Alex Winter Vs. The Dragon Lady

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Stand Apart

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I got back from challenging Alex by noon time. My mind is on the little girl Ruby. The advice I gave her I needed to follow as well. I took a deep breath and went into me and Mameha's place feeling ready for just about anything she had in store for me today.



I made a face as I realize, all of our furniture has been moved to make the space larger in the living room. What in the world?



Mameha walked out of the kitchen then, holding a few items in her hands. She looked as elegant as ever, wearing a flowing white robe. She handed me the items in her hands.



I took them and stared at what she handed me. My own robe. And two folding fans? "Go change into the robe for today's lesson. Today, you are going to learn a few things. By dancing with me." This took me aback, and I stared at her equally inquisitive and exhausted. Her gaze remained as wise and warm as ever



"Dancing?"



"Yes. Dancing." She insisted



"But Mameha… I do not feel like dancing. I thought we were going to the gym" I said thinking dancing would not help me right now. I needed to punch and kick something. Practice my wrestling moves. Not dance. Anything but dance.



"You will dance with me if I say we are going to dance. Now, go get dressed."



I nodded my head, not fully understanding why Mameha was making me do this.But she had never steered me wrong before. I shuffled to the bathroom to change, probably looking like a bad kid who didn't want to do something and is frustrated they are still stuck doing it.



After I dressed, I went back to the living room where Mameha sat on her knees with two folding fans of her own sitting just in front of her. A grin is on her face. She patted the floor next to her. "Sit. And lay your folding fans in front of you like so."



She motioned with a hand over the folding fans. I did as she said and sat next to her. She opened her fans up and a design of lilies was there. She would slowly turn them over in her hands showing the back and the front of the fans as she spoke.



"The Japanese folding fan symbolizes many things. To some it's a mere description of beauty. Something exotic. But before these fans meant that, they had another purpose."



She stood motioning with her hands for me to copy her. So I tried to follow her movements. I opened my fans up to see greenery. Things that looked to be growing.



"These fans symbolize me. They symbolize you. They symbolize a person of great class. You must believe that as you move and your body flows, that you are becoming what these fans represent. The best self of you."



She tossed the fan into the air and caught it. I am amazed. I would attempt to do her little trick after getting to my feet only to fail as a fan hits the floor. "Again. Again and again you will do this. Until you believe the words I am saying."



For hours it felt like I could not see the purpose still of this fan folding dance. But each time I tried again, I got a little further. And then a little more. Finally Mameha got back up from her sitting position and joined me.



Both of us moving with elegance and a purpose. I felt good about myself as I nailed each move. I had gotten better. And, well, I'm going to keep getting better. Not just at this, but at everything. I'm going to grow like the greenery on my fans. Grow into the best me.



Someone worthy. Someone confident with everything I do. Someone not to be dismissed or put aside like a nobody. A force to be reckoned with.

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Christopher St. James was used to busy days. Being a self made man was tough in today’s day and age. Taking over a small business and turning it into a global market? Child’s play. Right now though, he had plans for Carnage’s title division, specifically the Baltimore City Championship abandoned at WAR by Mac Bane. A knock on his office door tells C$J that his first appointment of the day has arrived, right on time, and just the way he likes it.



C$J: Come in!



Dragon Lady enters, standing in front of her new boss looking unusually timid, like a kid coming to see the principal.


C$J: Dynamite job out there at the supershow, tough loss, but here at Carnage, I like to reward those that show gumption, that show that they have what it takes to move things onto the next level. I saw you out there at WAR and I saw a spark that I think deserves such a reward. So… With that being said, I’d hereby like to invite you into the future. Baltimore needs a champion, someone to take that title to the next level. Of course I can’t just GIVE you the belt, but I’d like you to show the Legion what you have and fight for that strap, fight for THEM...



The Dragon Lady sat down in the chair listening to C$J talk. When he had called her to set up this appointment, she had been very on edge.



Did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble? She twiddled her thumbs as she waited for an explanation. After he spoke, The Dragon Lady was flattered. "Well. I mean. I appreciate the offer. I really do. But. I can't accept this title match yet."



She is a tad disappointed about telling C$J no to the offer. When she joined Carnage, she really hadn't even had titles on her mind. She was looking for something else. And now with the offer on the table, she thinks she would like a title. But not now. Can't be now.



C$J looks stunned for a moment before choosing his words carefully and directly.



C$J: No? You’re… You’re actually telling me “no” after I make you such a generous offer?



C$J scoffs.



C$J: Fine. Whatever. You don’t want my help then you don’t get it.



The Dragon Lady blushes. She's embarrassed. She takes a deep breath before responding. Also choosing her words carefully. "I, well don't get me wrong. I'm flattered you offered me this chance. It's just I already put out a challenge to Alex Winter. And I can't back down from that now. He would think I'm a joke. And I need to send him a message."



She stands and offers her hand out to C$J to shake hands. Not thinking he would take it after this conversation. "Please believe me when I say, this won't be the last time I'm in your office to discuss a title match."



C$J scoffs lightly before returning to whatever it was that he was working on. It looked like a proposal for separate locker rooms for the roster members instead of a coed one.



C$J: We’ll see about that. You just go have your fun with Alex and if I decide that you are deserving of another shot, then sure… We can discuss another title match. And let me be clear…



He holds up his finger to Dragon Lady to emphasize.



C$J: That’s IF I decide that you’re worthy of another shot.



C$J looks again at Dragon Lady’s outstretched hand and begrudgingly shakes it before dismissing her with a wave of his hand.



The Dragon Lady had shook C$Js hand intimidated. Then she was dismissed, closing his door carefully behind her.

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I left his office walking slowly out of the building. My mind on this encounter with C$J. Well, if I hadn't been in trouble before I walked into his office, I sure feel like I am now. I feel like I'm on his radar. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.



One thing is for sure, I need to be my very best in front of him as long as his eyes are on me. My initial impression of him had been right. He is sort of a prick. And he has an… overwhelming presence.



I let out a deep sigh as I got outside and waited for a cab to drive by. Mameha won't like how this meeting went. Not at all. She may even be a little disappointed I didn't go for the title. But I know she will understand my reasoning.



I think I just put more on my already full plate. I'm going to need to work extra hard to get another shot at a title. I waved a cab down then and hopped inside giving the driver directions to me and Mameha's apartment.



I then began to silently devise a plan to set myself apart from every other person on the roster. A plan to earn my place amongst the best Carnage had to offer.

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The Dragon Lady entered the CW ring and sat down in the same chair she had used while making her challenge to Alex. She sits in the middle of the ring. The lights are put out before the camera starts rolling.



Once the cameraman does a countdown which she can barely see. Red lights turn on around the ring framing The Dragon lady in a most eerie way.



"Alex Winter. I need to explain myself more. I need to explain exactly why I challenged you." She looks away from the screen for a moment and then looks back.



"You disgust me. You have put yourself on some high pedestal, acting like you are the best of the best and your shit doesn't stink. Let me tell ya. I can smell you from a mile away."



"And I want to prove to everyone that you're nothing more than that pile of stink. I seriously could not believe my eyes when I saw you pull out handcuffs from that crown royal bag."



"You won that match not because you were smart or trying to be tactful. You won simply because you handcuffed your opponent. You made it to where your opponent literally could not fight back."



"You know what I smell?" She inhaled loudly lifting her head up as she did so. "More bullcrap. You talk a big game, but you can't even fight fair. And I need you to understand. I am not wanting to fight you because I'm trying to help Steve Matthew's feel better. Steve Matthew's is a big boy and can handle his own beef with you."



"I am fighting you for the plain and simple fact that I can smell that disgusting odor of coward. I want to beat your ass because you deserve it. I want to beat your ass because you're a slime ball."



The Dragon Lady stands and stares down into the camera. "I want you to be aware of something after our match. Deathly aware. That at night when you are sitting in your no doubt fancy silk pajamas sipping fancy bourbon, and you hear a knock on your door"



The Dragon lady lightly knocked on the camera lens. "That you know, The Dragon Lady has come to make you beg for mercy. She has come to end you. I'll be the one in your nightmares. Still knocking. And guess what? You can run... I don't mind…" she shook her head. "You have lots to answer for."



She stepped back from the camera then as her entrance theme song began to play. She stood there with her arms slightly outstretched at her sides. The red lights all around her made her look like the nightmares she said she would see him in.



youtu.be/JxDzNSinu-U

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The Dragon Lady stood there… on her hands. She held herself up in a handstand. Her eyes are closed as she focused on not moving a muscle but staying still. Her endurance is being tested.



As the rain poured down around her, she shifted weight between her hands making water move about like ripples as her hands are submerged in a puddle. She is outside in the alley behind her and Mameha's apartment.



The sky lit up showing The Dragon Lady was not alone. Mameha was there standing a few feet away with her hands on her hips. Her long hair is wet from the rain and clings to the side of her face. She is pacing. A most serious look on her face.



She continues pacing kicking water in front of her as she did so. Her kimono she wore is drenched. She looked as determined as The Dragon Lady was enduring the storm that was never ending here in Baltimore.



Mameha began speaking then. Loud so her voice can be heard over the rumbling sky and rain that filled the two women's ears. "Agony and peace live side by side. One cannot exist without the other. Peace comes from enduring that agony. Your fingers will bleed. Your mind and body will be tested beyond anything you have ever known. You must have faith. That after the agony, you will be someplace much better."



"Now move." Mameha said. The Dragon Lady's eyes opened, and she began walking slowly on her hands towards Mameha who now began slowly walking backwards. The Dragon Lady is expected to move on her hands the distance Mameha walks.



"Endure the agony. And know. The agony you feel is a temporary thing. Keep going. A little more."



Everything began to hurt and feel numb at the same time. I kept moving like Mameha said. Through the pain, through the pouring rain to my finish line. My thoughts are on Alex Winter. My thoughts are on C$J. My thoughts are about standing apart from the masses.



When I saw Mameha's feet a few inches away. I let myself drop, sending water splashing in all directions. I'm out of breath, but that adrenaline has me feeling like I can do just about anything right now.



I stared up through the rain that is coming down sounding more like hail at this point. Mameha nodded her head satisfied looking down at me, and then said, "Feel better?"



The Dragon Lady nodded out of breath feeling accomplished. Then got to her feet slowly. The two ladies hooked arms then, their clothes soaking wet, and walk through that storm. Both women knowing, the storm is but an obstacle they would get through together.