A Ten Minute Test

[deezcastforms]

When Tiki stepped on Nico's knee, the rookie nearly gave up for the second time. But the greenette didn't hear it as she continued with her attack. Tiki only saw Nico's defiant face as her foot came crashing down onto it, her heel landing right on the bridge of Nico's nose. Tiki hoped it wasn't broken. For all she was putting Nico through, she had no desire or intention to actually injure her.

Then Tiki settled in with her armbar, staying comfortably under the breaking point of Nico's arm while still applying considerable pressure. And as expected, Nico started screaming again. The look on the Young Lioness' face changed again, this time to a look of desperation. Desperation to not be trapped and hurting anymore.

So then, Tiki wondered. If desperation is setting in, but she's not going to quit, then what will she do? The only other option was to escape, but the armbar was no simple hold to slip free from. And though Nico didn't have to worry about Tiki breaking her arm, the rookie didn't know that for sure.

Nico's attempt ended up being to use the rest of her body to try to yank and jerk her arm free by force. Either Nico had managed to somehow figure out that Tiki wouldn't break her arm, or she just had no idea how incredibly stupid what she doing was. Tiki had to weaken her hold so that Nico didn't snap her own arm. But that was the opening she was waiting on. As reckless a move as it was, Nico escaped.

"Good God, Nico!" Tiki scolded as she stood up. "You'd have broken your own arm trying to escape like that if I didn't let you go myself! If you pull this off, I promise we're doing armbars day one of training." Lost on Tiki were the facts that she was both burning her own time chastising Nico, and giving her a chance to try something of her own.

[RedShinigami]

Nico had to admit that it was in fact stupid and deep down she just knew that Tiki would'nt really hurt her. But this was'nt what she wanted to accomplish, she wanted to show Tiki that she was worthy of her training, of Niki being her proud Sensei!
"Aauuu...", she said and rubbed her arm.
"Des...desperate measures...", she said with a closed eye.
Her stance was a little crooked as she tried no to put weight on the hurting knee.
She hissed as she grabbed it but shook her head.
"How...how far I am?", she asked and brought herself into distance from Tiki.

She knew she could do it. And when Tiki could'nt get her...then she all the better!
She sat her hurting leg down, which was slowly getting better and huffed.
"Estic preparat, ole!", she shouted, meaning that she was ready and lifted her arms in a pose like flamenco and started to dance around Tiki, in a mix of football movements and Flamenco.

Spoiler

"I show you that I am worthy, Maestra!", she said eager and suddenly her arms shot before her head, the standard stance of the spanish Martial Art "Keysi".

Spoiler

[deezcastforms]

When Tiki heard Nico groan out "desperate measures," she started to get a better grasp on her thought process. Or at the very least what Tiki assumed her thought process was. Nico knew that she needed as good a trainer as possible if she wanted to become the best wrestler that she could be. And with Tiki's experience and reputation, along with her talk of training champions, Nico most likely viewed Tiki as the trainer that she needed. That's why she was desperate. Nico felt that to some extent, her career could be on the line here.

Nico gingerly backed off from Tiki as she asked for how much time had elapsed. "A little over three minutes," answered Tiki as she closed the distance. Trying to keep away from Tiki and killing time was both a valid and a smart strategy. Nico would be safest when she wasn't directly engaging with her.

Getting a burst of energy and some fancy footwork, Nico sped off around Tiki. The veteran wasn't sure how Nico's damaged leg was factoring into this, but the rookie was still fast and agile enough that Tiki was having to work to chase her down. She had solid speed, but wrestlers who based their styles around agility would still usually have a step or two on her.

Eventually, Tiki managed to get Nico with her back to a corner. If she tried to dance out, Tiki would be able to contest her. Instead, the Young Lioness took a strange looking combat stance. "What is that?" asked Tiki. Alright, I'll bite. What's your answer to this?" Tiki shot out a kick aimed at Nico's belly button. Her long leg left her beyond the range of a counter hit, and she didn't see any way for Nico to get her arms down to block in time. But Tiki figured that there had to be something for a stomach kick.

[RedShinigami]

Nicos knee did hurt but what Tiki did'nt take in consideration it seemed how many strikes and kicks Nico had to endure as Football Player. When she playee against the boys to prove her worth they immediatly fouled her with a brutality that only children had. Whoever believed the legend that girls were "spared" because they were girls, were an romantic idiot. When Girls tried to break in the protective bubble that kept Boys and "their" games safe they could become brutal.
And Nico pulled also through, every time she went down she got up again, smiling, even if her body hurt. And she shot three goals on her own and won.

Here she would too. Tikis Test was a game for Nico to be won and Tiki was the golden Cup to be won!
And she would do anything to pull trough.
"3 Minutes? Wow very good! Admit it Maestra, you are very impressed!", the cocky Catalonian grinned and got into the Keysi standard stance. Anyone familiar with the Dark Knight Trilogy would know these movements but Nico added to them with constant footwork, jumping from one leg to another, avoiding coming to near to Tiki.

Tikis leg shot out to kick her in the gut but Nico was anticipating the taller woman using her height advantage to deliver something in her direction so she took a sidestep and grabbed Tikis leg!
"Gotcha,ole! Hyaaaaaaaah!",she screamed and pulled Tiki closer, using her legs to sweep Tiki off her feet.
If anything went as planned then Tiki would folöow with a tightly applied ankle lock!
"Let's see YOU getting out of THIS, Maestra!", she grinned and started to apply the hold with full strength.

[deezcastforms]

"Ten minutes is what impresses me Nico," said Tiki bluntly, before her face softened a bit. "Though I will concede that you have done impressive things within that short timeframe." Tiki fired her kick at Nico's stomach, and the rookie sidestepped it and then grabbed Tiki's leg. Just as the veteran expected.

It was rather easy for Tiki to figure out what Nico would do. She had positioned herself so Nico couldn't preempt Tiki's kick with an attack of her own, and the rookie's arm placement meant she would be unable to block. Combine that with her mobile fighting style, and there was nothing Tiki had to even consider Nico trying besides a dodge.

And so, Tiki was waiting on the dodge to deliver a second kick. She jumped up with her grounded leg and fired a single leg dropkick right into Nico's now exposed face. Both women would end up on the floor. Tiki would naturally land on her back from the dropkick, and Nico would be down on her ass in the corner from getting hit by the dropkick.

But though they were both grounded, Tiki would be able to recover and follow up well before Nico could recover and escape. The veteran would grab the rookie around her back and lift her upside down before carrying her to the center of the ring. Then Tiki would send Nico crashing down into the mat with her Dragon Bomb Piledriver.

Dragon Bomb

[RedShinigami]

The cocky Catalonians smile grew wide as she shaw Tikis face soften and given her a little appreciation.
She blushed and gave her a big grin.
"Gracies, I do what I can Maestra!", she said and was ready to capitalize on Tikis "mistake".
Finally she fought back!
Of course she had no delusions that the Veteran would come back with something soon but maybe she could call the shots in this match, at least for half a minute. Half a minute was long timframe in the sport span of 10 minutes so it definetly would TIki even more.

But then she saw the look on Tikis face and went pale before she realized that not the trainer had made a mistake
She had!
And now Nico started to get chaotic, trying to let go of Tikis leg, back off and get some space between them again.
But the veteran was at her toes, the spider had caught the fly again and with a sickening crack she sent a hard one leg dropkick into Nicos sternum.
"Gaaagh!"
The blonde let go of her opponents leg and was sent down to the ground gasping and trying to get some air that was forcefully pressed out of her.
Her breath were short gasps and her wide opened eyes looked to the ceiling while she cradled her hurting chest.
"Ungh...."
But this was'nt the end.
Oh no, Tiki would put her through the meatgrinder and Nico had no illusions that the most grueling minuites of tis match were just about to get started.
"Waaah...what-...", she asked as she was grabbed and pulled up upside down.

Then she was dragged around like a little bitch and she hated it.
"Let go, Let go!", she shouted and tried to use her strong legs to kick Tikis face or wrap themselves around her head but she was in no position to use her legs as Tiki was not born yesterday.

And suddenly everything went fast.
She was lifted up, with a swift move and in the same momentum came crushing down onto the earth again!
The impact echoed from the high walls of the training room as the young athlethe crashed down making her body jerk up.
Her mouth was opened in a silent scream as pain exploded in her body and all the air was forced out of her body.
"Ghhhhhhg...."
Her arms fell limply to her side and her head followed, her breathing was laboured, soft and barely visible.
This was LAW...these were the things she had to expect here...
Relentless attacks, strong and coming in short amounts of time.
But Nico was no person to give up. She always tried to get better, be it at football or wrestling.
She had sworn herself only to give up when all hope was lost...and it was'nt...
And to show Tiki that she still had some fire in her she clamped her legs around her neck, not strong, far from it, but she wanted to send a signal to Tiki.
I am still here.

[deezcastforms]

Tiki almost felt bad, seeing the look on Nico's face shift from joyous and excited to pale realization once she saw Tiki's second leg coming straight for her. The rookie thought she was finally getting her turn, but the veteran simply yanked it right back out of her hands and continued an attack that Nico simply had no valid answer for.

Nico tried to escape the second kick, but she was already too late and had nowhere to run. She was able to maneuver her body so that she got hit in the chest instead of her face, but the result was still the same. Nico ending up in the corner, with her butt on the floor and in pain with Tiki more than ready do make her feel even more.

Tiki was careful to not get caught by Nico's legs as she carried her to the middle of the ring to crash her back down into the floor. And the Young Lioness certainly had the response of someone who was already beaten getting punished even more, going limp as her vocal cords couldn't make the sounds that her mouth was showing.

But even still, Tiki soon felt a touch of pressure on either side of her neck. "Huh?" said Tiki as she saw Nico's legs trying to wrap themselves around Tiki. The rookie was still fighting, but Tiki was too. She grabbed Nico's legs and pulled them off of her neck, then she laid the young girl down onto her stomach and sat down on her back. Then Tiki started pulling Nico's legs back in a Boston Crab.

[RedShinigami]

Nico thought she had here there...just for a minute...maybe 30 seconds!
She desperatly wanted to impress Tiki, wanted to become her pupil!
This was so exciting! She had heard and read a lot about Tiki and heard how strong and beautiful she was!
And Nico had to admit, she instantly liked the older woman and felt something of a bond that she wanted to
strengthen by fighting and becoming worthy of Tikis time and training!

But by now it seemed that all of this would become a dream when she came crushing down on the thinnly padded matting of the training hall.
She had'nt even the strength to scream, everything that escaped her mouth was a low gasp, while her eyes rolled back in her sockets.
They sheer pain of the impact sent shockwaves through her spine and down her body, her arms and legs getting limp.
She almost was afraid that she was hurt...but Tiki would'nt do that, she was a pro...and at LAW no one hurt the other on purpose did they...
Oh how naive she truly was.

But still she was defiant. She was an athlethe after all..and the boys...at the football field back then...did much worse to her...much worse...at least she told herself that.
When Tiki gave her a surprised look, Nico smiled a little.
"How...long...", she managed to get out before she was turned around seeminglessly and brought into a classic hold, the good old boston crab, one of the first moves a young wrestler learned.
But this here was applied by a pro and Tiki threw all she had in it.
"KYAAAAAAAAHH!"
Suddenly Nicos voice came back.
"Agh...No...no...NOOOO!", she screamed as Tiki put the pressure on her spine and thighs.
Immediatly Nico raised her arm, shaking.
"You...know...what...Maestra...", she suddenly whimpered.
"Is want to speak to...Seymour Butz...is there...a Seymour Butz?"
Nico did it again, she zoned out and this time she would'nt let Tiki break this concentration.
"Or...Mike Rotch...has anyone...seen...Mike Rotch...", she spoke while tears flow down her eyes.
It hurt...it hurt like nothing else had hurt in her life...but she hold on...with something she loved and held dear.

[deezcastforms]

Though it wasn't intentional, Tiki realized that it was almost symbolic that she had taken the legs that Nico had used to show her defiance and twisted them back into a Boston Crab that had the rookie screaming beneath her once again. "Maybe four minutes? You just asked Nico," Tiki responded to the lioness' question of how much time had passed. Nico's arm went up above the mat once again, but she went back to her tv quotes that Tiki didn't know.

That's when Tiki realized something. Nico's body had given up, but her mind hadn't. The floor beneath Nico was getting soaked in tears as her faced seemed to be begging her arm to stop hovering over the mat and just tap it already. Her legs weren't fighting against Tiki's grip, but simply giving into the veteran's pulling as if playing dead. She realized that Nico was going let Tiki completely break her body before her spirit would give up.

"Enough," said Tiki as she dropped Nico's legs back down to the floor and stood up. "I'm ending this now. You didn't submit, but your body clearly can't take this punishment anymore." Tiki would then lift Nico up and look her in the eye. "Though you didn't last ten minutes, you still proved yourself to me."

"You were going to give up everything to make it to the end," said Tiki. There was a feeling of guilt behind her stoic face. She had come too close to taking that everything for her own liking. "You didn't care how much it hurt or how badly I broke your body as long as you survived long enough to pass the test. This was a test of resolve and nothing else, and you've shown it in spades Nico. Congratulations, you've passed."

[RedShinigami]

Nico was close to fall unconcious.
Yes, that much she gave for making Tiki proud.
It was'nt even about the trainer spot anymore. She wanted this woman to be proud of her.
Tiki grew up with a caring mother and father that talked to her on the phone but would'nt want to see her and
so the young girl always looked for authority figures that could replace a father in her life, namely her coaches.
And here in Japan, where she did'nt knew anyone yet, she was so happy when Tiki approached her.
Tiki Lowell...THE Tiki Lowell was intrested in her!
It was fantastic.

"Que?", she asked as the pain suddenly stopped.
Her body fell limply to the the padded floor of the arena.
"Que, Maestra? Are the ten minutes...finished?"
But when Tiki answered her heart sank.
She did'nt last...and still Tiki wanted to train her?
She must have done something right but why did it feel so wrong?
So undeserved...

Her whole body felt like it has gone through the meatgrinder and still, she placed her arms left and right and groaned.
"No, Maestra, no...not like this...", she said.
"I can fight...I can fight..", she said.
"Don't put on me the stone of shame...", she inadvertently quoted the Simpsons again and slowy rose to her feet.
"Agh..."
Her knees wanted to give in but she managed to stay upright.
"Put on me...THE STONE OF TRIUMPH!", she said and went back in her stance and suddenly she sprang into action.
She just wanted a move to go through...one move...
"Maestra...please don't underestimate me!", she said and started the Keysi program, hitting Tiki with relentless punches and elbows while covering her face.
"I am more that you can see here! I promise!"
Adrenlaine rushed into the girl as she dodged an attack by Tiki, went down and legsweeped the other woman of her feet, showing of her Flamenco and football kick skills.
Tiki was presented to: "The Cardona Method"

If everything went like it should she would jump onto Tiki, holding her down with one hand raising a fist.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!", she screamed, all the pain and pressure she had to go through collected in one loud scream that echoed through the halls of the arena.
And if Tiki would'nt catch it her fist would slam down next to her head with a resounding thud.
"Huh...huh..."
Nico looked at her as a smile crept on her face.
"How...was...I....Maes-...."
Her body fell to the side and off of Tiki.
Finally Tikis murderous attacks had taken its toll on the body of the Catalonian and Nico was out cold...