An Unlikely Challenge

[SRG]

Nashi was backstage getting geared up for her first match on law! In all honesty she was quite scared, I mean sure she got some basic training by Alaina, but it was only the basics nothing too special.

She then looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at how cute she looked in her gear but hearing her name
“Making her LAW Debut coming in at 5’3 at a weight of 135 IBS…. NASHI DRAGNEEL!!!”

She came out with a microphone as the pop idol in her couldn’t resist. She began to sing her theme song as she came down giving high fives to the crowd,swaying her hips back and forth, and overall hyping up the audience.

Once that was done she rolled into the ring and stroke a pop idol pose before going to her corner to wait for her opponent to show up.

[CaptainL]

This was Nashi Dragneel's first match in LAW. She was a yet-unproven talent, with only her training under Alaina to speak for her. She might have been famous as an idol, and she might have come from a wrestling legacy, but it was still yet to be seen if she would be capable of holding her own in the ring. To that end, everyone would have expected her first match to be against an opponent of similar skill level - someone who would be safe against her, who could showcase what she could do in front of a new crowd and give them a chance to appreciate her without much risk of everything going wrong. But it certainly wasn't going to be a standout match, and certainly not against a standout opponent.

But everyone would be sorely mistaken.

"And her opponent! At 6'0, with a weight of 185 lbs, she is the reigning LAW Heavyweight Champion, ASTRID OSTBERG!!"

Cries of "WHAT!?" and gasps of shock rained down from the upper reaches of the stands at the announcement - surely it would be impossible that Astrid herself would make a showing against a newcomer, especially one who had never been in a real wrestling match before. But as the lights shone down and the music began to play, it was undeniable. The crowd kicked into a fervor of applause as the Norsewoman took her place atop the entrance ramp, her arms spread out wide and her title belt displayed proudly around her waist. The unthinkable had happened!

Spoiler

She came down the ramp to greet the fans on either side of the aisle, eager as ever to wave to them and pose for some photos, but then, as she raised her head to look up at Nashi, she took a pause, resting her hands on her hips. She knew she was up against a newcomer tonight - and one who was more famous for her idol career than her wrestling, at that. It seemed like an almost laughable mismatch of skill. Astrid could only hope she had been training well enough to put up a good enough fight - and to everyone else, it seemed as though it was a foregone conclusion that the champion would leave Nashi splattered across the ring.

But she had heard stories of Nashi's father from Lars, and to her, the name of Nashi Dragneel said more than just a popular idol and cosplayer. Astrid saw the woman who stood a chance to carry on the legacy of a pitched rival to Lars Ostberg himself. And if anyone could see if that potential existed in her, Astrid wanted to be the first!

"Well, well," Astrid said, taking the ropes to lift her up onto the apron as she looked her opponent up and down. "So...you're Natsu's daughter, then? I see you've found your footing in a new career, yeah? Or at least, I should hope so. You have an awfully big precedent to live up to, after all."

She cracked her knuckles. "If you want to show me what you've got, step up and do your best!"

[SRG]

Nashi would take a moment to stretch before her opponent came down, when her opponent was called….. Nashi was utterly frozen. “WAIT WHAT!?” She screamed in her head thinking how weird it was they were putting her against a heavyweight champion!?

What’s even worse…. Is that it’s the daughter of the Ostberg’s her fathers biggest rival in his glory days…. When she came down to talk about it, Nashi could only fold her arms”I mean you’re probably just mad my dad kicked you’re dads butt” She rather rudely, it isn’t like Nashi to say something like that but she was just annoyed being compared to her father all the time.

[CaptainL]

Astrid huffed, crossing her arms as she stared down at Nashi. Her brow furrowed, and she leaned in closer to look her opponent in the eye. "It's not a matter of pride, or revenge. My father's matches were his own, and I'm not here to take his place. I merely want to see if you have what it takes to live up to the example of the man who bested my father."

"However..." She kneeled down further, getting closer to Nashi, and thinking back to a particular match between Lars and Natsu - specifically, what had been a championship match between them, and one that Natsu had emerged from victorious. It made her eyes narrow thinking about it - but it also gave her an idea.

"Your father did cost mine his championship. So, if that's how you want to play...perhaps we can agree to a wager between us?"

[SRG]

Nashi didn’t want to sound rude to the heavyweight champ, but to her it felt annoyed being compared to her dad all the time. When the champ spoke she leaned back in her corner grabbing the ropes. Then Astrid leaned in giving Nashi no room for escape and offered a wager”Huh?” Nashi titled her head in confusion wondering what she was going to offer the newcomer.

[CaptainL]

Astrid saw that Nashi was agreeing to the plan - and a smile came to her face. If she knew anything about her opponent, she knew what an idol like her would find important. And she knew just how she could use it to motivate her.

"That's right," Astrid continued with a nod. "If you really want to show the world you're more than an idol, that you can really fight when you don't have anywhere else to go...we make you prove it by making this a hair vs. hair match! What do you say to that?" She watched her opponent closely. However Nashi responded, she was sure, would tell her all she needed to know about whether or not she was cut out for the competition - it was all up to her to step up to the challenge.

[SRG]

Nashi was shocked at her request. After all she’s just a rookie and Astrid is the heavyweight champion of law!!! Nashi would think about it before turning to the crowd who were eager to see her response”Fine…. It’s not fair since you’re a champion and I’m just a rookie but if the fans want that rule I’ll do it….” She said lowering her voice as she went on. If Astrid, would back away, Nashi would take some time to stretch before the bell rings.

[CaptainL]

Indeed, it didn't seem fair, putting an unproven newcomer up against the Heavyweight Champion. Everyone knew that - even Astrid herself. But in hearing Nashi call that out, the Norsewoman smiled. "Perhaps it's not," Astrid said. "But perhaps this can also be an opportunity for you. You might not win, but this is your chance to show that you have the spirit and the determination in you to go up against a champion and put up a good fight!" She balled a fist, pounding it against her chest. But then, she leaned in a little closer, continuing in a whisper.

"And who knows...miracles can always happen."

*DING DING DING*

She winked to Nashi, but then began to move in toward the girl, offering her arms to lock up with her as the bell rang. This was her chance to feel out Nashi's strengths!

[SRG]

Nashi would nod thinking about what she said. I mean after all miracles could happen in a match ajd she could win, beating a heavyweight champ in her first match would make her look great.

As the bell rings she walked up to Astrid and raised her arms to lock in”IM NOT GOING DOWN!” She shouted for the crowd to hear. However it didn’t seem like she was moving her at all….”Should I ask someone to fill in for me?” She asked with an awkward giggle, being scared of what she could to her.

[CaptainL]

Astrid smiled, impressed with Nashi's defiance even in the face of a much larger and stronger opponent at first. However, when she immediately proceeded to shrink back in fear as soon as the Norwegian grabbed her by the hands, Astrid's eyes narrowed with a glare. If she really wanted to succeed in LAW, she couldn't expect all her opponents to be merciful, and she was going to need to learn that sooner or later.

"Oh, no," she boasted, "you can't take things back now! If you're going to put your hair on the line...you fight for it!" With that, she reached down to pull Nashi closer and threw her arm around her side, pulling her over and going to twist her into an abdominal stretch!