Rising to the Challenge

[CaptainL]

Astrid had just one thing on her mind as she shot Cecilia back a withering glare. She could tell that her foe had little regard for her; that much was apparent if she was this intent on picking a fight. And Astrid was out to show her just how big of a mistake she was making. Cecilia had landed a punch upside her head, and that still stung - but whatever Cecilia was going to dish out, Astrid was going to pay her back tenfold. She was the champion, and it was going to take more than that to stop her. Cecilia had to learn, one way or another, that messing with the Norsewoman wouldn't end well for her!

Cecilia had gotten her guard up, but that meant little to Astrid. She just kept throwing punch after punch at her, intent on breaking through her defenses! It barely even registered that her would-be challenger had let go of her hair. Astrid had gotten so lost in the rhythm of her volley of punches, feeling each one bounce off of her foe, that it made little difference to her one way or another, as long as Cecilia hurt!

But it was a double-edged sword - for that very reason, when Cecilia began to set her plans in action for her next move, Astrid didn't see it coming. Right up until the moment Cecilia yanked her hair downward and thrust her head up, slamming her skull straight into the Norwegian's nose! At once, Astrid's world erupted in pain. Letting out a groan, her head flew backward with a crack, and her fists stopped flying. Her hands instead shot up to clutch at her face, trying to protect herself as she dropped onto her back and began rubbing at her now-numb nose while she writhed back and forth, kicking at the air! The world around her spun, and at this point, defending herself was the last thing on her mind!

[Devastated]

Cecilia grabbed onto those braids of Astrid and yanked her head down, at the same time the Swedish-American shot her head up and drove her head upwards and slammed her skull right into Astrid's! Knocking the Norwegian loopy, sending her reeling backwards as Cecilia would push herself up, rising up to her knees as she would shake her head a bit, trying to clear the cobwebs. Seeing how Astrid was dazed, Cecilia knew that she had a chance to turn things around and lay the smack down on the champion!

Moving over to the downed champion, Cecilia would try and grab at Astrid by her hair. Trying to guide her up towards her feet and then try to haul her up onto her shoulder. The blonde powerhouse would try and move over towards the nearest table in the cafeteria and then try to swing her up and over, looking to throw Astrid down back first onto the table with a fireman's carry powerslam (attitude adjustment), as she tried to break the table with Astrid's body!

[CaptainL]

The impact of Cecilia's skull against Astrid's own wasn't going to leave the Heavyweight Champion any time soon. It seemed as though her whole face had gone numb, and she saw the world around her blurred and hazy as everything seemed to spin and teeter from side to side, even after she'd landed. All things considered, she was in little position to fight back, no matter how much she knew, in the back of her head, that she needed to - first, she was going to need to catch her bearings, and Cecilia wasn't about to give her the opportunity!

Cecilia yanked Astrid up by the hair, causing her to hiss under her breath; her hands rose to her head to try and clutch at her still-sore scalp. When she lifted Astrid up onto her shoulders, Astrid slumped over Cecilia like a sack of potatoes, her body going limp as she settled into place. She could barely tell what was happening to her, let alone where her opponent was taking her and what she was lining up. Certainly she didn't know to expect Cecilia to carry her over to the table...and slam her straight down through it!

Astrid's body made impact with the table with the sound of a loud CRACK. And soon enough, that same impact would land against the floor beneath, as the table splintered against the force of the Norwegian's landing, giving way in an instant! As she dropped to the ground with a thud, Astrid's teeth were clenched tightly as she rolled over on her side, still grabbing at her head to dull the pain. She gasped for breath, and her whole body still felt sore. But Astrid knew one thing, one thing that was screaming at her just as loudly as the pain was - she had to do better than this. She was a champion! Why was she letting Cecilia dominate her like this, with so many hard-hitting blows right after each other? She needed to step things up, for the sake of her honor. It would be shameful if she backed down now!

Gritting her teeth, Astrid went stiff, balling a tight fist to try and focus her energy where she needed it. She swung a kick back behind her, hoping she could land it against Cecilia to try and get her to step back! At this point, it was the least she could do. She wished she could do so much more - but right now, she was hurting too badly!

[Devastated]

Cecilia had just delivered a tremendous impact to the Heavyweight Champion! Driven her down through that table and left her in a heap of broken pieces of table. The Hardcore Queen would push up to her feet, a smirk on her face as she looked over her handiwork...at the hurting Norwegian woman. She stalked around Astrid and watched. She wanted nothing more than to pounce on her and really give Astrid a work over, but the fellow blonde was the Heavyweight champion...it was unwise to be too reckless. Even if Cecilia didn't respect her....

The Californian fighter would move forward, reaching out for Astrid...only to catch sight of that leg of the Norwegian shooting back at her. Cecilia braced and reached for the limb, trying to snatch it in her hands. She sought to catch Astrid's kick and then quickly reach down for the other leg, trying to pull them both in under her armpit.

The Hardcore Queen would try and pull Astrid in close, so that her groin was pressed against Cecilia's midsection, lifting her lower frame off the floor. Then with a display of power, Cecilia would try and throw Astrid up into the air and swing her backwards! Trying to slam her with a wheelbarrow suplex into the floor!

[CaptainL]

Cecilia had really done a number on Astrid. After going straight through the table, the Norsewoman was aching from head to toe, and she could feel the splinters of the wood sticking into her skin, which only made her wince from the pain. Her head was still spinning, and she was waiting for the world around her to stand still. But she couldn't wait, she soon reminded herself - that would only come back to bite her! This was still a fight, and it was a fight Astrid intended to win. She couldn't waste time her opponent could use against her! She sucked in a breath as she held her back straighter, and her fists balled at her sides. She was a champion. If she lost a fight now, even one outside of the ring, it could only leave her standing in question - her standing that meant everything to her. The championship, to Astrid, was a standard to live up to as much as it was an honor. She couldn't back down now!

Gritting her teeth, Astrid looked back up at Cecilia, her muscles tense and her eyes watering through the cloud of dust left in the wake of her landing. She fired her leg off with a kick at her foe, trying to hold her off - but it was too late. Cecilia grabbed her by the leg, then the other. Astrid let out a gasp as she found herself being hoisted higher in the air, but there was nothing she could do to save herself! The next thing she knew, she was being hurled into the air, and she barely had enough time to scream before her head made impact with the hard, unforgiving floor!

Her head bounced up from the impact, but there, Astrid lay still, groaning under her breath. A shudder went through her whole body each time. She felt numb all over, and her head was throbbing where it had hit the ground. This was bad. She had no right to be faring this badly, and yet, the more damage Cecilia inflicted on her, the harder it would be to turn things around, and to make the comeback she knew she needed to. No matter how much it hurt, Astrid couldn't allow herself to be a sitting duck for her opponent's offensive. She clutched at her head, starting to crawl away from Cecilia across the floor; a trickle of blood ran from her brow between her fingers. She could only move slowly, one wriggle of her hips at a time, huffing and heaving all the while - but she couldn't leave herself open around Cecilia. She needed to get some distance, just to buy herself some time!

[Devastated]

Cecilia caught a hold of Astrid's leg as it was thrust out towards her, the Hardcore Queen flashed a cocky grin on her face as she then took a commanding grip of Astrid's other limb. Pulling her in close before then with a show of force swung Astrid up into the air and then brought her down! Slamming her into the unforgiving floor with that Wheelbarrow suplex!

The Hardcore Queen would push up to her knees, brushing off her shoulders a bit as she looked over at the Heavyweight champion. Seeing how she was starting to crawl away from her...the blonde powerhouse couldn't allow that of course. She would move up to her feet and walk after the fellow blonde, trying to reach down and grab at Astrid's jeans by the belt and waistline. Her other hand would take a firm grip on Astrid's collar, as she tried to haul her up to her feet in a hunched over position.

Cecilia's eyes locked sight on a nearby vending machine, and her grin would only grow wider as she would look to run forward with Astrid's head leading the way! The Californian would try and drive Astrid head first into the Vending Machine! Practically trying to use the champ as a battering ram!

[CaptainL]

After taking a hard landing against the unforgiving floor, Astrid's whole body was aching and her ears were ringing. But still, she knew, she couldn't give up now - she had to keep fighting. Not even the throbbing sensation running through her head could stop her now. Gritting her teeth, she reached out to grab a hold of the floor in front of her, trying to drag herself forward across the ground. She had to get away from Cecilia, she thought - to be here, out in the open, exposed to attack, was just too dangerous. Unfortunately, while she had to crawl on the floor, burdened by the aches and pains in her body, she couldn't move as fast as she would've liked - and Cecilia was ready to take advantage of that fact. Suddenly she had Astrid grabbed by the collar, and with a sharp jerk she was able to pull the Norsewoman up to her feet. Astrid winced, hissing through her teeth as she suddenly found herself up in the air - and just a moment later, she found herself hurtling forward, as Cecilia rushed her head-first toward the vending machine!

Astrid let out a gasp, but she had no time to defend herself before the blow landed. Her head was first to make impact with the vending machine, causing a rumble to run all along its surface and its contents to shake. With a trickle of blood running down her forehead, she began to sink lower, her knees buckling under her own weight as she slowly dropped toward the floor below. She panted and groaned, her head still spinning and her vision blurred. Cecilia was definitely keeping Astrid on the ropes, and the Norsewoman was struggling to keep up...

But, she reminded herself as she grit her teeth, she couldn't back down now. No matter how hard she had to fight, she had promised she would live up to Cecilia's challenge. She couldn't fail; to do so would be to let down not just Cecilia, but herself! If Astrid was going to be a champion, she needed to act like one!

Growling under her breath, the Norwegian planted her feet against the ground, using a burst of energy to shove herself back up to her full height. Then, she spun herself in an arc, trying to pull Cecilia along with her. If Cecilia was still hanging onto Astrid's clothes, she would have no choice but to be spun in place - and rammed against the side of the vending machine herself!

[Devastated]

If there was one thing that Cecilia enjoyed, it was a no holds barred fight. There was a reason why she had been given the moniker of the Hardcore Queen! A brutal combatant who nearly made any fight she took part in, into a brutal street brawl! Right now, she was showing the Heavyweight Champion just why she had earned the reputation that she had.

The impact of Astrid's head being rammed into the vending machine, sent the machine rattling...lights began to flash on it as then a few rather loud thunks could be heard. A couple of drink cans dropped from their holders within the machine and rolled their way into the eject slot. There was a rather smug expression on Cecilia's face as she saw Astrid begin to slump down, practically dropping to her knees in front of the Vending Machine.

Cecilia reached down, pulling her hand down to grab a can of Coca-Cola that had been knocked free by Astrid's head. Though as she straightened back out and was intent on cracking the can open...Astrid suddenly burst up to her feet and spun them around. With Cecilia still having a hold on the fellow blonde powerhouse's collar, she was throw into the side of the Vending Machine. Hissing out in pain, Cecilia would scowl at Astrid...surprised at the resilience of the Norwegian woman. Still...that just made it all the better for the Swedish-American.

The Hardcore Queen tightened her hand around the coke can...then swung it out! Trying to smack it into the side of Astrid's head!

[CaptainL]

Astrid had been rattled by her impact with the vending machine, leaving her head spinning as she tried to shake the cobwebs out of her head enough to get her bearings. Sinking down lower to the ground, she coughed and sputtered a few times before she hissed through her teeth, feeling her muscles tense up as her hand coiled into a tight fist at her side. It hurt, yes - her back was sore, and the air had been knocked out of her lungs. But her heart was still pounding with the rush of adrenaline surging through her veins, and it was a rush that told her she needed to put everything she had into fighting back! She wouldn't let herself be pushed around that easily. If that was how Cecilia wanted to fight...then Astrid would have to give her the fight she wanted!

With a burst of newfound energy spurred on by her willingness to resist - and her refusal to let anyone push her around - Astrid jumped back to her feet. In a flash, she had grabbed hold of Cecilia and spun her back around, slamming her side against the vending machine! The machine rumbled from the impact of the two heavyweights, and still more cans tumbled loose from the slot as it rattled back and forth. But Astrid would only stare straight into Cecilia's eyes with a pointed glare, and her knuckles blanched under the pressure as her fingers coiled as tight as they could to stay on. No matter how hard she'd have to fight, or how much trouble she would need to put up with, Astrid wasn't about to lie down and let Cecilia walk over her!

And to her credit, Cecilia herself was just as determined! Barely a second later, the Hardcore Queen struck back at Astrid with the can in her head, and with a hiss, Astrid's head went cracking to the side as she struck with the sound of a thud. It didn't hit particularly hard, but it did shake Astrid enough to let go of Cecilia as she stumbled back. For that matter, when the can had already been shaken up from the rattling of the vending machine, it was practically ready to burst - and when it was pounded against the side of Astrid's head, that was the last straw. The tab blew open, and a jet of soda went flying up into the air, splashing over both women!

The cool sputtering sensation of the soda flying into her face was enough to shake Astrid back to her senses as she cried out in alarm, but it wouldn't slow her down. It would only serve as a reminder that this battle wasn't over - and she needed to fight on! Digging her heel into the floor, she bent lower in a stance. And this time, she would take off in a charge, attempting to ram her shoulder into Cecilia's midsection in order to slam her back up against the wall!

[Devastated]

As Cecilia was collecting that can and getting ready to smash it into the skull of Astrid, the fellow blonde took a hold of her frame, grabbing the blonde by her vest and spun her around! Throwing her right into the side of the vending machine! There was a loud clattering sound as a bunch of cans would spill out of the machine yet again! It started to beep a bit for a couple of seconds and then the light of the machine seemed to go out. Cecilia hissed out as her side hit the vending machine, but it wasn't a particularly powerful hit, and she wasn't about to stop her attack as she swung the can hard against the side of Astrid's head!

Astrid was dislodged off of the Hardcore Queen, and the champ seemed to retreat! Then the can erupted and coca-cola sprayed out in an explosion of sugary liquid all over the two beautiful powerhouse blondes! Cecilia shook her head and brought a hand up to wipe the drink out of her face...but as she did so Astrid charge at her in anger! Her shoulder rammed into Cecilia's rock solid abs and the Hardcore Queen was tackled back into the wall! She released a pained grunt, that shoulder of Astrid's dug into her abs...Cecilia would bring her arms down and try and shove and push at Astrid's frame, trying to force her away!