Standard Match: Winner to be declared by pin fall, submission or knockout
Piper hummed softly with a wicked grin on her face, using her signature bat as a tool to help extend her limbs and limber her chest up a bit. Tonight she was slated against a total rookie. Apparently she would only be this girl's second or third match in LAW on top of the brat being a young lioness in general meaning she was a newbie. Frankly Piper felt it was a bit beneath her to be put into this match but at the same time it was a good opportunity for her to show her skill and dominance developed under her mentor Ayane Yamamoto, so she would make the most of this chance against the so called 'Starlight' Hailey Cho. Spoiler
Hearing the drums and soft vocals of her entrance music begin to play Piper would smirk and begin to casually strut towards the entrance area. Taking the bat off her shoulders and spinning it in her hands for a moment as she made her way further until she neared the entrance curtain, at which point the song had really picked up in intensity while the lights fell and green and white began strobing around the arena at which Piper would come out, posing for all in her jet black, green and yellow attire! Spoiler
Naturally the blonde was met with intense boos in response not that she minded one bit after all hate her or love her they were forced to acknowledge her and that's all that Piper craved from these degenerates. Cockily making her way down to the ramp with no sense of urgency at all Piper would quite literally have her nose turned up at the fans with that cocky grin never once leaving her face until she finally approached the ring.
Hopping onto the apron and dropping the bat just outside Piper would turn to face the crowd, both arms resting over the ropes while she showed off her chest and abs proudly while surveying the crowd before giving a rather rude swipe of her hand in the fans direction as she turned and lifted her leg up and over the ropes before entering the ring jauntily standing back up and heading towards the nearest corner, leaning back against it and waiting for her opponent to come forth.
Backstage, the rhythmic whip of Starlight’s shinai slicing through the air echoed softly against the concrete walls. Each swing was precise, deliberate, a breath, a shift, a clean follow-through. It was her way of settling her nerves. She always told herself that if her form was sharp, her mind would follow.
Her reflection in the mirror showed the same familiar mix of brightness and tension. The confident gleam in her dark brown eyes didn’t quite mask the flutter in her chest. Her ponytail bobbed with each movement, a few strands sticking to her cheek from the nervous heat building under her skin.
She exhaled slowly and adjusted her stance. "Alright, Hailey… calm heart, clear focus," she murmured, tapping the shinai gently against her shoulder. "You’ve got this."
But her voice didn’t carry the same carefree melody it usually did. The name on tonight’s docket still rang in her head… Piper Sherwood. A veteran compared to her. Skilled, dangerous, and... if the locker room talk was to be believed, mean.
The murmurs hadn’t been kind. Words like “arrogant,” “bully,”, “doesn’t pull punches” and a whole lot of "the b-word" had come up more than once. Starlight wanted to shrug them off, she really did, but she couldn’t quite quiet the knot twisting in her stomach. She didn't like to be so judgmental, but caution may be needed.
"People love to talk," she said quietly to herself, pacing a small circle. "They said stuff about me when I first showed up. Maybe she’s just... misunderstood."
She stopped mid-stride and glanced down at the shinai in her hands. The polished bamboo reflected the warm lights overhead, and she smiled faintly. The weapon always grounded her, it was discipline, respect, and purpose made physical.
"Everyone deserves at least one chance, a clean slate," she whispered, gripping it tighter.
Her voice steadied with each word. She lifted the shinai again, adjusting her footing and dropping into a stance. One sharp breath in, then a crisp diagonal cut through the air. Another breath, another strike. The quick, practiced rhythm echoed like a mantra, easing her heartbeat until the nervous tremor in her hands was gone.
By the time her entrance cue was called, Starlight was bouncing lightly on her heels again, her expression bright, her heart still racing but alive with anticipation instead of fear.
"Okay!" she said, flashing herself a grin in the mirror. "Whether she’s a villain or just grumpy... tonight, I’ll face it all head on."
And with that, she swung the shinai up over her shoulder and marched toward the curtain, her pulse pounding, a hopeful glint in her eyes — ready to face whatever kind of fire Piper Sherwood would bring.
--------------------
Cosmic Drift - SYNTHKRONE
The lights dimmed as her music hit, that familiar rhythm rising over the rumble of the crowd. A spotlight bloomed across the stage, and
stepped through the curtain to a pop of cheers, her golden-trimmed gear gleaming under the beams.
She gave a few high-fives to the fans along the ramp, her grin wide and confident, but her eyes sharp. Her opponent was already in the ring, Piper, smirking against the corner ropes, her black-and-green gear cutting a stark contrast to Starlight’s gleaming white and gold.
As she neared the ring, Starlight slowed. Something caught her attention, a flash of metal glinting under the lights. Piper’s bat, carelessly tossed aside near the apron.
The crowd murmured as Starlight crouched beside it. Her hand hovered for a moment before she reached down, fingertips cautiously touching it as if it might be somehow dangerous or hot. Her brow furrowed as her fingers traced its length until she reached the base and curled her fingers around it. She picked it up by the handle, the weight foreign in her palm. She glanced toward the ring, then back at her own shinai in her other hand, a juxtaposition that made her lips press into a thin line.
"A weapon is an extension of your will," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else. "Not a toy to discard when you’re done with it."
The crowd quieted as she stood again, both weapons in hand. Rather than performing her usual acrobatic sword display, Starlight walked the perimeter of the ring slowly, not for show, but with purpose. When she reached the timekeeper’s area, she knelt, carefully setting both the bat and her shinai against the barricade side by side.
Her expression softened as she brushed her thumb over the hilt of her own weapon. "Rest well, my friend," she whispered, before standing once more.
Now unarmed, she jogged up the steel steps and ducked between the ropes, landing light on her feet inside the ring. Her posture was still calm, still radiant, but there was a faint steel in her eyes as she passed Piper, giving her a sidelong glance.
"You should show your weapon more respect," Starlight said, voice steady but with that undercurrent of conviction only she could manage. "It may not breathe, but it still shares in the spirit of your fight. To treat it carelessly is to dishonor your own strength."
She took her place in her corner, rolling her shoulders out and settling into her stance as the referee checked on both women. The crowd was buzzing, the contrast between the two couldn’t have been clearer.
Piper smile softly as she leaned casually on the ropes, seemingly without a care in the world, only finally looking up as she heard the music of her opponent kick on and watched as the so called Starlight came down. 'Hm ok so she's cute I'll give her that.' Piper thought to herself as she surveyed her opponent.
Slightly taller than herself and clearly a bit bigger, but not by much so it wouldn't be a huge gap in physical power between them. Nice hair and in a style that Piper appreciated but there was one thing Piper didn't seem fond of as the dark haired girl. 'Ugh such a serious face. So lame.' Piper thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.
However soon enough something else would catch her eyes as the girl stopped just short of the ring and reached down... grabbing her own bat? "What the hell." Piper said under her breath stepping away from the corner towards the center of the ring with her eyes narrowed.
Granted Piper would stop there as Starlight stood up now holding both Piper's bat and her own wooden sword. That immediately gave Piper pause cause if it were holding both of thoes and someone came at her she wouldn't hesitate to dual wield them on someone.
Despite this Piper did hear her opponent seemingly say something but it was too soft and her opponent was too far for her to make it out. "What was that?!" Piper demanded only to be ignored as Starlight walked around the ring, further annoying the blonde as the ref stepped forward to keep an eye on her.
Narrowing her gaze a bit as her opponent now placed both weapons aside by the barricade Piper would huff a bit as now finally the girl deemed it was time to get in the ring, stepping through the ropes and eventually passing by the blonde.... Only for the girl to chastise Piper for how she treated her weapon.
"Huh?!" Piper asked with an annoyed expression while turning towards the girl as she walked by. "What are you talking about dumbass? Their tools the onyl thing that gives them worth is the person using them. Not the other way around. How I treat it doesn't change shit about how effective it is kid." Piper shot back towards her foe while turning around, keeping her eyes locked on Starlight.
"Then again you're new... You probably have some naive little ideas about what makes you strong and clearly you're weird obsession with weapons is part of that." Piper added on, this time with a very clear tone of condescension in her voice as she smirked arrogantly.
"But I'll give you a reality check for how things REALLY work." Piper said with a evil grin while putting her fists up in preparation for the bell to ring and the match itself to start off.
Starlight hadn’t said much on her way down the ramp, her focus was drawn to the sight of the weapon carelessly tossed aside at ringside. Piper’s casual stance, her dismissive expression, her arrogant tone… all of it needled under the heroine’s skin like an itch she couldn’t ignore.
She exhaled softly through her nose, stepping into the ring with deliberate calm, her boots landing steady on the canvas. Her posture was composed, but her eyes were fire, burning orange under the arena lights. Piper’s words washed over her, the condescension wasn’t new, but it still hit a nerve. Perhaps it was because her other adversaries, while villains, presented something worthy of respect. This girl was just… mean. She seemed nasty for the sake of being a bully.
"You really shouldn’t talk about worth when you treat the things around you as props to be used," she said firmly, her tone even but unmistakably edged. She moved to her corner, her fingers flexing, wishing she still had her blade. "What is it that even gives you worth?"
Her stance widened, boots squeaking faintly on the mat as she raised her guard. "It’s not apparent at a glance."
The bell rang.
Starlight’s body snapped into motion instantly, her speed was sudden, electric. She charged across the ring, arms raised, every inch of her looking poised for the traditional collar-and-elbow lock-up. The crowd cheered at the flash of intensity between them.
But she closed on Piper, Starlight strayed from convention.
Her front leg coiled and then fired, the heroine springing into a short hop as her boot lashed out in a tight, clean arc, aimed straight for Piper’s chest. A textbook pump kick, delivered with enough force to echo like a gunshot through the arena.
Piper rolled her eyes a bit at the rather dismissive and disapproving gaze from her opponent, not particularly caring for whether or not the girl liked her or not and in fact she would just use this as a chance to remind both Starlight and everyone else out there why you didn't cross Piper Sherwood.
"Tch... Spoken like someone who doesn't know shit about me... If you wanna know what gives me worth then you're about to find out tonight newbie." Piper growled out with a sneer towards the young lioness, now more fired up than when she had first came to the ring, determined to show her what her place was in this company.
Once the bell rang Piper would put her fists up in preparation only for her eyes to widen as she saw Starlight close half the ring, already upon her! 'Shit!' Piper thought to herself in surprise, raising her fists up higher, expecting a lock up with the dark haired girl.
Only for Starlight to change course at the last second, jumping up and raising her leg up to go for a pump kick aimed at her chest! Eyes widening in shock at this Piper would barely manage to close her arms in front of her to block the blow at the last second! "NGH!" Even in doing so however the impact would drill into the blonde's arm, knocking her backwards and threatening to topple her balance in the process!
Thankfully however Piper would feel her back hit the ropes which allowed her to reset her balance. Gritting her teeth and stepping back further against them Piper would try and rebound off them back at at Starlight, raising her arm up as approached, hoping to try and catch her with a clothesline while she recovered her footing!
The kick connected with a satisfying thud, the sole of Starlight’s foot colliding squarely against Piper’s guard. She felt the resistance through her leg, bone and muscle giving just enough under the impact to tell her she’d hit solidly, albeit off her intended mark. The shock traveled up her calf and into her hip, and for a heartbeat the young lioness hung in midair before her boots touched canvas again. The recoil of the strike sent a small tremor through her frame, her hair whipping forward across her face as she landed, crouched and coiled.
Even through the guard, she’d felt the force transfer; Piper was lightweight, but clearly no pushover. The blonde had eaten the brunt of that kick and still stayed on her feet, though the way her body jolted back had Starlight hope she’d rattled her hard.
"Good," her breath came sharp through her teeth as she straightened, watching Piper bounce off the ropes. The moment the blonde’s boots hit the mat again, she was already charging back in, her arm drawn like a guillotine ready to drop.
Starlight darted forward, refusing to give her the space to regain control. When Piper came swinging in with that heavy clothesline, the dark-haired girl dropped low in a fluid duck, feeling the rush of displaced air brush the top of her head as the arm sailed by. Her heart kicked in her chest, close. Too close.
Without pausing to think, she pivoted on the ball of one foot, throwing her weight backward in one clean, practiced motion. Her body snapped like a whip, dark hair flaring as she twisted through the air.
"Hyaaa!"
Her boot came up high and fast, cutting a sharp arc toward Piper’s head in a sudden blind Pele kick. The motion was instinct, trained, rehearsed, explosive. The crowd gasped at the blur of movement as the young lioness’s boot sought its mark, her entire body twisting through the air like a shooting star with a single, precise target and an uncharacteristic aggression like she was out to prove a point.
Still wincing a bit in pain after the blow her arms had been forced to block by her opponent Piper was determined to make the most of it as she came back at her opponent, arm raised up in order to try and deliver a revenge clothesline! However despite being a young lioness Star was faster than Piper could have anticipated and her attempted blow connected with nothing but air!
"Shit!" Piper cursed under her breath as she stumbled to a stop, turning around as fast as she was able, determined to keep track of her opponent. Unfortunately as she did so it was just in time for her to receive a face full of boot as Starlight leapt backwards to deliver a massive pele kick to her face! "GAH!" Piper cried out in pain as she was knocked off her feet and down to the mat, left seemingly out of it and motionless on the mat!
However... this was a ruse. Had that pele kick hurt? Absolutely it did. Did Piper want to scream and thrash on the mat while holding her face in agony? Also yes. However she controlled her actions to the best of her ability. Playing possum hoping to lure her opponent in and give a false sense of security, waiting for the moment where she could strike!
Starlight rolled through the landing of her pele kick, boots skidding across the canvas before she dipped into a low knee, one palm braced against the mat. Her chest rose and fell quickly with the thrill of landing a counter so seemingly clean. Her dark hair swayed around her face as she lifted her head just enough to survey the result of her strike.
Piper lay still.
Starlight’s brows lifted, then she gave a small, confident nod to herself and cracked a pleased smirk. While she wasn't one to celebrate the downfall of another, friend or foe, Piper had struck a nerve in her.
“Okay… good. One solid hit does slow you down.” She murmured softly to herself.
The heroine pushed off the mat, rising smoothly to her feet with the practiced quickness of someone who trained endlessly on transitions. No showboating for not, no hesitation, just a brisk, focused march toward her fallen opponent. She wasn’t going to give Piper time to recover, not after the scare that wild clothesline had given her.
Starlight crouched low and reached down, fingers hooking under Piper’s arm and shoulder.
“Up. We’re not done here.” She was stern, the tone of an instructor who had a long day of lessons planned for an unruly student. She braced her stance, ready to haul Piper up… utterly oblivious to the spark of deception waiting beneath that perfectly still body.
Laying still on the mat as if she had been stunned or even potentially knocked out from the force of Starlight's kick. However this wasn't quite the case as Piper was just playing dead for the moment allowing Starlight to believe she had the advantage and had the blonde down and out, but in reality she was waiting, biding her time and her moment to strike was nearing as she felt her arm and shoulder grabbed while the lioness began to pick her up.
Smirking at this Piper would lash out like a viper striking at unsuspecting prey, bringing one of her arms about to drive her forearm suddenly and brutally with a forearm strike right into her opponent's throat! If that initial strike had succeeded then Piper would additionally pull a leg in before pulling her leg in and then out, aiming to slam a kick also into Star's stomach to push her away from herself!
