more than anyone. He had helped train her as she was forging her own path in her career, and he had done his best to help her build her confidence. Ever since she'd started working with Gail, though, they'd fallen out of contact. She grew used to assuming that he had moved on and forgotten about her - after all, why wouldn't he? She had just been a disappointment.

But here he was in LAW. Out of all the things Marzia could have expected, this was far from even being in the running! At once, the air of anger and indignation fell away from Marzia, and she stared out at him wide-eyed and gasping. When she spoke again, it was in the soft, faltering voice of the old Marzia. The weak Marzia, the Marzia before she'd become what she was today.

"...Jon...athan? What...what are you doing here?"

[Pegasus]

They say a picture can paint a thousand words and one could paint the picture clearly if given enough time. Marzia’s eyes looked like she had seen the scariest Halloween decoration and was stuck in paralyzed fear. Jonathan’s words hung in the air before the whimpers of his old friend resurfaced. Was this all just an act? She hadn’t been this vulnerable before and she looked ready to kill someone just with her glare alone. Jonathan looked Marzia up and down wondering many things as he brought the microphone back to his lips.

“Surprised to see me, eh? Well, LAW heard about my tremendous success in wrestling and they wanted me to help teach the newer generation of bright young stars. The young lionesses, if your prefer.”

Jonathan caught wind of the cheers for the younger gals of the league as they seemed excited for the future.

“In addition to that, our deal is that I get to wrestle about any match I please. My first one was a tough choice, because all the women, and even some men, are pretty solid in the ring. Then, there’s you. Throwing a temper tantrum in this ring. Making demands. Throwing the very company that gave you this spotlight under the bus and taking the wheel yourself. This ain’t you, Marzia. So, I’m here to sort it out. What’s the problem?”

Jonathan left the floor to Marzia as he looked on like a disapproving parent scolding their child. He didn’t want to preach or anything, because Marzia truly looked like she needed a listening ear and hopefully, she wasn’t going to switch personalities again on him. Jonathan crossed his arms with a neutral expression as he wanted full details and he wouldn’t take no or another tantrum for an answer.

[CaptainL]

Marzia thought she had turned her back on her old self - that she would never let herself be weak again; that she was ready to trample everything that dared to stand in her way beneath her feet, unchained by the intrusive thoughts that once kept her back. But as soon as she came face to face with her old trainer, everything ground to a halt. She had grown used to her new role, enough to settle into it - but one sight of Jonathan was enough to knock her back to her old ways. And that fact worried Marzia even more. Were her deepest fears true? Was she really just a scared, hopeless girl striking out at the world in frustration, and desperately clinging to whatever she could to save face?

Jonathan seemed to think so, with how he so casually brushed off the indignation she felt toward her position in the company as though it meant nothing. Marzia wanted to snap back in his face, and to prove him wrong. But as she stared back at him, her fists clenched and her eyelid twitching every so often, she couldn't bring herself to do it. For all she wanted to, she couldn't exactly disagree. All this time, she had been afraid that her new attitude wouldn't be enough; that people might see through it - and that they might still see the weakling she once was. And now, it seemed, that was exactly what Jonathan was doing. He was the one person, perhaps, who knew her old self the most, and now she was defenseless before him.

With a hiss as her muscles went rigid, Marzia stomped her foot against the mat. "S-Shut up-!!" she roared, her voice sputtering and shaking as she tried to hold back the urge to let her anxieties bubble to the surface. Even still, she glanced away from Jonathan, her gaze always aimed slightly downward or to the side - never looking him directly in the eye. "You don't understand how people see me here! When was the last time I had a match worth a damn?! When did anyone take me seriously? I'll tell you, I never started getting the respect I deserved until I decided I needed to turn my back on these people - and even now, I'm not getting it from them! Or...from you!"

As the last word left her mouth, Marzia took a step closer, her confidence building inside of her. She raised a finger, pointing it in Jonathan's direction. "You...you always saw my potential, you said, back when we trained! You knew what I was capable of! And now you're just going to treat me like a child!? You should be better than this! If anyone could tell these people where I deserve to be, it's you!" She leaned in closer, her shoulders hunched close to her as though she was a threatened animal. "So, go on, then! Tell them!"

[Pegasus]

Jonathan felt all eyes on him when Marzia put him on the spot and she had a front row seat to, in her fragile mind, see him struggle to say anything good about her. This new persona she crafted wanted Jonathan to demean her…shame her….degrade her….so she could push back ten times harder and remain in this persona for a long time. The old Marzia peaked her head out from her shell, but it was like an invisible force shoved it back in and she was back to what she once was. Jonathan looked around and thought over his next words before trying to lay a hand on Marzia’s shoulders, but she stepped back from him not wanting his comfort.

“You really think I’m going to seek personal opinions from the crowd? You think I’m treating you like a child? You’re damn right I saw potential in you and you always put your best foot forward. You told me that you may lose 50 matches, but there was always the possibility you may tie it with 50 matches you win. Now, all of a sudden, you’re calling yourself worthless. I took you in. Treated you like family. Now, you want to push away one of the few people who gave you a chance to become stronger.”

Jonathan felt his own anger boiling up as this was his life story on full display. Everyone blamed him when they didn’t get what they wanted. He didn’t give them this and that and suddenly, he’s the bad guy. Now, the one person Jonathan thought he could trust the most….was willing to throw that friendship back in his face and tell him to shove it where the sun don’t shine. Jonathan raised his left fist and went for a strike, but stopped mere inches from Marzia’s face as he relented his anger and stepped back.

“I’m not going to argue with you all night. I don’t know what to say to convince you. You could have come to me if you wanted further training. Hell, you’re friends with LAW Heavyweight Champion Astrid Ostberg! Why didn’t you go to her?! Why do you not think this through?!”

Jonathan felt the heat in his face rise up and it was time to get freakin’ serious. If there was one thing Jonathan never took, it was complete bullshit spewed back at him to make him feel like the guilty party. He could see a twinge of pride on Marzia’s face stretching nonchalantly as she casted first blood in mental warfare and seemed to strike a pretty good nerve, but it was one nerve too far and now, Jonathan was pissed.

“Then come on, you bitch! I taught you everything you ever wanted to know. I’ll take you every time! EVERY FUCKING TIME! Show me how much Gail was better! She’s not here to save her student now!” Jonathan exclaimed, hoping to strike as many nerves of Marzia’s as possible. He has officially declared war!

[CaptainL]

Marzia could feel Jonathan reach out for her, but before his hand even made contact she pulled away with a hiss, the hairs on the back of her neck rising as she bristled with growing tension. "Don't touch me! Don't you touch me!!" she cried out, the anger rising in her voice. Her muscles were rigid, and her teeth were held in a grimace. She was like a tightly-coiled spring, ready to explode at the slightest touch. She was waiting for Jonathan to give her that push, to give her the excuse to lash out at him, and to show him - and everyone - that she wouldn't be pushed around any more.

But...that didn't happen. Jonathan didn't belittle her or talk down to her. He acknowledged what Marzia had said in the past when she had confronted him about her fears and anxieties about her career, and for a moment, Marzia had the mirror held up to her. At first, a blush came to her cheeks as she thought about what he was saying, but her brows soon narrowed into a glare. Wasn't this a betrayal of her trust, she told herself? Wasn't he telling everyone all her secrets - what she thought was personal between them? She wanted to use that as her opportunity to get mad. But she couldn't - because, deep down, there still was that old Marzia in her that realized that Jonathan had high hopes for her, and wanted the best for her. And it was that old Marzia that saw Jonathan's fist heading straight her way - the fist of her trainer, her friend; someone who should have still been her friend - and flinched, however briefly.

But Jonathan didn't hit her. He drew back, leaving Marzia staring back at him dumbfounded for a moment, before he went on to point out the Italian girl's friendship with Astrid. Her eyelid twitched, and she hugged her arms closer to her body as she listened to his words. He was belittling her! Maybe she was right - he never cared about her anyway! After all, who would want to be associated with a loser like her? The fact that he had found her hurting, and never even bothered to extend a hand, just proved that he didn't care! Immediately, she regretted flinching a moment before. She needed to be better than that. Jonathan wasn't her friend any more - and for that matter, neither was Astrid.

"Astrid was my friend!" Astrid snapped back. "But ever since she won the belt, she won't even give me the time of day! She knows I'm bad for her image - and you know what, she can do that if she wants! I don't need her any more, anyway. I have people who can help me. I have trainers who have taught me everything I need to know! And if Astrid wants to go off to the title scene and leave me behind, I'll drag myself up to her level by force if I have to!"

Her teeth clenched in a snarl, Marzia focused a glare on Jonathan as she cracked her knuckles. There was no going back now. If he was going to see her as the villain in this story, that's what he would get. "And if you're in my way, I won't hesitate to take you out, too!"

Push had come to shove, and it was finally time for Marzia to act. She had doubts bubbling in the back of her mind, but she couldn't let them take control now. She had to prove herself - and she balled a fist tightly, swinging it straight through the air toward Jonathan...

...Only for LAW ring announcer Misa Otomura to climb into the ring, stepping in between the two. Marzia's fist stopped just short of her target, and she clenched her teeth in frustration as Misa held her arms up in the air. "Stop! That's enough! If you two need to prove anything, settle it in a match!"

[Pegasus]

Jonathan was afraid of this and he honestly should have chosen his words more carefully. He acted on impulse yet again and let his anger act out for him. Jonathan could sense the hesitation of Marzia….like her old self kept pulling on the arms of this fierce persona and held her back. However, the old Marzia could only do so much. This more angrier and emotionally-charged persona took full control seething at the teeth ready to strike down who was probably one of the most important people in Marzia’s life. However, just as Marzia came in with a punch, a hand grabbed her shoulder and Jonathan was also pushed back by Misa.

“MARZIA! THAT’S ENOUGH! STAND DOWN!”

The roar of a thick Hispanic accent rang throughout the arena as the crowd turned to the entrance seeing a different character added to this turmoil and one that Marzia would know all too well.

Ryan Brown

Ryan “Fireball” Brown, an indie legend and multiple time champion in many promotions across America and Japan, came out with his own microphone as he stared down both people in the ring. He came down quickly and slid into the ring looking at all three people as he held up the mic. Marzia stumbled onto her butt looking like someone pierced a sharp object into her body. The widened eyes told the whole story that she knew Ryan very well and Jonathan could only see terror once again in her eyes. The anger could literally be seen draining from Marzia’s face as well as the color in her skin. Truly, Marzia was sure she could’ve seen a terrifying monster, but this monster was one that this new persona feared. This new persona’s loss and the old Marzia’s gain.

“They will fight in an “I Quit” Match. I will personally referee.” Ryan announced as he turned to Misa.

[CaptainL]

Both Jonathan and Marzia had their regrets about coming to blows, but at this point, there was no holding them back. Marzia was desperate to prove that she wouldn't let the old, weak person she used to be rule her any longer - and Jonathan wouldn't let the fact that he had trained and supported her get in the way either, if it was down to this. At the last minute, the ring announcer stepped in between them to break them up - but she wouldn't be the one who truly caught Marzia's attention, as Ryan emerged from the curtains moments later.

Marzia's eyes shot around to the sound of Ryan's voice as he called into the microphone, and the color practically drained away from her cheeks as she looked back in shocked silence. When she spoke, it was in a soft voice, barely above a whisper. "You're...here too..?" He too had been someone she had a close relationship with. She had learned just as much training under him as she had with Jonathan, and he had always had faith in her to push through her fears and achieve her dreams, even when she didn't believe she could. But ever since she had fallen in with Gail, it seemed like he was out of the picture - that was, until now.

Misa, meanwhile, turned to face Ryan, nodding to him. "Looks like we've got another surprise entrant, ladies and gentlemen," she said, looking between Jonathan and Marzia, "but from the looks on the faces of these two, I'd say that they know him well enough that I don't have any doubts he'll be well-suited to the job. Very well, then! Next week, I expect to see all three of you back in the ring!"

[Pegasus]

Jonathan and Ryan had got what they wanted. A match to hopefully break through to Marzia and bring back the girl they had known. Ryan left his side and walked up to Marzia as he approached carefully while Jonathan decided to stand back on this one. Ryan walked up to Marzia and he felt a warm embrace as she lowered her defenses on the verge of crying. It’s clear that she did not want to have him see her like this, but Ryan was a person that could at least be near her without her snapping. Not to say Marzia was going to necessarily let him in all the way, but they had history and Marzia couldn’t deny him the chance to explain himself.

“This probably isn’t what you want to hear, but I know you don’t want this. This outfit….this mindset….this attitude….you believe in the right way. But you feel compelled to try it….for yourself. I can’t blame you, chica. You want to get better, but you’re doing it under the disguise of what others want you to be. You’re not weak. I don’t know who told you that, but they are very wrong. ”

Marzia looked up in his eyes as Ryan wiped the tears away, but he could see that she was still conflicted. Does she let only him in? Convince him that this is the new Marzia? Convince him that this is truly what she wanted? She didn’t want to appear weak, but Ryan could see a tale of two Marzias. One he knew and….held dear to his heart while the other just wanted to move on from this sappy love story to kick the ass of her former trainer.

“But….think of what you are throwing away for this lie. Me….us….I love you, chica. The first meeting we had back on the boardwalk in New Jersey….that Marzia was strong enough to come to me and tell me her feelings. When I didn’t even know you felt that way. And honestly, I did. Then, this Gail girl came into your life and you chose her over us….me, your madrio.” Ryan stated as he looked back at a scared Marzia.

“But I won’t abandon you! You would do the same for me! I should’ve been there before, but now, I want to be there now!”

Jonathan looked on at the scene as he told Misa “You done your job. Get out of here.”