“I didn’t expect to see you this week.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to come over either, with Noreaster being held in New York.”
“Why did you?”
“I had my reasons.” Nova looks at Asher with a small smile on her face as she shovels another piece of sushi into her mouth. They were sprawled comfortably, across the hotel couch, take away food spread out around them to nab with their chopsticks as they watched some action movie that he assured her, only got better the longer it played.
“Might I hope they include your present company?” he arches a brow at her, crunching on pickled ginger.
“Fishing for compliments now, are we?” Nova snags a piece of buttery salmon belly. “You don’t have enough ladies throwing themselves at your feet while I’m not here?”
“None could ever be as adorable and alluring as you, my angel. Everyone pales in comparison when your radiance explodes into the room, obscuring all else.”
“There it is.”
“Haha!” his laughter fades slowly. “Hey, but in all seriousness Nova, can we talk?”
The piece of fish lodges in her throat, and she swallows hard, picking up her drink and sucking a long sip through the straw. She coughs, looking at the screen, trying to keep her voice light, but even she can hear the tension in it. “What uh... what about?”
“Well, for starters, us.”
“Thats a starter?”
“Okay, it’s the main point. Why did you come all the way over here this week Nova? You didn’t have to. You could have saved yourself the jetlag, and the expense and just stayed home until you had to go into the city for your match. And it’s a huge one for you too. Something made you fly across an ocean.” he sucks in a breath. “And I hope it was me.”
Nova grasps her drink, sticking the straw in her mouth to avoid answering, but Asher fills in the silence for her.
“I know I act like an idiot a lot, and I’m pretty sure you see me as a goofy best friend right about now, and I only have myself to blame for that. I wanted to give you the time to get to know me more but...” he sighs. “I mean a lot of what I say Nova. Maybe not to the extent of how I paint it, but I like you. You’ve entranced me from the start. When you called and told me you were still coming over here for a couple days, I... well I...” he stops, swiping a hand through his spiky hair. “I did actually hope. Please tell me I didn’t screw everything up and make you want to run screaming back to the airport, quit your job, never wrestle again...”
“Asher...”
“Change your name...”
“Asher...”
“Move to Alaska and run sled dogs...”
“ASHER!”
“Yes?”
“Stop. I’m not running.” Though she wanted to. Did she ever want to. She didn’t do well when she was put on the spot with emotional situations. Especially ones of the romantic sort. Or when it came to someone she actually liked and cared about, which was a damn small list indeed, her immediate thought was to flee. To save them and herself. So that she didn’t make a mistake and ruin whatever the relationship was in a very charged moment. Her emotional responses were almost always quick, intense, almost uncontrollable. Though she was loathe to admit it.
And when it came to someone she disliked?
“I can’t deal with it Nova. You pay more attention to that stupid professional wrestling crap than you do me!”
“It’s my dream, Cole.”
“Yeah, I know. You only talk about it all the time.”
Nova fidgets, her fingers running over each other as she stands before him.
“I thought I was important to you.”
“You are!”
“But I was never more important than this. You get tickets to a show the same weekend of my big game? I thought you were going to be there to support me.”
“My dad surprised me and...”
“So? Tell him you don’t want to go.”
“But I do.”
“And that’s the problem! You put it over me! Your boyfriend! I should mean more to you!”
He snorts in derision.
“It's my future Cole, and...” Nova starts.
“I thought I was.”
“I’m sixteen...”
“And what's that supposed to mean? That I’m not special enough for you?” He laughs, an ugly sound that made her flesh crawl. “It's fine though. Because you know who does appreciate me?”
An icy tickle crawls its way down her spine, and she instinctively knew she wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth next.
“Paris.”
Nova falls back a step, eyes wide as a smug grin creeps over Cole’s face.
“But she's my best friend...”
“With better taste. And more brains.” Cole gives a negligent shrug of his shoulder, as he stares down at her. “It's over Nova. She gives me the attention I need.”
He walks away, stopping to turn back for a moment.
“Hey, word of advice? Give up the wrestling thing. It's never going to happen and you'll miss out on better.”
Nova stares until he is long out of sight, the bell breaking her from her trance enough to spin on her heel and stumble blindly out of the small, empty alcove where classrooms were being worked on, towards the gymnasium. She was late. Did it really matter at this point? Did she care? Her body was numb, her brain blessedly almost blank, devoid of the capability of wrapping itself around what had just happened.
Cole and Paris.
Paris and Cole.
A teacher scolds her, trying to lend wings to her feet and hurrying her along. She stares at him, without really seeing, nodding by rote as she continues her path. She pushes the door open, the sound echoing loudly in the big, empty room as she staggers towards the group of teens and two gym teachers, who were eyeing her disapprovingly.
“So nice of you to join us Nova. Get changed and ready.”
Her face flushes hotly as she moves towards the locker room, her eyes connecting with a pair of azure blue ones, a glorious aquamarine hue surrounded by a riotous mane of reddish curls tumbling about a perfect heart shaped face. She smiles at Nova, completely unaware that Nova knew now what had been going on behind her back. She swallows down the bile, unable to give even a fake one back, going into the locker rooms and moving around by pure instinct. She sheds her clothing, donning the athleticwear needed. She plops down on the bench, leaning forward to slowly tie the laces on her sneakers.
“Nova?”
She stiffens, turning her gaze to the doorway where Paris stands.
“They sent me to see if you were almost done. We picked teams already. You should have been faster so we could be on the same one!”
Her mouth opens, then closes on a muffled croak. She clears her throat, nodding. “Yeah, I'll be right out.” Her voice sounded almost normal. She was proud of that. With another flash of her perfect teeth, the redhead was gone. Nova straightens and gets to her feet, walking out behind her, getting hustled to her soccer team and the two small groups sent out the doors and towards the field. Paris came up next to Nova, chattering merrily away about the football games, and cheerleading, and teachers and other inane things. Nova stares blankly ahead, realizing that Paris really didn’t care. She was only talking about the things she cared about. She didn’t even notice her “friends” demeanor. Didn’t notice that anything was wrong. The numbness started to fade, being replaced by a searing ball of lava deep in the pit of her belly.
Before she could do a thing, the game started and she found herself dashing about the field, chasing after the ball. Every time she slammed her foot into it, she pictured Paris and Cole together, and imagined it was Paris’ head, going flying across the grass. Her anger thrummed through her veins, flushing her face and breaking her out in a sweat that most would attribute to vigorous activity. The exercise helped her, she thought and if she could just keep this going maybe she could get calm enough to face her and it not be....
SLAM!
A body pushes into her, to steal the soccer ball away, a foot getting into her way, tripping her up, she feels her body losing balance. She flies forward, unable to stop herself, crashing into the ground and rolling as the whistle blows. She rolls on her back, panting. A figure blots out the sun and she squints. A ridiculously feminine giggle.
“Oops, sorry Nova!”
Of course.
Of course it was.
A hand offered out, perfectly purple manicured nails tipping her elegant fingers. The laughing eyes, fringed with perfect lashes. The perfect hair. Her perfect figure. The perfect smile that flickers for a moment as her hand hovers in the air.
“Nova?”
Tears prick the back of her eyes. This girl lied to her. Pretended to be her friend. Maliciously. False. Snake in the grass. Made her into a fool. The bile rises in a sour wave of heat up the back of her throat, culminating in a roar that shocked even her.
She launches herself forward, upwards, spearing that perfect fucking fake friend to the ground.
She straddles her, and on their own accord, her fists start flying. A hard right. A hard left. One right after the other, not allowing a moment in between. Screeches fill the air, both hers and the girl below her, her face getting pummeled.
That perfect nose.
CRACK!
The perfect lips.
CRACK!
Those perfect teeth.
CRACK!
Blood spurts, starting to fly in wild droplets as Nova feels hands on her, trying to pull her off as more screams fill the air. She fights, wildly trying to destroy the face of her humiliation, until she is bodily lifted from Paris, being hauled away by one of the teachers, the whole ordeal over in a matter of moments. He gives her a shake as she tries to claw her way out of his grip, wanting to wring the neck of the traitorous jerk who pretended to be her friend.
Nobody lied to and made a fool out of Nova.
Nobody.
She had gotten suspended for that. And it had been worth it. She had felt a lot better after she pounded on Paris. Not that her mother had agreed. She had been yelled at up, down, and sideways, with threats of her wrestling career being taken away, which... in the grander scheme, would mean she would have to wait a few more years.
Still worth it.
She had also been grounded for a solid six months.
Also worth it.
That was someone she had cared about, who had betrayed her and caused Nova to hate her. Ever since she had tried to keep her circle small, the idea of trusting someone foreign to her. Why should she, if even they could turn around and betray you? And what came out of Nova was pretty damn ugly indeed... but damn... if it didn’t make her feel good to extract her retribution. It was disorientating, to find comfort in the violence of vengeance. It was like she harnessed this different version of herself, but she wasn’t always sure that she could maintain control over it. She still wished she had been able to clock Cole’s stupid face on occasion. No, she could have friends, but she would never again allow closeness to the point she had. That dark little blight on her soul, was always waiting to be brought to life...
“Nova?”
She blinks, coming back to her present surroundings, realizing that she had been silent for a long period of time. She settles her mossy green eyes onto a hopeful looking Asher and her heart sinks. She was about to fuck this up all to hell and back, and she knew it. She didn’t want to, but she couldn’t lie to him. Her flight response screamed wildly at her... his response could trigger a different sort of reaction. Actually, all of his would not end well for her.
Unless he grinned and accepted.
What were the odds of that happening?
Zero.
“Asher, I...” she begins, dropping her gaze, unable to maintain contact with his steady one filled with dreams, dreams she was about to crush. “Look, I like you a lot too. But I’m not... uh, good in relationships. I have a tendency to fail in them quite badly. I don’t really want to risk what we have. I like our friendship. Why ruin that? Can't we just stay the way we are without complicating it with things like feelings?”
“Feelings are a complication?”
“Thats not what I meant... I mean it is, but not the way I think you're taking it.”
“How I'm taking it, is that you aren't interested and I just made an idiot out of myself.”
“Asher, you didn’t make an idiot out of yourself. Stop. You sound ridiculous...”
“Sorry.” he shoots up to a standing position, stalking off to grab his coat, shrugging it on with angry, jerky movements. She rises, annoyance creasing her brow.
“You’re acting like a child Asher; told he can't have a toy in the store window.”
“No Nova, I’m disappointed.”
“Life is full of disappointments. I’m not obligated to date you Asher, I don’t understand...”
“Nevermind Nova. I just need to go get over it.”
“Yeah, I suppose you do.” irritation is laden heavily in her voice.
He exits, without looking back.
Anger roils in her stomach, threatening to have the sushi make another sudden, reappearance. How could he? She didn’t belong to him. She had come because she needed a friend. Flown all across the ocean to come see him and for what? For this? It hadn't been worth it. Just more proof that friendships were not worth it. She had been stupid to let him in. To think it would be different. She guessed she would have to change her damn flight back to the states. Again. To go home to that mess she had left behind there. A low growl rises in her throat as her fist shoots out, connecting solidly with the hotel mirror. It breaks, with a tinkle of pieces hitting the ground. Nova stares at the blood streaming from her knuckles, then the shattered reflection of herself, haunted eyes staring right back.
___________________________________________________________________________
“And here we go.
Here.
We.
Go.
Finally, I get to banter back and forth with someone. Someone around here wants to talk to me, to trade off little barbs and quips, to test their mettle in the mind games of these little tete-a-tetes we have before each match. Someone, wants to see if they can tiptoe up to Nova Skye and get a tongue lashing in, before taking her on in the ring and getting their rump handed to them there as well.
Because that’s damn sure what's going to happen my dear.
You tried, you tried real hard...
But you don’t got it here either.
I thought as champion, you would sling open that door and come at me with your arms outstretched to claw me to pieces, ready to defend that belt like you tried, and failed miserably to do so far. That you would try and put on a show before you went down, taking a nosedive flat into the canvas under me. Instead, what do I get from you miss Casie?
A gentle knock as you crept in, testing the waters as to not disturb the slumbering wolf.
But you found her awake, eyes already locked on you and you turned to... placations and flattery, hoping to soothe the beast.
You failed.
Your pretty words did nothing but prompt the lips to pull back, revealing glimmering fangs for your perusal.
And now they are poised to take flight towards your throat.
So where should we start with what you had to say, hmm? Should we start with the research you put into me... or shall I say, lack thereof? I think so. That sounds pretty good to me.
So whatcha got on me miss Casie... that I am indeed from Long Island, which is not terribly far from where this little party is going to go down. And that I had a relatively normal upbringing. Congratulations! You looked at my roster information from when I signed on while doing your research! Confetti all around!
Nah, not really.
Because that’s really about all you got right while going along and making some booboos along the way. It was really quite adorable how you tried to make it seem like you and I were similar because of our pasts and being eager to get trained and become wrestlers. We are not the same. Period. Full stop. Record scratch. You are not a damn thing like me. You don’t have the same drive to do whatever it takes, to put your entire body on the line and risk it all to get what you want. You lack the fortitude to even own up to your own mistakes. Look at you... over there crying about oh my goodness, look at them trying to screw me, the champion! Oh, poor Casie! Vexx tried to mess up my reign! I can't believe someone would ever do that to me! If it weren't for Solace... then I wouldn’t even have my precious glittering gold...
What's the truth?
One, you lost that belt. Multiple times during that match.
Two, you didn’t deserve it back.
Three, she screwed Solace first.
By all rights, Solace should be holding that belt right now, so you should be thanking your lucky stars that it went down the way it did. Those lips of yours should be firmly pressed to the rear cheeks of all three ladies who were in that ring with you.
Jolie for not hitting that three count for Solace.
Mercedes for throwing in her hat with Vexx.
And Solace for making that little loophole, that got you that belt back, possible.
But you didn’t earn the right to keep it. You didn’t win. Your shoulders were down on that mat beyond a three count. We could have practiced our multiplication charts, algebra, and some calculus while you were flat out on your damn back looking into the lights. You didn’t pin a soul to retain... and you know it. You are champion still, merely by the whim of a technicality. So, you clutch a little tighter to that belt my little “technically” champion. You and I both know that it should be Nova versus Solace for it.
Damn, now THAT would be a match people would clamber to see!
But instead, I have you... and I’m going to complete what was already done, and take that belt off of you. Except this time, there's not going to be a Solace to go digging and finding strings to pull to overturn your loss. There is not going to be anything you can do or say, to get it back into your pathetic little paws where it doesn’t even belong in the first place. You lost it your first time out girl... and then you got lucky.
The fates are about to change on you.
And you already can feel it, can't you?
I love that you can.
It speaks to me in the way you try to stroke my ego, to try and tame me with sweet words. Perhaps hoping that my own venom would subside in response, and I would gush some glowing praises your way.
Not going to happen.
I’m just gonna bypass that part.
I don’t feel the need to try and play nice with you before our match. Screw that. I’m coming for you, and quite frankly, I don’t see you as any more than a transitional champ. A place card. A human belt rack just waiting for me to come pluck it from you. Because you do not deserve that title, in actuality or in verbiage. You are not a champion Casie. You are not much of anything in my eyes...
Except my next victim.
For every sugar coated compliment sent my way, you tried to back it up with... I guess that was you trying to make yourself look tough. Really, it all just fell kinda flat and made me laugh. You think I’m egomaniacal, and that my confidence is turning to arrogance huh?
Was umm, that some kind of warning that I was? Did you think that you were doing something? Maybe hurting my feelings?
Someone hasn’t been paying attentioooooonnnnn.
Girl, I SAID I was cocky.
Back in my match against Chelsey Chaingang to be precise. Not that I don’t mention my ego all the time anyway, but that one specifically I came right out and said it.
I am cocky.
And it is well deserved.
You said it yourself. I know what I'm doing, and I know what I'm capable of. I only just started and have plowed my way through a sizable chunk of the roster, with no signs of stopping. From the very second my ink went onto my contract, I have said it. Aren't you getting tired of it? I'm not, and I guess you aren't either so I will indulge you.
I warned everyone what I was about. That I was coming to add a ton of names to my tally of wins, and I have done just that. I said that I wouldn’t stop until I had gold around my, let's face it, absolutely stunning waist... and that, that is my next step. And that’s where you come in right now!
So yeah Casie, I am damn cocky. And I deserve to be. I have proven myself to be everything and then some each step of the way.
I am the best.
Too bad I’m not beating the best to get that belt.
But you will do... simply because you have it.
And I am self-centered enough to be fully confident that yeah, I will be the one sending your ass out on the stretcher, waving goodbye to the Women’s Title belt as I hold it high over my head for you to see. So if you are impressed with me now, just wait until you step inside that ring with me. I’ll damn well make you scream with glee... with a healthy dollop of pain mixed in there of course.
Don’t get things twisted Casie, I want people to hear my words. There is no cringing on my part. I say everything loud and proud. There is no hiding what or who I am. I am that bitch. I am that brash, vain bitch who is also incredibly talented. And the world needs to know it. Consider this a favor, where I am coming out and giving pretty blatant warnings about what's to come, what to expect with me. Problem is, nobody seems to be heeding my warnings. They just think I'm another big mouthed nothing who has no firepower to back it up... and you darling, are making that same mistake. You say you see the talent. You say you see my passion. You say you see my drive.
Beware Casie... I have all that and more to back up this mouth of mine.
Silly girl... I wish you would have paid a little bit more attention to the things I say and how they match up to what I do. Now its crunch time and you have already wasted so many precious days with your thoughts all wrong. Let’s explore that little thing you said... what was it now? Oh, right... that thing where you said my needs and wants are all over the place and how that’s not a good sign.
Casie...
Casie...
Where the hell have you been?
Not paying an ounce of attention to me like you claimed you did, that’s for damn sure.
You are just like I said when I came in... the ones at the top, are always a little too oblivious at the ones hurtling towards them until it is too late.
I have been very consistent with my needs and wants from this little career of mine you silly, and quite stupid, goose. Success, breaking records, legend... yes, I want it all. And it all will come to me during my stay in the IIW, make zero mistake about it.
I have already started to establish my success; in case you haven't noticed. My record of all wins speaking for itself on that aspect. From there, what happens Casie? Breaking records? Of course... because once I pluck the belt off of you, it will be staying with me indefinitely. I fully intend on breaking the record with it, earning the honor of someone who has held it longer than anyone else in the fed ever has. And from there Casie? Well, the IIW is my oyster, and I can do about anything I desire... and being a legend known for years to come? Yeah, that’s definitely on my docket. Because you see, I'm not going anywhere... and everyone is going to know my name by the time I’ve even been here a year. I’m already going to be whispered as the one who is going to go into the history books.
I guarantee it.
But hey, if you want to see me as all over the place because you are too short sighted, with zero drive to be anything more than you are, so be it.
No skin off my back when you sink back into obscurity where you belong.
What else can it be Casie, when you see that having goals, no matter how lofty they are, as a negative thing? How dare I dream and push myself to achieve things that I want, because I haven't earned them yet. I mean, hello, isn't that the whole point of having goals? To uh, accomplish them because you haven't already?
Brainpower isn't your strong suit, is it?
You just keep proving that all over the damn place with this drivel that just flows from your mouth in an unstoppable torrent of verbal diarrhea. What in the hell is the World of Nova? I’ve never said that -have I mentioned you clearly don’t pay attention to shit?- but if you are talking about the Era of Nova, which is very much already here, and well on its way to overshadowing everyone... Well lets chitty chat about it. Umm... From that jumble of words you stuck together, and spewed out into existence I believe that you think that I am not much in my own little special thing. Problem is Casie, that little thing of mine? It's gonna be your thing. It's gonna be everyone's thing. You are all living in this new version of First Class, the Era of Nova, where she comes in and kicks all your asses and rules the roost. But you are right, I am def not a bit part player.
I’m the motherfucking star.
All spotlights on me dear. They are already there, and they are there to stay.
What’s a quick way to get my name out there? The way I talk? Well golly gee wilikers Casie, if that is all it takes is a little bit of talking, anyone who is anyone should be a pretty big star, right? Nah honey... the way to get my name out there is to win. And that is what I have been doing. You think I haven't earned the right to have my name out there because I haven’t faced you yet? Ha! I’m going to take that belt, the win, and the moniker of champion, and still look towards facing better because you my dear, aren’t crap.
Not to me.
Like I said, you lost that belt multiple times during that three-way match... but not only that, let's get real, real down and dirty Casie.
You didn’t even earn it in the first place.
You had help there too.
Or did you forget that as you run around making claims about being the Woman’s Champion. Are you? Are you really? Not in my eyes, especially not after that three-way match... but when you take a look at Malevolence, and the fact that you were completely knocked out and DRAGGED onto top of Moira’s body? No my dear, Moira had you dead to rights if the ref didn’t get KO’d by her as well. But what happened after that?
Oh, that’s right.
Moira met with Mercedes and a steel chair.
And then she dragged your ass on top of Moira for the win.
I noticed, by the way, in doing my research and reviewing the tapes... that you sure as hell were crowing about “beating” Moira, and then yelling about Mercy wanting all the credit.
She deserves it.
You didn’t beat Moira.
Mercedes did for you.
What did you do? You were taking a nap while everything went down. Moira put you beddy-bye and you just snoozed your way into becoming a title holder while she did all the work for you in putting your opponent away.
Wow.
What a thing to be proud of!
You DEFINATELY deserve to be the face of the company.
That was some extreme sarcasm, in case you didn’t notice. I didn’t see you whining about the judgements there, when it went your way. Where was your sense of morals? You saw. You knew what happened while you were out cold... but I guess, since it worked out in your favor, you decided it was all good and well, and to just pretend you had it in the bag anyway.
While star fishing on your back in the center of the ring.
Or sleep walking perhaps.
But in any case, you reaped the benefits of her interfering... and then you would have lost it already your first time out... but luck smiled at you one more time. So no Casie, you didn’t earn this. Not by a long shot. You are no champion in my eyes. But you are the one I need to go through to get what I want, so I'm stuck facing you. But it isn't a total loss for me, wanna know why?
Not only because I’m going to be walking out with that gold...
But I get to teach you what you really are.
A nothing.
A nobody.
Someone who doesn’t deserve what they have, because you know what Casie? I put in the work to be where I am right now. I put in the work to earn my shot, and when I win it, it is going to be without help. With nothing standing between me and a clearly fought victory. I didn’t just appear and get a World Title shot, as you so eloquently put it. I put in the miles Casie, I ran the gauntlet. I won my matches and I advanced, and I earned this shit. You upset because there's competition? What did you expect? To laze your days away, holding onto the belt and never have to do a damn thing? I mean, it's been almost two months and you haven't done much with it, so I suppose that tracks. At least you know your limitations. Clearly proven your only defense of the damn thing. People join the roster Casie... Some are not that good and destined to fail. Some will always just hover in the mid-tier area. And others? Well others are meant to be stars.
That’s me Casie.
And those stars? They go after the big-ticket items. The things that are going to make them stand out from the rest of the pack.
You can’t expect things to not change when someone like me joins the fray.
Call it cocky. Call it confident. Call it egotistical.
I’m okay with it all Casie, because I am all of the above.
That’s me. I own what I am. I don’t hide behind any veils. I show who I am to the world, and if you don’t like it, you can kiss my ass. You know why? Because I don’t care. I'm not here to be friends with you Casie. I’m not looking for a mentor, or for you to try and impart wisdom on me. I’m not here to become one of your favorites to watch...
Though I will say, the thought of you admiring me, while I’m carrying that belt away does tickle me quite a bit!
I’m here to fucking win.
And I am here to achieve all my goals.
I don’t need anyone on the roster to be my cheerleader to do it. You wanna don a mini skirt and wave some pom poms for Nova Skye, you be my guest. It’s well deserved in my ever so... humble... opinion.
I go out each and every time and prove that I can be whatever the hell I want to be. That I can toot my own horn. That I can make all these big claims that I do. Why? Because I back them up. I run my mouth, and then I make all my predictions come true. I don’t settle for less Casie. When I take that belt, I am not going to be a champion in name only. I’m going to prove it. I’m going to show the world, WHY I am the top of the First Class roster by destroying everyone who gets set before me. Not the less than lackluster show you have put on during your pitiful performance while wearing that particular crown.
Let’s be real, if “all this competition” was around months ago when you got your chance... you might not have even got a sniff at all. So be grateful, that you even had a chance to put that as something you achieved here, instead of complaining that you now have to defend it against worthy competitors.
Your yellow is showing.
I sure hope that you went back and actually put some effort into studying me. With all you got wrong so far, I am pretty damn doubtful that you did. But I am sure interested in seeing what you have to say about me... See what else you can get wrong.
Before you get it all wrong in the ring... and meet your fate at my hands.
I’m not looking by you Casie... My eyes are focused dead on you and I’m calling it like I see it. I’m really easy to understand. I’m not misunderstood. I am fiery and passionate... and I can beat you. I say what I think, and I mean what I say. Believe me, you got something glittering around your waist that has my complete, and utter attention so you had better understand that I have put in the work for this match. I have listened. I have done my research. I have watched.
Not by you... but right at that bullseye.
The arrow of your destiny already been set free from the bow and is aimed straight and true Casie.
And that arrows name is Nova Skye.
Come Noreaster... you are going to be engulfed in the inferno that is the Era of Nova, and when you are eclipsed by my shadow, you will fall back into the shadows as just another victim who fell.
The ultimate stepping stone.
But just another faceless soul.
Because without your belt?
Nobody will know, or care what happens to you.
Enjoy your last hours with it.
Your time is almost up.”