Yukino, of course, hadn't gone far from Nashi's side - the two had been friends longer than they'd been partners, and even now they were inseparable. When she heard the pink-haired girl protest her choices for their entrance, she heard it all with a roll of her eyes.
"Oh, all right, fiiiiiine..." she groaned - just before she flashed Nashi a smile and hugged her closer around her shoulder, breaking out into a giggle. Yukino wasn't the least bit mad at Nashi. She never could be. No matter how much they might joke around, she'd always be on her side.
But then, their tone grew more serious. Now, with her and Yukino alone, Nashi could feel comfortable opening up about her concerns leading into this match - and when Yukino heard them, the look on her face turned grave. She listened to what Nashi had to say, nodding her head, as she leaned in to rest a hand on her shoulder. The two of them might have been joking around a moment ago, but now, it was clear that Nashi needed her. And if Nashi needed her...Yukino was going to be there for her. She was her friend, and like any friend, she was going to stand up for her.
"I know it's going to be tough, Nashi..." Certainly, Yukino knew how strong the members of Irish Oldschool could be. She'd seen that first-hand when
she took on Lauren in one of her Apex qualifiers, and there she had learned how big a mistake it would be to underestimate what the heavyweight was capable of. Her win-loss record might not have been incredible, but Lauren wanted to silence any doubters who thought she couldn't wrestle, and Yukino had front-row seats to that. Now, with the two of them on a PPV event, the stakes were higher than ever. Irish Oldschool, no doubt, would be especially motivated to win this. If they wanted to shed their image as jobbers, to do so by beating a popular team like the Idol Dragons live on pay-per-view, at LAW's biggest show of the year, would make the case like little else could. Especially when there was something even greater at stake. Whoever won this match would be awarded the tag team championships of World of Womens' Wrestling, another promotion that had its own dealings with LAW, and that was willing to let its titles be featured on LAW shows. For Irish Oldschool, that was the offer of a lifetime.
But...if those were the stakes Nashi and Yukino were up against, they were going to have to work even harder to live up to them, and to do them justice! Yukino stood up a little straighter, the look on her face growing bold.
"But...we can't turn back now! This is our opportunity to make our mark on the world of wrestling, and to prove that we're worthy of a championship! So that's going to make us fight extra hard!" She pumped a fist in the air in a show of strength, ready to cheer Nashi on. Nashi, it seemed, had noticed - typically, it was the more reserved Yukino who needed encouragement prior to a match. Now, the tables had turned. But Yukino simply met that thought with a warm smile, as she bowed her head.
"Well...consider this my way of returning the favor." She was grateful for all Nashi had done for her. To give her a hand was an honor.
They had done enough talking, though. Now, it was time for Nashi and Yukino to make their entrance, and they would be sure to make a splash!
Nashi wouldn't be alone in her Sailor Moon-inspired entrance. As the lights shone down at the top of the entrance ramp, Yukino stepped out at her partner's side, their arms linked as she threw a few poses of her own! The crowd was cheering them on at every moment, with cameras flashing all around them! And of course, Yukino had her own speech to give!
""I am the Pretty Guardian, who fights for Love and Intelligence, I am Sailor Mercury! Douse yourself in water and repent!"
Arm in arm, she followed Nashi down to the ring, greeting the fans with just as much eagerness and excitement as she waved her hands and blew kisses of her own. Nashi was excited for what lay ahead of her - and Yukino was too; she grinned to her partner and elbowed her in the side as they psyched each other up. But they also knew when to get serious. And, as Yukino stepped up on the ring apron and through the ropes, she looked back at Lauren and Peggy with a stern look on her face. She knew the challenge ahead of her, and she was going to face it with the dignity it deserved!
When the lights came back up on the arena, Yukino was in her regular wrestling attire, staring her opponents down and with her fists clenched tightly.
"You might have trained," she added,
"but so have we, and we're better than ever!"
However, that wasn't the only change! Misa had taken her stance at the center of the ring - and she looked up with a smile as she brought the microphone back up to her mouth.
"But of course, before this match begins, we've got one more important guest here with us to make an announcement..."
The lights shone down on the seats ringside - and there, Carol Barlet, founder and president of WOWW, arose from her seat and started making her way to the ring! Some of the fans cheered for her as she lit up across the jumbotron under the feed of the cameras - but they really started cheering when she reached into a bag she had slung over her shoulder, and in each hand pulled out one of WOWW's Tag Team Championship belts, holding them high for all to see!
"I'll be the first to say, it's a pleasure to be here," Carol explained,
"and to see the talent that's been on display tonight! Everyone who knows me knows I've long been an advocate for the advancement of women's wrestling, and when I see what the girls today are capable of doing, I have to say...I can't be more proud. You've all come a long way, and the wrestling world is a better place for it. But...I still need a team who can call themselves the top contenders in WOWW! And to that, I say..." She looked at the Idol Dragons, then at Irish Oldschool.
"...let the best team win!"