L.A.W. - League of Anime Wrestling

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This was it - the day had come. All Astrid could hope for was that she would be ready.

She thought this would all be simple. Following her loss to Astrid Arvidsson at We Are LAW, the Norsewoman had made an appearance to address how she would be moving forward after giving up her title of LAW Heavyweight Champion, and shortly thereafter failing to recapture the glory by taking the Openweight Championship instead. Astrid didn't like to confront these things. She didn't like to admit her weakness, or to speak up about how she just hadn't been enough to make good on her pledge to herself. She was already grappling with that sense of loss, of inadequacy, of uncertainty in her own future, ever since she had lost the title, and putting that into words just made it sting that much more. But it had to be done, she told herself - it was the only way she could get closure, and hopefully move on.

But closure was about the last thing Astrid was going to get that night. She intended to leave things there - only for a few unwelcome guests to make their presence known. Lyra Heartfield and her fellow members of the Selection - the seemingly unstoppable, almost supernatural force that seemed hell-bent on taking over LAW and bending its wrestlers to its will - had shown up, taunting Astrid about all her doubts and her failures. It seemed like they knew exactly what it was that Astrid was so afraid of - and worse, they were willing to use that very fear as a weapon against her. She'd left the arena bruised that day, but the true blow the Selection had inflicted wasn't anything they'd done to her body. It was the reason she was here in Baltimore right now - the challenge they had issued for Astrid to face off against Lyra, in a Falls Count Anywhere match at Nightmare on LAW Street. And if Astrid failed...she would have no choice but to join the Selection herself.

The Norwegian would never allow herself to go with them if not by force. She couldn't stand for their use of such underhanded tactics as ganging up on their opponents and deluding them with trickery and illusions. Nor was she going to abide by how they had gone after her daughter Sarabeth when she tried to stand up for Astrid. But going into this match, it wasn't revenge on Astrid's mind, or the promise of setting the matter right; of showing everyone she still had what it took to succeed after all. She wasn't in this because she wanted to. She was in this because she had to - she couldn't let anyone think that the Selection had gotten to her. And she couldn't let them win. The Selection was all but convinced that Astrid had fallen right into the palm of their hands. Astrid just hoped she could prove them wrong.

The battle ahead of her would be a hard one; Astrid already knew that. She'd already had a taste of what the Selection was capable of when they had used sounds and special effects to daze and disorient her, and when they sent their minions to gang up on her while she was lost in a haze. So too, the stakes of this match, for Astrid, had never been higher - it wasn't a belt or bragging rights or a payday on the line; it was Astrid's very understanding of who she was. She couldn't lose this - she shuddered to even think of what might happen if she did. But she told herself she would face this like any other match - she would do her best, and carry on with all the passion and heart she had. If anything, she could take that threat of what awaited her if she lost and use it to fuel her will to fight back. She just hoped that would be enough.

"Coming first to the ring, from Stavanger, Norway! At 6'1, weighing 188 pounds, AAAASTRID OSTBERG!!"

Spoiler

Music

The music that blared over the speakers was nothing new to the many fans Astrid had made over her title run, and already the stadium had lit up wth cheers. But for once, the glory and honor of her reign wasn't on Astrid's mind as she trudged her way to the Gorilla position, stopping and wincing at the sight of a poster advertising tonight's main event with Astrid Arvidsson taking on GASTER on the way. Nevertheless, she cleared her throat, throwing the curtains aside and storming onto the entrance ramp. Her eyes were narrowed in a steely glare, and her muscles were tense as she made her way to the ring. Astrid had no time for showboating or flexing or waving to the fans tonight. All she had on her mind was the hope that whatever she'd do would be enough to save her.

As Astrid entered the ring, it was clear this was no time for parading around and celebrating her next match. Astrid was a target. A perfect target one could say for The Selection’s plan to take over LAW with a hostile undertone. They didn’t leave anything to chance and with The Anomaly nearly unstoppable, this made the cult all the more deadlier. Astrid was waiting around for any hint of uneasiness and dread. Maybe the lights go out and Lyra crawls out to ambush her? Maybe Roxanne and her Jackals skip the entrance and run down to get the beatdown on her? Maybe they just wouldn’t show up and forfeit to play mind games? Anything was hard to predict with foes powerful as The Selection.

However, the lights started fading in and out as that latter suggestion went right out the window. They fell as the arena was covered in complete darkness and the crowd murmured to themselves where Lyra would show up. Who would be with her? Would they all be out? Or would Lyra feel like she could handle this on her own? The tension was gripping the shoulders of everyone as they just wanted answers from the unknown. Finally, the lights came back on, but there would be Roxanne Wolf standing down the ramp glaring right ahead at Astrid. Lyra, fully dressed in her normal attire and the red contact lenses, stood upon the announce table glaring right into the back of Astrid.

It was now more important than ever that Astrid put her best face forward, and show the world that she wouldn't let this get to her. She was brave, she was confident - she had to be. She'd already faced more losses than she was willing to forgive herself for, and if she admitted any fear or hesitation now, it would be tantamount to a surrender to the Selection; an admission that they had gotten in her head and thrown her off her game. On the surface, at least, Astrid was ready for anything. But on the inside...Astrid was terrified.

No matter what the card might've said, Astrid knew full well that her opponent tonight wasn't Lyra Heartfield. No, her opponent was the Selection as a whole, and the power they wanted to exert over LAW - to make everyone fear them, and to cement themselves as an unstoppable force. They had chosen Astrid as their next target, as a means to demonstrate that control, and Astrid had no choice to accept - to reject that challenge would, once again, be an admission of fear. Of cowardice. Of failure. But whether she had a choice or not, Astrid wanted her decision to be a symbolic one. She needed to show the world that the Selection wouldn't go unopposed - that if she had any say in the matter, she was going to stand in their way.

But Astrid couldn't forget that she was up against the whole Selection tonight. And she knew just as well that she could never let her guard down around them. She knew their tricks. They'd mess with the lights, confuse their opponents with special effects, and set up ambushes. Here, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, they would have all the more resources at their disposal. So when Astrid stepped up to the ring, she knew that whatever waited for her on the other side was anyone's guess. Anything could happen.

And when the woman she faced down on the entrance ramp wasn't her opponent at all...she couldn't help but be wary.

She sucked in a breath and held it there in her lungs. Her body was stiff; her hand clenched at her side. She didn't take her eyes off Roxanne, not even to blink. She knew she couldn't - if she ever let her attention off the Selection, they would surely make her regret it. She couldn't look like she was afraid, or that she was unsure of what she was doing. She had to be strong. She had to be brave.

For what seemed like an eternity, both women were silent. Neither wanted to concede any ground to the other. It was Roxanne who spoke first. But what she said was enough to shake Astrid to the core.

"...Don't lie to me, Astrid. You're afraid. I know you are."

"...What!?" The Norsewoman stood a little straighter, her eyes going wide. She grit her teeth, sucking in a breath. "No, you're wrong..!" She did have her hesitations, yes - and how did Roxanne see them? How did she know? For just a moment, Astrid was left wondering if she was doing something wrong - if there was a break in her defenses that the Selection could get past. And if so...what was it? But she stopped herself. She couldn't let anyone know she had such questions on her mind, she reminded herself. Roxanne had to know she was better than that. They all did.

Roxanne, though, only scoffed. "Bah-! That's a good one, Astrid. You really think we don't know? I can smell that fear, Astrid. And so can everyone else. You're old news! You're just trying to cling desperately to some sign you're still relevant! The only one who falls for that is yourself!"

"I...nngh..!" Astrid's teeth clenched tighter; her eyelid twitched and trembled. She didn't know how, but Roxanne had just put her worst fears into words. She'd made her come face to face with what she was most worried about. And yet, she knew she couldn't admit it. She couldn't concede defeat now. She couldn't let Roxanne know how right she truly was - to do so, she knew, would be to send the entire foundation she'd build up for herself crashing down. All she could do was to take a step toward Roxanne, her eyes locked on her foe's.

Still, Roxanne was undeterred. She simply folded her arms, looking back at Astrid with a sneer. "...No response, huh?" she muttered. Then, she spoke. "...Look behind you."

In all this time, Astrid had been so focused on Roxanne that she'd almost forgotten who it was she was really up against. At that, though, she turned to look back over her shoulder. "Ah..?"

…..And that look over her shoulder brought Lyra to jump from the announce table to the apron and then onto the top rope heading for a Springboard Clothesline straight to Astrid’s head! This is the mystery of the Selection and how they operate. Their tricks spellbind their targets and their antics make opponents tremble in their presence and question reality around them. Who needed strength when psychology is your greatest friend? And when used for warfare, that made it more dangerous than originally considered.

Lyra descended upon Astrid and most likely would hit tumbling both women to the mat as Lyra got back up. She grinned an evil smile which was totally unbecoming of her natural kind state. The crowd just couldn’t bring themselves to boo her as Roxanne kept her eyes on the match, but knowingly wouldn’t hesitate to settle other matters with outside participants that weren’t fellow members. Lyra would pick Astrid up and try shoving her into a corner before looking back at Roxanne!

“Give me something!” Lyra ordered as she focused on kicking Astrid in the gut to keep her occupied!

It was ironic - Astrid knew, going into this match, that the Selection wasn't ever to be trusted. She had to watch her back for any sudden moves, knowing full well that Lyra wasn't going to hesitate to spring any traps and tricks she needed in order to get ahead. But no matter how much Astrid told herself to be ready, all of that would go right out the window when she found herself face to face with Roxanne, and when Roxanne forced her to reckon with just how much faith in herself she really had. Astrid had been ready for everything, except for that - and at the first sign of the Selection's meddling, she went cold. When Roxanne told Astrid those few words - that she was afraid - that was enough. That planted a thought in Astrid's head; a thought that made her ask herself if she really did have what it took to stand up to the Selection, and if she even had a chance. A thought that her opponents had managed to see through her and outsmart her before the match had even begun. For a few fleeting seconds, Astrid had been paralyzed - her blood frozen in her veins, and more importantly, her guard down. For Lyra, those few seconds were enough.

Astrid remembered where she was, and what she needed to do, just in time for her to catch her bearings and turn around. But it was too late. Lyra had already sprung toward her - and though Astrid tried to get her arms up to block, Lyra was hurtling toward her too quickly for her to act in time! Her arm caught Astrid in the head, and with the sound of a crack, the Norsewoman reeled back in an arc, letting out a scream. Her ears were ringing and her head was spinning as her balance gave way, and she and Lyra both came crashing down on the canvas, causing it to shake beneath her weight. To Astrid, everything was in motion, and it was impossible to focus on one thing over another - which meant that before she could right herself, or ready a counter, Lyra had already picked her up and thrown her into the corner!

Astrid's back slammed into the turnbuckles, causing the ropes to shake. Her teeth were clenched in a pained grimace even before Lyra began to rain down knee after knee against her midsection, each blow causing her to double over forward wincing and groaning. The Norwegian tried to reach out in front of her to push Lyra away, but the moment her arms left her sides, Roxanne had already sprung a trap of her own - as she circled behind Astrid, grabbing her arms and wrenching them back and to the sides to keep up a Nelson hold on her! Astrid let out a gasp as she was yanked back to her full height - she was now restrained, and at Lyra's mercy!

But at the same time, an important realization pierced through Astrid's brain. She might have started this match off on the wrong foot, yes, but she still had time to take things back. The Selection was counting on their psychological tactics being enough - and Astrid, in turn, would have to fight fire with fire, showing them that she was stronger than that; that it wouldn't work! She was here to show she wasn't afraid, and in order to do that, she needed to fight back. It was about time she did that!

"I'm stronger than you-! Your tricks aren't going to work-!" Gritting her teeth to steel her nerves, Astrid tossed herself back and forth in an effort to shake Roxanne off of her. At the same time, she would swing up a knee of her own, attempting to drive it into Lyra to drive her back!

Lyra and Roxanne had the early advantage since they had planned the beginning distraction. Lyra got the drop on Astrid and now, Roxanne held her arms back in order for the Norsewoman to be overwhelmed as Lyra kicked at her. However, Astrid was too fresh to just take this and kicked back at Lyra making her fall on her back. Roxanne was shook off, but the wolf girl just dropped off the apron as she could interfere whenever she pleased should Lyra need it. Lyra backed up a little bit knowing Astrid was towering over her and she awaited to see the Norsewoman’s next move.

In these first few seconds of the match, a quick, decisive action could make all the difference in turning the tides. And when Astrid had let herself be so distracted by her own doubts and fears, the Selection didn't hesitate to make their move. While the Norsewoman stood there paralyzed with fear, aghast that her opponents had been able to read her so well as to know even the things she wouldn't dare to show to the world, Roxanne had been able to restrain her from behind, and Lyra was tenderizing her midsection under a hail of knee strikes. They were ganging up on her - just another reminder of how ruthless and disreputable the Selection could be. For all Astrid had vowed to do this alone, they couldn't even extend the same courtesy.

But Astrid knew better than to let that shock slow her down for long. As long as she had her guard down around the Selection, they were in prime territory to take advantage of the opportunity - and that was one thing Astrid couldn't afford! Gritting her teeth, the Norsewoman willed that fight back into her. No matter what was happening, or how much they had figured her out, she wasn't going to let that matter. She needed to keep fighting - to send a message that their tricks weren't going to work on her; that she was stronger than them!

With a sway of her weight from side to side, Astrid was able to shake Roxanne off of her. She took a moment to rub the soreness out of her shoulder with a grumble - but her attention just as quickly turned to Lyra, and when it did, her eyes narrowed in a glare. Lyra was the mastermind behind all of this. She wanted Astrid to be afraid. Astrid needed to prove her wrong - and the best way to do that was to stand up to her. No matter how much Lyra tried to back away, Astrid wouldn't let her get far - she tailed after her with a few long strides, attempting to get close enough to Lyra to swing her arm across her chest and cut off her escape with a lariat!

Lyra got back to her feet, but was cut off by Astrid hitting her with a hard Lariat across the chest! Lyra went down coughing and grabbing her breasts as she closed her eyes. The fortune teller heads outside and attempts to go under the ring hoping to find an escape route among the hard weapons to get away from Astrid. It was more of a luring tactic as much as it was a tactic to get away from Astrid. Play a little cat and mouse until the time is right to strike.

Astrid had seen a rough start to this match. She'd let the Selection throw her off her game, and she'd let down her guard enough for her doubts to show through. But in this situation, that was the exact last thing she wanted to do. That was admitting her own weakness, giving the Selection exactly what they wanted - and when she came here to stand up for herself, to make a change, it was about time she owed up to that! When she came barreling into Lyra with her arm raised, smacking her down against the canvas, it was Astrid's way of sending a rebuttal. She wasn't going to let herself be pushed around that easily. Not any more!

The Norsewoman took in a few long, deep breaths, clenching and unclenching her fist at her side as she tried to catch her bearings and clear her head. The fact that she'd been able to land such a hit on Lyra proved she still had it in her; that was a good sign, and it was one she needed to hold onto as proof that her efforts could bear fruit. She just needed to keep that up!

She could see that Lyra was rolling out of the ring - but this time, Astrid was willing to follow. Ordinarily, the honor she placed on the rules of wrestling tended to stop her from exiting the ring; there had been times where she had turned down the opportunity even if it would have offered her the advantage. But this time, she had her honor and her dignity to uphold. She couldn't hesitate - and she couldn't back down! She had to keep pressing the momentum forward, and she could never turn her back!

Settling a glare on her opponent, Astrid stepped over the ropes to storm after her, keeping a close eye on her as long as she could. She passed by Roxanne in the process - but this time, Roxanne didn't move. She watched after Astrid, but she would turn down this opportunity to strike. She already knew Lyra surely had a plan...